Why the Smart #2 Is the City EV Most People Should Wait For
The Smart #2 electric car is a two-seat city EV compact that combines the tiny footprint of the classic Fortwo successor with modern range, safety and charging tech to deliver efficient, low-stress urban mobility for everyday driving.
If you want a small electric vehicle that is built first and foremost for the city, the Smart #2 is the one to plan for. It brings Smart back to its roots as a tiny two-seater runabout, following years of larger electric crossovers and sedans. With a length of 2,792 mm and a turning circle of only 6.95 metres, it will reclaim the title of shortest electric car on sale while still being a full car rather than a quadricycle. According to one early preview, “the Smart #2 has been designed to offer what Smart calls ‘uncompromised urban capability’.” Add a targeted 300 km WLTP range and rapid 10–80% DC charging in under 20 minutes, and this is the city EV compact most urban drivers should shortlist first.
Design: Tiny Footprint, Crossover-Inspired Style
The Smart #2 is unashamedly small, but design leaks show it leaning into a modern crossover-inspired look despite its minimal footprint. Murals painted in cities including Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Paris and Shanghai reveal teardrop-shaped headlamps, a large grille and a floating roof that sits over subtly muscular bodywork. It keeps the stubby proportions of the old Fortwo but adds sharper, scowling headlights and rounded rear light units, giving it a more assertive stance.
Underneath the styling, Smart is bringing back its redeveloped Tridion safety cell for better crash protection, though this time it is less of a visual contrast element and more integrated into the body. The production car tones down the wild Concept #2, losing oversized wheels and flashy trim, but keeps the clean, almost playful aesthetic suitable for tight streets and dense traffic. If you like the idea of a tough-looking crossover that “shrunk in the wash” yet remains easy to park, this is exactly that kind of design.
Range, Charging and Core Specs: What to Expect
Smart has already confirmed the numbers that matter for daily usability. A 35.7 kWh battery under the floor is targeted to deliver around 300 km of WLTP-rated range, equivalent to about 186 miles. DC fast charging from 10% to 80% is quoted at under 20 minutes, which means quick top-ups during errands rather than long waits. The car is built on a bespoke Electric Compact Architecture developed within the Smart–Geely partnership, with the #2 positioned as a compact urban commuter for two.
Power comes from a TZ160XS00A electric drive motor rated at 60 kW (80 hp), fed by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack using cells from CATL and assembled under Geely’s management. At 2,792 mm long, the Smart #2 undercuts the Fiat 500e by almost a metre, making it the smallest electric car in its class, yet its 6.95 m curb-to-curb turning circle keeps it highly manoeuvrable in tight streets and cramped car parks. It will also offer vehicle-to-load capability, allowing you to power external devices from the traction battery when needed.
| Spec | Smart #2 |
|---|---|
| Seating | 2 seats (city EV compact runabout) |
| Length | 2,792 mm (shortest electric car on sale) |
| Turning circle | 6.95 m curb to curb |
| Battery | 35.7 kWh LFP pack |
| Range | Target ~300 km WLTP / 186 miles |
| Motor output | 60 kW (80 hp) electric motor |
| Fast charging | 10–80% in under 20 minutes (DC) |
| Platform | Electric Compact Architecture (ECA) |
| Extra features | Vehicle-to-load external power support |
Interior and Everyday Use: Built for Urban Commuters and New EV Drivers
Smart has not fully revealed the interior yet, but confirmed details point to a cabin designed to maximise space and simplicity. The Smart #2 will feature an S-shaped dashboard inspired by the original Fortwo, maintaining a playful yet functional layout. A bench seat spans the cabin and hides covered storage underneath, with window controls positioned in the centre to keep the doors clean and compact. As a two-seat city EV compact, it is clearly aimed at urban commuters and first-time EV buyers who value easy parking, low running effort and enough range for daily routines rather than long-distance travel.
Smart describes the #2 as offering “uncompromised urban capability”, a description backed up by its tiny dimensions, agile turning circle and targeted WLTP range of about 300 km. Being the electric successor to the famed Fortwo, it returns the brand to what it does best: a distinctive, ultra-compact small electric vehicle that feels purpose-built for crowded streets rather than adapted from a larger platform. If you rarely need more than two seats and want your next EV to feel made for the city rather than squeezed into it, the Smart #2 fits that brief with confidence.
Launch Timeline and How It Fits Among Compact EVs
The Smart #2 is being introduced through a distinctive launch campaign: its near-production design has been painted as murals across major global cities ahead of its full debut. The world premiere is scheduled for the Paris Motor Show on October 12, where Smart will reveal full details and the final production interior. It is due to reach dealerships after that, reclaiming Smart’s spot in the smallest end of the EV market as the shortest electric car available, significantly shorter than a Fiat 500e and still a category above quadricycles such as the Citroën Ami or Micro Microlino.
In the current landscape of compact EVs, many models have grown into small crossovers or superminis, leaving a gap for a true two-seat city specialist. The Smart #2 fills this gap as a Fortwo successor with modern electric hardware, better safety and far more usable range than early city EVs. For drivers who prioritise effortless parking, tight manoeuvres and low daily energy use over carrying four or five people, it stands out as the most focused upcoming option rather than a compromise derived from a larger car.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you want the smallest full electric car available with a usable 300 km WLTP range for daily city driving.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you regularly carry more than one passenger or need rear seats for family use.
- Buy the Smart #2 if ultra-tight manoeuvrability, with a 6.95 m turning circle, matters more to you than motorway comfort.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you frequently drive long distances where a larger battery and more powerful motor would be a better match.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you are a first-time EV buyer seeking a compact, easy-to-park city EV compact with fast 10–80% DC charging in under 20 minutes.
