Electric car on eBay

[burford57]

Spotted this Chinese 4-seater today:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ELECTRIC-CAR-NO-CHARGER-INCLUDED_W0QQitemZ300292412206QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item300292412206&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A7%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Chris T - you were discussing electric vehicles at the last Open Day, any good to you?

Regards
Nick D.

[marcus]

Is it a Smart, it seems to be a Chinese copy?

[Jim Janecek]

Is it a Smart, it seems to be a Chinese copy?

yes, there are several Chinese Smart copies out there, some are electric, one has a gas motor in it.
There are people importing these electric things into the USA too thinking they can capitalize on the Smart, don't know how many are actually sold though as they are not really legal for road use.
They only go maybe 35 mph, so they just Golf Carts that look like Smarts.

[Chris Thomas]

Dear Nick

Thank you for spotting this Chinese copy of a Smart. I have seen pictures of them but these are the fist in the UK. I will make contact and learn more. But the damaged one is not within my skill set to fix just now.

I am still interested in Electric cars but have decided not to convert my Hustler into an electric car as I am just too busy with day work.

Many thanks

Chris Thomas

[marcus]

Jim, Smart cars have been a recent topic of conversation on a ukulele forum I follow. A few Americans had the idea that they were way too fragile for use in US, and would NEVER sell, but were immediately corrected by most other Americans who had seen the famous tests which show just how tough they are, and some even added that they are now driving around in theirs. It won't be a huge seller, like in Europe it is a niche market - and very successful in its niche! One (rather unpopular) fellow said that they should have embalming fluid in their air bags and integral handles to lower them into a grave when you have a crash; he was firmly corrected !

[Jim Janecek]

the Smarts are fun to joke about but as you said, they are niche market.
they did sell their entire allotment of models for the US market for 2008, remains to be seen if they can do the same for 2009.

There used to be a "waiting list" of 9 months to 2 years at dealers.  Some dealers still like to perpetuate that story, but the reality is that, depending on your area, you can walk into a Smart dealer and buy one today.  The "early adopters" have all purchased their Smarts, now they have to catch on with the rest of the masses.
I just don't think they will any time soon.   The automotive culture in the USA is so much different than UK or Europe.

The only people I have seen with an interest in the electric Smart copies are people that want to import them and sell them.

[AndrewG]

Yes, to be fair, the two things that the Smart does supremely well are park and, for a small car, crash.  I'm hard-pressed to see what other advantage they have that that a 'conventional' small car doesn't and usually at a lower price - except look like a Smart, which I think is their one overriding benefit to their buyers, a fashion statement.

But of course the downside of selling a fashion item is that it will one day be an un-fashion item.  Or "Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months", in the words of Oscar Wilde.

Andrew

[Bob Purton]

I noticed this one too. Does anyone know what they weigh? My wife drives a Virgo for licensing reasons but would love a smart, alas they are too heavy for quadracycle class. I am assuming that these are made of steel and are over the weight limit.

[AndrewG]

Does anyone know what they weigh?

The Chinese website (which shows a car with slightly different styling) says 780kg incl batteries. Six 12v 200Ah batteries will weight about 360kg, so that leaves 420kg for the car, just over the 400kg heavy quadricycle limit (which is measured ex batteries).  But then I think the G-Wiz is about 410kg ex batteries, so how does that pass the regs?

Andrew

[Bob Purton]

Thanks for that Andrew. It seems not worth considering one of these then.The G-wiz is bang on 400kgs without batteries according to Going green. We are poised to buy a G-wiz this year although we are not very fond of the styling. At least its a tried and tested EV with good maintenance back up. I was in central London last Wednesday and the things were everywhere!