This text was not translated, because it is originally in English
Today, Smart USA delivered its first fortwo electric drive to a retail customer, to Mindy Kimball of Silver Spring, MD. On hand for the ceremony were Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske and smart USA President Jill Lajdziak.

Kimball, a 36-year-old Major in the United States Army and a member of the Electric Vehicle Association of Washington, DC, chose the fortwo electric drive because she believes its the most modern electric car on the market. For the record, the Smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a 30-kW magneto-electric motor and a 16. 5-kWh lithium-ion battery. According to the EPAs LA4 test cycle, the car can travel up to 98 miles on a full charge. In combined city and highway driving, the electric Smart has an EPA-estimated range of 63 miles. Using a 220-volt outlet, it takes only three and a half hours to charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent of its capacity. A full charge with 220 is said to take about eight hours.

This year, Smart USA is placing 250 fortwo electric drives across the U. S. with companies, municipalities, organizations and individuals interested in making a passionate statement on conservation and environmental awareness. Series production of the vehicle, for lease only, is expected to begin in 2012. Interested?