Thursday, 01 May 2008

Electric Dreams become a reality...

Electric Dreams become a reality for smart of Bristol and White Design

smart of Bristol has supplied its first vehicle as part of a pioneering eco-friendly project that is putting fully electric smart cars on the roads of Britain.

The Cribbs Causeway retailer handed over the smart ‘electric drive’ vehicle to Bristol-based White Design. The architectural and consultancy practice specialises in the design of low carbon and low environmental impact buildings and is one of approximately 60 companies around the country to be carefully selected by Mercedes-Benz UK to participate in a nationwide market trial over the next four years.

Known as the smart ed (electric drive), the car’s traditional combustion engine is replaced by an electric motor, battery pack and control unit that enables it to be charged via a cable connecting an adaptor behind the fuel-filler cap with any three-pin plug socket. Eight hours’ charging allows a range of up to 72 miles and the level of charge is displayed on a special meter installed on the dashboard.

Offering an electronically-limited top speed of 60mph and 0-30mph acceleration in 6.5 seconds, the smart ed is ideal for nipping around town, produces zero emissions and is exempt from both vehicle excise duty and the London congestion charge.

As well as supplying the vehicles, which are based on the fortwo passion model, smart of Bristol will be one of only eight locations in the country capable of undertaking service, maintenance and repairs. Technicians will be trained to handle the work and will be equipped with specialist tooling to service the vehicles annually or after every 9,000 miles.

Mike Fellows, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz and smart of Bristol, was delighted that the retailer had been given such a prominent role in the benchmark programme, which will see the business supply seven or eight cars to organisations in the South West over the coming months.

“With the drive for cleaner and greener automotive technologies, this is a project that we’re very excited about and one which we believe will capture the interest and involvement of many more local companies,” said Mike.

“The smart ed retains all of the features of the standard model, drives very smoothly and is ideal for using around town as there is no gear changing required and no noticeable difference in performance – in fact, the acceleration is particularly impressive,” he added. “The only thing which takes a bit of getting used to is just how quiet the car is to drive, with the traditional engine note replaced by a hum.”

White Design, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, will operate its smart ed as a pool car and it will be used by employees to visit construction sites and attend consultancy meetings locally.

“The electric smart is an exciting concept and embodies everything that White Design believes in, in terms of sustainability and low carbon dioxide emission design,” said Project Leader David Noble.

“As a company, we want to practice what we preach. Arriving for meetings in a green smart car will enable us to achieve this but will also hopefully encourage people to lead a more carbon neutral lifestyle.”