Indianapolis Test Market For Electric Smart Car

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis is one of five cities where consumers will get the first crack at leasing an electric-powered vehicle launching in the U.S. this year.

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was introduced in Indianapolis on Thursday. The fully electric car is powered by a lithium-ion battery, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

It can be charged in between four to eight hours, yielding about an 85-mile driving range before it needs to be recharged, using about $2 of electricity where a standard vehicle would consume about $12 in gas for the same distance.

Derek Kaufman, Smart's vice president of business development, said Indianapolis was chosen because of the city's interest.

"When we came in one of the early meetings with the utility commission here in Indianapolis … the first thing they asked is, 'How can we help?'" Kaufman said.

The car is marketed toward people who need to make short trips.

"It'll drive the car for about 85 miles on a single charge, and it takes about four hours to charge the battery at 220 (volts) and about 12 hours at 110 (volts)," Kaufman said. "We can charge either in kind of a dryer line in your house or in the regular 110 circuit."

The car itself is very compact, but is built with safety in mind, the company said, utilizing safety characteristics used in race cars.

"This is extremely safe on the highway," said Walter Grass, Smart's brand manager. "This is like the actual safety cage of the F1 formula cars. It takes the impact and it bounces off from what has hit you."

George Moody, who already has a gas-powered smart car, now wants an electric model.

"I just love the technology, and to see America head toward electric cars," he said. "Get rid of the gasoline pumps."

About 250 of the vehicles will be made available beginning in October. A four-year lease runs $599 a month.