Smart testing all-electric Smart Ed in London

The Smart Ed testing in London.

(Credit: Daimler)

Across the pond in London, England, Smart is testing its new Smart Ed, an all-electric version of the tiny Smart ForTwo. While the name, Smart Ed, doesn't make much sense to us, the formula does. Take a small, fuel efficient vehicle, yank out the engine and gas tank, and pop in an electric motor and a heap of batteries.

The Ed is electronically limited to 60 mph and can travel up to 72 miles between 8 hour charges. Smart says that with a midday top-up charge at any three-pin electric socket the range can be extended to 100 miles for an equivalent of 300 mpg.

(Credit: Daimler)

[bradtemp]

Where do they get 300mpg? From their specs they say 12kwh/100km. By Dept of Energy figures, 12kwh requires about 125,000 BTUs at the power plant, which is equivalent to 1 gallon of gasoline. So this is more like 63 miles per gallon. Still good, but hardly 300mpg!