Smart #2 revives the electric Fortwo with 290 km of range for €19,990

Smart is reviving its tiny electric two-seater with a new version called the #2, shown at the Paris Motor Show. It has a 35.8 kWh battery (using LFP chemistry, a more durable but slightly less energy-dense battery type) and up to 290 km (180 miles) of range, more than double the old Smart Fortwo EV. Unlike that earlier car, it can fast-charge on DC, going from 10 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes. Pricing in Germany, France, and Italy starts at €19,990, with pricier trims up to €25,690 adding things like a glass roof and a better sound system. Deliveries start in 2027, with early orders opening the next day in Europe.

This is a European release only. Smart (a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and China's Geely) pulled out of the US and Canada back in 2019, and because the car is Chinese-built with connected software, it has no clear path to US sale under current rules. So for American homeowners, this isn't something you'll be able to buy or charge in your own garage.

If you do live somewhere it's sold, it's worth knowing it faces stiff competition: Renault's four-seat Twingo E-Tech starts at the same €19,990 price, and Volkswagen has a similarly priced small EV, the ID. Every1, expected around the same time in 2027.