Smart's Tiny Two-Seater Returns As An EV With Triple The Range

Remember the Smart Fortwo? The pint-sized two-door that could park nose-in to a curb and squeeze into spaces other cars drove right past? It's back — and this time it's electric only. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) just published production filings for the all-new Smart #2, giving us our first clear look at the Fortwo's spiritual successor in series form.

The big story for anyone who remembers the old EQ Fortwo is range. That car was sold in the U.S. as a 2017 model with an EPA-rated 58 miles — enough for errands, and not much else. The new #2's European version gets a 35.7-kilowatt-hour battery with a manufacturer-estimated 186 miles (300 kilometers). That's nearly triple, and it's the difference between a car you plan your day around and one you just drive.

What The Filings Tell Us

The Chinese-spec version uses a rear-mounted 80-horsepower (60-kilowatt) motor developed by Infimotion, paired with a floor-mounted lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) pack. CATL makes the cells, Geely — which owns half of Smart — handles final assembly, and Mercedes-Benz owns the other half of the brand.

Here's how small it actually is:

• Length: 108.8 inches (2,764 mm)
• Width: 65.7 inches (1,669 mm)
• Height: 61.2 inches (1,555 mm)
• Wheelbase: 73.8 inches (1,875 mm)
• Curb weight: 2,491 pounds (1,130 kg)
• Top speed: 87 mph (130 km/h)

For context, that's shorter than most American parking spaces are wide. It's no Autobahn cruiser at 87 mph, but on tight city streets it may be the best antidote yet to big, bulky SUVs.

The production car looks remarkably close to the concept Smart showed in April, minus the cloth-like wheels and the LED screens tucked into each side of the front bumper. The face is aggressive — which, love it or not, is just how cars look now.

Two Features Worth Paying Attention To

Smart claims a 10-to-80% fast-charging session takes under 20 minutes. On a battery this small that math checks out, and it changes how a city car behaves on the occasional longer trip. Top up over a coffee, keep going.

More interesting for accessory shoppers: vehicle-to-load (V2L) is baked in. That means the high-voltage battery can export power to run appliances and tools — the same capability that's turned bigger EVs into rolling generators for camping, tailgating, and job sites.

V2L is quietly becoming a standard EV feature rather than a premium one. If a 2,491-pound city car ships with it, expect it on nearly everything by the end of the decade.

What This Means If You Drive An EV Today

The Smart #2 is confirmed for China and Europe, with a global debut at the Paris Motor Show in October and production starting in China afterward. Smart hasn't ruled out building it in Europe if volumes justify the investment. European prices are expected to start below €22,500 (about $26,000). There's no U.S. announcement, so American buyers should treat this as a look at where small EVs are heading rather than a shopping list item.

What is worth acting on is the V2L trend. If your current EV supports it — and a growing number of Teslas, Kias, Hyundais, Fords, and Rivians do in some form — the accessory that unlocks it is a proper V2L adapter or discharge cable rated for your vehicle's output. Pair it with a quality extension cord and a compact power strip and your car becomes backup power for a fridge during an outage, a campsite kitchen, or a set of power tools in a driveway with no outlet.

The other takeaway: small batteries charge fast. A sub-20-minute 10-80% session on a 35.7-kWh pack is a reminder that charging speed is about more than peak kilowatts. If you're running a smaller-battery EV, a good portable Level 2 charger and a set of the right adapters often matter more than chasing the fastest DC stall, because you'll spend most of your charging time at home or at a destination anyway.

The Bottom Line

The Fortwo was a great idea hamstrung by a 58-mile battery. The Smart #2 fixes the range, adds fast charging, and throws in V2L for good measure. Americans won't get it, but the formula — tiny footprint, adequate range, useful power export — is one that more automakers should be copying.