Smart #1: The 800V Fast-Charging EV Most People Should Buy
Smart #1 EV 800V fast charging is a compact electric SUV that uses an 800V electrical architecture to recharge its battery from 10% to 80% in around 12 minutes, combining premium charging performance, mid-size practicality, and accessible pricing in one of the most competitive electric SUV comparison choices available today.
If you want one electric SUV that fits daily commuting, family duties and long trips, the refreshed Smart #1 should be at the top of your list. It upgrades from a 400V system to an 800V version of Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture platform, allowing its 66kWh battery to jump from 10% to 80% in 12 minutes, cutting about 18 minutes from the previous car’s charging time. In plain terms, this makes the Smart #1 charge as quickly as many premium-brand EVs while targeting a more accessible price band. The car also keeps a practical footprint with compact exterior dimensions but useful rear legroom and flexible cargo space, so it works as a single car for most households.
What 12-Minute 800V Charging Means in Real Life
The headline figure is clear: “The new Smart #1’s 66kWh battery can be charged from 10%-80% in just 12 minutes.” That is enabled by a full 800V silicon carbide architecture that replaces the older 400V setup and supports peak DC charging of about 360kW. Plugged into a suitable high-output DC charger, Smart says you can go from 10% to 80% in about the time it takes to watch a short online video.
In practice, this reshapes how you plan journeys. Instead of scheduling 30–40 minute stops, you are looking at quick 10–15 minute breaks that fit naturally around a coffee or restroom stop. The battery is a 61.52kWh LFP pack in the Chinese specification paired with 6C ultra-fast charging capability, and the updated car is quoted at up to 331 miles on the CLTC cycle, equivalent to roughly 272 miles on WLTP. For many drivers, this range plus 12-minute charging means you can rely on public DC chargers without feeling tied to home charging schedules.
Performance, Range and Everyday Use: How Smart #1 Stacks Up
Beyond EV charging technology headlines, the Smart #1’s core hardware is strong. A new Geely-developed motor delivers 328bhp (245kW) and 236lb ft of torque to the rear wheels, giving 0–62mph in 6.7 seconds. That puts it squarely against electric SUV rivals such as the Kia EV3, Renault Mégane E-Tech, Volvo EX30, Mini Aceman and Zeekr X. The updated model keeps its original dimensions of 168.1in long, 71.7in wide and 64.4in high on a 108.3in wheelbase.
Those numbers translate into a compact footprint outside but a useful cabin with real rear legroom and boot space that ranges from 11.1ft³ to 34.5ft³ with the seats folded. Range remains competitive: on the CLTC test it reaches up to 331 miles, which corresponds to around 272 miles on WLTP. You also get a livelier drive than the power figure alone suggests thanks to rear-wheel drive and the playful character that layout encourages. The result is an EV that is quick enough for confident motorway driving, efficient enough for weekly charging to feel relaxed, and small enough to live easily in tight city streets.
Tech, Comfort and Value: Why Smart #1 Beats Many Premium EVs
Inside, the Smart #1 combines Mercedes-like design cues with a tech-heavy platform. Higher trims add a roof-mounted LiDAR as part of a 31-sensor suite feeding an Nvidia Orin Y chip with 200 TOPS of computing power, while even the entry Max trim can be specified with this advanced driver assistance package. A 15.4-inch 2.5K central touchscreen running Smart’s Flyme Auto OS, a 10.2-inch driver display and a 10-inch head-up display create a modern, screen-led cockpit. Materials and seats have been upgraded, and some versions offer contrasting gold roofs and more luxurious finishes.
Crucially, Smart expects pricing for markets outside China to stay similar to the current car, with the entry model remaining around the same level and the Brabus-tuned flagship sitting higher up the range. In other words, you are getting 800V fast charging, 328bhp performance and a sophisticated interior without paying typical premium-brand prices. That value equation is what makes the Smart #1 the default recommendation over the Kia EV3 or Renault Mégane E-Tech if 800V fast charging and short 12-minute top-ups are high on your priority list.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Smart #1 if you want 800V fast charging that can take the battery from 10% to 80% in about 12 minutes and you value short, efficient charging stops.
- Skip the Smart #1 if ultra-fast DC infrastructure is rare where you live and you cannot take advantage of its 12-minute charging capability.
- Buy the Smart #1 if you want a compact electric SUV with around 272 miles of WLTP-range-equivalent and rear-wheel-drive performance of 0–62mph in 6.7 seconds.
- Skip the Smart #1 if you prefer a larger, more traditional family SUV and do not need a compact footprint of 168.1in by 71.7in.
- Buy the Smart #1 if you want advanced driver-assistance tech like a LiDAR-based sensor suite and a high-tech infotainment system without paying full premium-brand prices.
- Skip the Smart #1 if you dislike screen-heavy interiors with large central touchscreens and prefer a more analog dashboard layout.
