21 October 2008 – London Metropolitan Police trial electric smart cars
A fleet of smart ed (electric drive) cars is on trial with the Metropolitan Police Service in London. The zero-emission cars that will be used as non-response vehicles will enable police to fight crime and maintain law and order in the capital, whilst helping to cut pollution and reduce road congestion in the city.
Smart fortwo ed emits no carbon dioxide or particle matter which makes it the cleanest production car in the world. The fully electric smart ed cars have a range of up to 70 miles. The battery can be recharged overnight through a standard domestic power socket at a cost of around £1.20 and the car can achieve an equivalent of 300 miles per gallon or around £1 for 50 miles.
During the 4-year trial the smart ed cars with anti-lock brakes, traction control and front airbags will be in service in central London and Heathrow Airport. Two of the cars will have full Metropolitan Police livery.
Stuart Middleton, Director of Transport Services, Metropolitan Police Service, said: ‘The public might be surprised to see smart police cars on the streets of London but we’re very excited about taking part in this market trial.
‘Policing a city like London brings its own particular challenges and we’re always keen to try out new innovations and ideas. The smart ed enables us to have a police presence in very congested areas.’
A spokesperson for City Vehicle Leasing, Mercedes-Benz and smart car leasing specialists for London added, ‘smart fortwo ed is the perfect car for our contract hire customers who live or work in the centre of London. Smart ed is fully electric and has no exhaust fumes, which means no congestion charges.
‘London is one of the UK’s least car-friendly cities with limited parking, clamping and heavy fines. At just eight feet long smart fortwo ed can fit into the tiniest of spaces.’
‘Our smart contract hire customers have a few years to wait before the smart fortwo ed goes on sale in this country. The diesel powered smart fortwo will be available to contract hire in Spring 2009.’
smart fortwo ed is due to go into mass production in 2010. UK launch dates and prices have yet to be announced.
News stories are published on City Vehicle Leasing, that we believe, may be of interest to visitors to our website and which are of a subject matter of related nature to the content of our website: Mercedes-Benz and smart car leasing and contract hire.
We report on stories that are making the news headlines around the world, which have been widely reported elsewhere. Inclusion of a news story on this website does not infer that City Vehicle Leasing has any knowledge of or involvement with the person or events contained within this news story.
