The models will be offered by Hertz in a car-sharing type service in New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco starting December 15. The details of the program, including the prices, have not yet been announced.
The electric smart fortwo has been presented by Daimler, in its current form, at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.
Together with the A- and B-Klasse fuel cell models, the smart electric will play a pivotal role in Daimler's upcoming market strategy.
This is the second announcement made by Hertz regarding electric vehicles, after the one about the addition to the fleet of Coda electric sedans. GM, Mitsubishi and Toyota have signed similar agreements with Hertz.
The fortwos are powered by a 30 kW magneto-electric motor installed at the rear which provides a torque of 120 Nm at the first turn of the wheel. The unit enables the tiny vehicle to accelerate from naught to sixty in 6.5 seconds, just as fast as the petrol model.
Using a Tesla-sourced lithium-ion battery, the fortwo can be recharged from any 220 Volt socket. According to Daimler, recharging takes about 3 hours, but the math has been done taking into consideration an average speed of 25 - 30 km/h (15-18 mph). The 16.5 kWh battery allows for a maximum range of 135 km (83 miles).
The model is equipped with air conditioning with automatic temperature control, electric power steering, electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors.
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