THE UK has been chosen for a market trial of an electric car that has the performance to keep up with the rest of the traffic. Unveiled in London last month at the British International Motor Show, DaimlerChrysler's Smart EV (electric vehicle) has a top speed of 70mph and is said to offer better in-town performance than its petrol-powered sister, achieving 0-30mph in 6.5 seconds and going uphill at speeds that won't frustrate following vehicles. However, a range of 115km (72 miles) between charges limits its use. Up to 200 of the two-seater cars will be leased to selected corporate customers from November this year. Jeremy Simpson, a consultant with Daimler-Chrysler UK, points out that the EV has energy costs equivalent to achieving 300mpg on petrol, and is exempt from both vehicle excise duty and the London congestion charge, so it is possible to achieve a positive business case as well as presenting a 'green' corporate image. Users must agree to purchase electricity from renewable sources.
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