Smart Confirms Electric Scooter

Daimler AG's Smart city car unit says it will introduce a production version of its electric scooter in 2014.

Smart showed the "escooter" in concept form at the Paris auto show in 2010. The company did not reveal any new details about the two-wheeler's powertrain, sales targets or intended markets.

The highly styled concept is powered by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery located under the seat and a 4-kW disc-shaped electric motor mounted in the hub of the rear wheel. Smart says the scooter can reach a top speed of nearly 30 mph and travel about 60 miles per charge.

The concept is fitted regenerative braking and a solar array to help charge the battery. Daimler says European household current can recharge the battery in three to five hours.

The concept is equipped with an airbag, hydraulic-electric antilock brakes, blind-spot monitor, heated handle grips and LED headlamp and taillamp. The single seat can be flipped back to carry a second rider.

The scooter uses a plug-in iPhone instead of a conventional instrument panel to unlock the scooter and display speed, range, navigation maps and other operating data.