Smera tilting e-car debuts in Paris
Loves the Arc de Triomphe, roundabouts, slalom races
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Leccy Tech Despite looking like a slightly crushed Smart car, Lumeneo’s Smera e-car has gone on sale in Paris.
Lumeneo’s Smera e-car is now available in Paris
The leccy car costs €29,500 (£25,413/$41,654), including VAT and the battery pack. But French buyers should be eligible for a €5000 (£4307/$7060) government e-car rebate.
Speaking of the battery, Smera’s power comes from a 144 volt, 10kWh lithium-ion battery pack connected to a 30kW (40bhp) electric motor that also generates 1000Nm (738lb/ft) of torque.
Passengers sit behind each other
According to Lumeneo, the vehicle’s capable of 130kph (80mph) and a 0-100kph (0-62mph) dash in eight seconds. Its range is 150km (93 miles) on a full charge.
As you can see, the Smera's dimensions are hardly what many call conventional. Its 2.4m length is reasonable enough, but rather than sitting two passengers side-by-side the Smera puts them behind each other.
It’s also worth pointing out that Smera’s a four-wheel drive car with semi-active suspension - capable of tilting around bends by up to 25 degrees.
Something out of Star Trek?
This aspect’s controlled by a computer that also manages power distribution and braking, ensuring that any overly eager or rapid circumnavigation of the Arc de Triomphe won’t end in tears.
But the car’s no less odd on the inside, with a traditional steering wheel replaced by a control yoke and all technical information relayed to the driver using an LCD display.
Lumeneo’s Smera’s currently only available in Paris, but the firm’s whispered to Register Hardware that it plans to open showrooms in other major European cities - including London – by 2011.
A UK launch date hasn't been annouced
And by that time the UK government’s £5000 e-car subsidy will have kicked in, which could see the car cost roughly £20,000 (&32,781/€23,215). ®
COMMENTS
What about a Piaggio MP3 with a closed canopy?
Has anyone here seen those three-wheeled MP3 scooters by Piaggio? They just announced the hybrid version, declared fuel efficiency is 60 km/l. Price is supposed to be about € 9.000,00. Also, it tilts up to 40 degrees. Throw in a closed canopy, I don't think it would cost three times as much, even if it would require a bigger engine because of the extra weight. And we Reg readers already know that electric cars are a scam ;-)
Oh, and the fourth wheel is totally redundant.
(Disclaimer: I am not related to Piaggio :-P )
'Scmidt?
Don't be fooled by the hype.
It leans. So what? That will mainly counter the instability inherent in a design with a narrow track and a relatively high centre of gravity. Without the expensive tilting tech it would roll on it's side if you tried to change direction quickly. Stability control would be no good as that just amounts to designed in critical understeer.
It's electric. So what? It could easilly have a petrol engine.
Take away that hype and there's nothing new at all. It's just a bubble car for the twenty first century. It won't catch on. The bubble car's day is long past and even in it's day it's advantages were it's low price and low tech. This thing is expensive and complicated so the things that made the bubble car attractive are absent. Replacing them with electric power, tilting and a vain hope that it will appeal to the fashion conscious will not help this thing sell at that price. Even at a quarter of the price I suspect they would have few takers.
Crosswinds?
I'd be interested to know how it can handle overtaking a juggernaut on the motorway in a strong sidewind.
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