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New lightweight car 'SMILE' presented to public
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Written on: 13 February 2011 [14:57]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 585
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A new lightweight car project is underway: The SMILE The vehicle is developed at Oekozentrum Langenbruck (Centre for Appropriate Technology and Social Ecology), Switzerland, an innovative organisation developing sustainable solutions and offering services like education, project management, research and development. The SMILE is a four wheeler and an ideal commuter vehicle with a weight of less than 500kgs including batteries. Compared to EVs currently on the market it has many benefits: - It's lighter and therefore more efficient - It has a fresh look, but not too exotic - It has four wheels, again not too exotic  - It has a steering wheel, again something ordinary but acceptable to most buyers - It charges quicker than a most normal-size EVs (Volt, i-MiEV, Think, etc.) - It has enough power not to be an obstacle in traffic - Range Extender optionally available, for those who need once in a while extended range - Proven and existing car components are used SMILE  I think the specifications are well thought thru and eliminate a lot of deficiencies of other bigger and smaller EVs. What amazes me as well is that the main players on the car market are not able to come up with such innovative solutions. Renault wants to fill the gap with the Twizy, but this vehicle is too limited. At least Renault is honest and says the car is only for city driving. As it can only do 75km/h this is very true. What Renault probably wants is that we buy the city car. For longer trips we should buy a larger car, so they can sell more vehicles. It's the same trend as with the bicycles, one to go to work, one to drive off-road and one to do touring. The makers of the SMILE also say that their car is not very practicable for longer trips. But as most people do not make longer journeys very often anyway, that's probably ok, but at least the vehicle is usable for city drives as well as commuting (which can include short trips on the motorway) or even a longer trip once in a while to see grandma. It looks like both vehicles use components from Quads, not sure though if true for the SMILE. The SMILE basically goes back to the roots and gives the driver a vehicle to get from A to B without all the accessories nobody really needs. I give the project ***** stars and wish them good luck! More pictures at: http://www.oekozentrum.ch/deutsch/projekte/mobilitaet.html Stefan ----------- Picture of the Renault Twizy, available end of 2011.  Twike 890
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Written on: 16 March 2011 [22:30]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 585
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Good news, I was informed by the company that the SMILE will be available later this year and sells for an attractive price of 39'000 CHF/USD resp. 30'000 Euros. Twike 890
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Written on: 24 March 2011 [14:18]
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johncarfreak
registered since: 24.03.2011
Posts: 2
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Nice car, beautifull look. |
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