smart stuff: the final countdown

We are in the final countdown.  And I'm not speaking of the election itself but the energy issue it raises.  Last night, 60 Minutes profiled the electric car race- showcasing the sporty Tesla (currently in production at $109,000 a pop) vs. the Chevrolet Volt (as advertised on TV as early as 2007 despite a 2010 launch date).  Detroit's scheduled entry into the electric arena has established a countdown to 2010 that other developers are using as a benchmark. 

Will smart get in the race?  I don't have a definitive answer, but one would hope that the forward-thinking team at smart would take to the challenge as they took to redefining the car for modern times.  Here's what I do know- in Europe only, 2009 smart fortwos will use MHD (micro hybrid drive) technology for fuel economy improvements of up to 20%.  Surprisingly, the US market will be excluded from this upgrade.  So can we expect MHD smarts in the US for 2010, dear corporate?  The race is underway.