Electric smart not on-sale until 2012

Customers looking for an all-electric smart car will have to wait another three years to buy one. While trials of the car are scheduled to expand, company sources say consumer sales are not expected until 2012 at the earliest.

Smart is reluctant to speculate on prices when the cars finally hit showrooms. But privately sources acknowledge the fortwo ed will cost at least £15,000, twice as much as for the basic petrol model. Even then, it could cost more if government incentives are not put in place to encourage early adopters.

A fleet of 100 electric smart cars have been on trial in the UK since 2007. Coventry City Council and the Metropolitan Police are among those leasing the sodium-nickel-chloride powered cars at a monthly cost of £375. The trials have been part supported by Cenex, the body funded by the Department for Business and Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to support low carbon and fuel technologies in Britain.

Trials will no expand across Europe, starting with Berlin and Paris in 2009. These vehicles will be fitted with new lithium-ion batteries - rather than the UK trial's nickel chloride units - which will ultimately be fitted to consumer cars come 2012.

Small scale production of the electric fortwo should begin in 2010. The company says the vehicles will supply further trials in markets beyond Europe, rather than signalling the start of production for private customers.

Smart is not alone in trialling electric vehicles. Around 500 electric MINIs will be leased to corporate and private customers in California, New York and New Jersey from March 2009.

In October, the government announced a £100m package of measures over the next three years to boost the market for electric cars. These include support for further trials of cars and light commercial vehicles in the UK, as well as plans to boost re-charging networks.