G. David Felt - Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.cheersandgears.com
Smart Car Gas to end 2017, Pure EV only for 2018!
USA Today has stated that Mercedes-Benz has notified their Smart Car sellers that 2017 is the end of the Gas powered auto. Smart Car will live on but only in Pure EV mode with a complete lineup. Mercedes is quoted as saying they have decided that the three-cylinder, 70 HP powered auto that averaged 40 mpg just did not make sense any more in today's age of cheap gas and net battery tech. Smart Car only sold 6,211 autos in the US last year, down 17% from 2015 and Car2go has notified SmartCar that they will no longer be using their car in their program instead moving over to the CLA Sedan and GLA crossover as their customers are asking for. This alone which accounted for the largest amount of Smart Car sales would indicate the days are numbered.
As such, Mercedes-Benz will show off a new selection of EV Smart Cars some time this year and only have EV models for sale in 2018.
USA Today Story