Smart Car makes energy sense in U.S.

was only a matter of time before the Smart Car was introduced to the U.S. Several different models of similar size from different manufacturers have been available in Europe for years.

I was in Italy several years ago and was immediately struck by the size difference in motor vehicles. Even Ford and General Motors have made scaled-down versions of full-sized vans, which I saw in Europe. Apparently they are not available here, and I cannot fathom for what reason that is so.

When I was in Halifax two years ago, Smart cars lined up by the hundreds in the port and were being shipped for sale throughout the near provinces. It is past time that U.S. consumers have the opportunity to buy cars whose mileage per gallon makes sense.

There are those who predict such cars won't be popular or have an impact. I predict that the dealers won't be able to keep the cars in stock and by the end of 2008, there will be a six-month waiting list for a wildly popular new-look car. As with everything else that makes energy sense, the U.S. is far behind the rest of the world. Perhaps this will help.

Tags: smartcar