Sad Craigslist Story: 2014 Smart Fortwo EV and the case of the dying batteries
The future hasn’t arrived yet, but the Sad Craigslist stories of the future have arrived. Those who have raised the specter of a failed battery on an EV in a few years have found a true story to make their case.
On today’s Sad Craigslist story, we bring you this 2014 Smart Fortwo EV with what is becoming a very common case of the main battery dying and leaving a potential huge bill for repair.
Let’s talk about the 2014 Smart Fortwo Electric, a pint-sized EV that made quite a splash in the automotive world. While this little electric car had its charms, it also had its fair share of issues, especially when it came to its battery. Just as its name suggests, this Smart car is all about being compact. With a length of only 8.8 feet, it could fit in spaces that other cars could only dream of. Perfect for squeezing through tight urban streets and snagging those last-minute parking spots.
Under the tiny hood, you’d find a 55 kW (74 horsepower) electric motor paired with a single-speed automatic transmission. The 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack was responsible for powering this electric wonder, and it gave the Fortwo Electric a range of around 68 miles on a full charge.
The main issue is that once the small 12V battery fails, is a race against time for the main battery to fail. Many owners are finding themselves unable to charge their cars, sometimes because the 12V battery failed and they found out too late. Leave the car completely uncharged for over 2 weeks and you are playing Russian roulette with your main battery.
Perhaps the most discouraging aspect of the 2014 Smart Fortwo Electric was the cost of replacing the main battery. When the battery reached the end of its life, which could happen sooner than expected due to the issues mentioned above, it could set you back a whopping $10,000 to $12,000. Ouch!
This one, as mentioned, has a main battery issue. It only reached approx 50,000 miles. Doesn’t even run. And the price is a somewhat optimistic $2,200. I would do a hard pass here.
