Inch by inch, Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious, and now that gas prices are rising into the stratosphere once again, America is definitely showing more interest in more fuel-efficient vehicles that use alternative forms or energy. Of course, a few hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius have been out for a few years now, but more and more players are getting into that market.

Also new on the horizon are a bunch of electric-powered cars. I’m sure you’ve heard of the heavily advertised Nissan Leaf… but are you aware that Mercedes Benz is also introducing an electric version of the smart car? They call it the smart ED and the first few have already begun to arrive in the United States over recent months.

Like everything smart does, this car is well-conceived and has a number of innovative features you’re not likely to find on other manufacturers’ entries into the electric car marketplace. Of course, it has all of the safety features that gas-powered smarts have and it’s still made from recycled materials, so it’s very green. But it also has zero emissions, as it uses no organic fuels.

I believe the electric smart car is an important part of the future of greener energy in the U.S. And I’ll be following the developments in this car over the coming years. (It’s supposed to become widely available in 2012.)

To keep my readers abreast of everything smart ED, I created a separate mini site: Smart Electric Car

Check it out… you’ll find lots of facts and info on the electric smart car. And I’ll also be doing regular blog postings (under the News tab there), where I’ll let you know about availability, sightings and so forth. Are you planning to join the revolution?

Hello Electric Drive Smart Car Lovers,

Exciting news from smartusa….The Electric Drive (ED) all electric smart car is coming to America in October 2011 as Phase II.

Phase I was conducted over in Europe and was extremely successful. Phase II will include nine major cities in the USA, with 250 EDs available to rent with a 4 year lease at $599/month.

Here are the cities that will kick-off Phase II next October 2011:

• Austin, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• Sacramento, CA
• San Francisco/San Jose, CA
• New York City, NY
• Orlando, FL
• Detroit, MI
• Washington, D.C.
• Redmond, WA

Then Phase III, full production, will kick-off in October 2012 across America. I believe smart centers will be taking reservations in the future for the all electric smart fortwo car.  Details have not been announced yet.

So, if you are lucky to live in one of the 9 cities for Phase II, how can you get your hands on one? That’s a good question, but I’m not sure yet… Smart believes about 80% of the Phase II EDs will be leased by businesses that have garages where re-charging stations can be outfitted and will use the EDs during the day, recharging at night.

If you’re interested in leasing a smart electric car, I would contact your local smart centers and ask how you can be a pioneer in getting the EDs on the road in  your area.

Here are a few quick facts about the Electric Drive smart fortwo:

• Has a top speed of 60mph and a range of 82 miles per full charge.
• Time range is 4-5 hours going at average city speeds.
• It has 16.5 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack.
• The motor maxes out at 30 kilowatts, or about 40 horsepower.
• At 220 volts, the on board 3.3 kilowatt charger can bring the battery from zero to 100 percent charge in about eight hours.
• It can conduct a 20 percent to 80 percent charge in about three and half hours.
• Finally, with a regular 110-volt outlet, will need 14 hours to charge from zero to full.
• The ED can accelerate as fast as its gas-powered version, going 0 to 40 mph in 6.5 seconds.

OK, More details to follow, but imagine the possibilities of driving a full electric smart car fortwo and never needing to fuel up on gasoline.

Your “Smart Car Guy”,

Hey Smart Car Fans,

Thanks to my Personal Technical Assistant (PTA) , aka my wife Kathi, who helped me get our video from buying our smart car loaded onto YouTube so I can share it with you !!

There are more videos to come, so keep tabs on this blog site.

This first video is us going down to Salt Lake City and “pulling the trigger” and purchasing our 2009 white smart passion. Check it out:

Buying My New Smart Car – Part I

Enjoy,

Your “Smart Car Guy”,