The Met lead the way for electric Smart

The Smart ed (electric drive) is a battery powered version of the fortwo two-seat city car, which can be plugged into a household socket and is capable of around 300mpg on a like-for-like cost basis, compared to a petrol-powered Smart fortwo.

Smart offered 100 electric cars to various customers, including local councils, universities, energy companies and the Metropolitan Police, in December 2007 for a four-year trial on UK roads, but already it's proved so successful that the maker will put the zero-emissions car into 'small series production' next year. Further trials will also take place in Rome, Milan and Paris.

A Smart spokesperson was not able to confirm how many will be made or available in the UK, but the move can still be considered a breakthrough in the proliferation of electric car use. Reacting to the news, London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “The move to electric vehicles, which emit zero pollution on London's streets, will have a massive impact on cutting carbon emissions to curb climate change whilst improving air quality and noise levels for our citizens.”

Read our Smart fortwo ed test drive here.

Mark Nichol