Maroc - THECEKODOK.COM - A La Une - 03/Jul 19:36

Smart Review #1 Premium – Bring Around One Peninsula

Looking at the development of the local industry, electric cars (EVs) are seen to be introduced more and more, but the average user opinion generally thinks that EVs are only suitable for use in the city, and may not be suitable for taking them for long-distance use. Of course not, it is also related to the availability of charging infrastructure because without a charger, the use of EVs is a very challenging matter.Therefore, when I had the opportunity to use the Smart #1 Premium during the last Aidilfitri holiday, I continued to feel it was appropriate to test it on further trips, including in challenging situations such as taking it to explore the Titiwangsa Range from Penang to Kelantan. This 5-day journey has taken me as far as 2345.1 KM and also various experiences and data that have been recorded to share with everyone.Smart #1 Premium is a variation of Smart #1 with an electric motor at the rear, which can generate 200kW of power, 343 nm of torque and is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. It has a battery with a capacity of 66 kWh which provides a travel distance of 440 km, and can be charged 10%-80% within 30 minutes with DC 150kW charging and also supports AC charging 22 kW which allows it to be charged 0-80% within 3 hours.Day 1 – From KL to PenangStarting the second Eid, I started my journey from the Besar Cloud Rest & Treatment Area towards Batu Kawan, Penang. I have charged up to 92% at home using a 3-pin charger that provides around 3.5 kW of power. Normally, you need the longest time when using a 3.5 kW charger and I myself charge around 12 hours to get around 42 kWh.In the previous two reviews for Smart #1 Brabus and Mercedes EQB 350, I was unsuccessful in charging at Behrang Side Stop Gentari northbound and I want to charge here because I want to use WCE northbound. Therefore I have charged from 64%-83% using the Hello Smart application which offers a special discount of 30% from April 6 until April 14. For 21 minutes of use this has provided energy of 14.59 kW and is charged a fee of RM 17.27.After using the Gentari charger, the station has run out of power and needs to be recharged. This time Gentari has added the SOC label to their application, and EV users who check the application will be able to know the availability status of this charger that uses solar energy and also charges like a power bank because its energy supply is not directly connected to the power grid like other chargers.The choice to do this review during Eid may also coincide with a travel situation that also experiences traffic jams. When passing through Teluk Intan, and also through Changkat Jering, severe congestion occurs because there are still many cars on the road, but electric cars do not use a lot of energy during traffic jams, unlike cars that use gasoline. In Teluk Intan, a 12-minute traffic jam does not reduce even 1% of battery power and this can provide more travel distance for the EV.I have reached ChargEV Starbucks Eco Horizon, Batu Kawan Pulau Pinang where a 22kW charger is available here, and within walking distance of the hotel. With 17% energy remaining, I have traveled 366.8km in 6 hours 43 minutes.Second Day – Tour of Kedah & PenangSmart #1 Premium supports 22 kW charging so the selection of this location in Batu Kawan is because I can charge for free because I have a ChargEV membership which costs RM 240 per year. For the second day, I charged at this location for 2 sessions, namely during dinner the first day for 50 minutes, and in the morning of the second day for 2 hours 24 minutes which gave 98% energy to start the second day.After the charging was completed, I also found a big difference in distance estimation in Standard and Dynamic. The Standard distance estimation option provides an estimate based on battery capacity, where it can be said that 1% of the battery is equivalent to 4.4km, but the Dynamic estimate is dependent on the driving pattern which is also influenced by the situation on the road.The Smart #1 Premium is able to travel 440 km but since I was in a traffic jam on the first day, the distance estimate has made this value go up for the Dynamic estimate option. It predicts that I can drive 472 km compared to the Standard count of 440 km.Personally, I prefer the Standard estimate display because it refers to the capacity of the battery and if I choose Dynamic, I think I'll get tripping sooner because I'll see the figure drop dramatically. But here also credit should be given to Smart because with their algorithm, it shows that the calculation of the estimated distance of 440km is likely to be a smaller value, and it may be able to offer an actual travel distance that is more than that.I went to Smart Eleganz Lifestyle Pulau Pinang for a few check-ups, before continuing my celebratory journey on the third Eid in Bukit Kayu Hitam. On this trip, since I knew there was a charger I wanted to use, I brought this Smart #1 Premium faster than usual. There was even a time when I recorded an average energy consumption of 22 kWh / 100km and this was one of the highest of the entire trip.For the second day, I charged at ChargEV Starbucks Kangar Jaya which is the (only) charging location available in Perlis and probably one of the last DC charging stations for those who want to bring EVs to Langkawi Island from Kuala Perlis jetty. This charging took 41 minutes with the recharged energy being 37.810 kWh at a total of RM 33.57 after taking into account the 30% discount from Smart.On the way home I was still stuck in traffic going to Penang due to an accident, and this somewhat affected the Dynamic count the next day. I have arrived at the St Giles Hotel Wembley to stay and charge for free via the 3.5kW AC charger provided.Day Three – From Penang to KelantanThe option to sleep in a hotel that has charging is arguably the best option because you won't feel like time is being wasted, but one thing to be aware of is the available charging speed. The 3.5kW charger in this hotel is just enough, and I have been charging for almost 12 hours from 10:48pm to 10:47am, and the charged energy is from 35%-91%. For the same period, the battery will be full if you use the 11kW or 22kW AC charger.So for the third day, I went to 1st Avenue Mall to complete a 30-minute 91%-100% charge using ChargeSini. At the time of this review, ChargeSini was not yet available through the Hello Smart application so I was charged for 6.80 kWh which was RM 8.16 for a parking period of 34 minutes.After charging at 1st Avenue Mall, I started my journey towards Kota Bharu using Eco driving mode and expected to arrive there with the energy predicted by the Smart mapping system to be 36%. One of the things EV owners worry about is energy consumption when climbing. This is because when climbing hills and traversing ranges, a lot of energy is needed and this will at once affect the displayed travel distance count and potentially cause travel annoyance.On the way around the Grik didn't use much energy as there were ups and downs in equal measure, and there was a section where I drove for 6 minutes with no change in battery percentage. But after the Tasik Banding area and the climb to the Amiza Titiwangsa rest area, where a sharp rise occurs and the battery percentage and distance prediction drop faster than usual. If at the foot of Lake Banding with around 59% energy and the battery distance/destination distance difference is 90km, I arrive at the rest area with 47% energy left and the battery distance/destination distance difference is as much as 63%.But one of the benefits of an EV compared to a normal vehicle is the energy spent going up the hill, potentially being regenerated when going down the hill even if it does not reach 100% of the energy lost when going up. From Amiza rest area to Jeli district, I used only 6 kWh or an average of 2.6 kWh / 100km, with 4 kWh being regenerated energy. This can at once increase the travel distance for this vehicle, and may be said to be a 'reward' for those who drive EVs up high terrain.I have reached the Ibis Styles Hotel with 26% energy remaining, 10% off the real expectation probably because I also drove fast in a hilly area and took 6 hours 18 minutes to reach the destination. Interestingly, 32% of this journey is using renewable energy, with an estimated energy consumption of 66kWh, and renewable energy of 22kWh.Fourth Day – From Kelantan To JohorI thought the Ibis Styles hotel provides free continuous charging like St Giles Wembley but the free charging provided is limited to the first 4 hours and the following hours will be charged at a disadvantageous rate. Since it is a 6.5kW AC slow charge, I charged with DC at Gentari Hotel Perdana Kota Baharu for 1 hour 15 minutes with a charge capacity of 53.62 kWh and was charged RM 59.51 because I still have a discount from Smart.The morning journey started early because there was a traffic jam for cars from the East Coast back to KL city. This fourth day is also the farthest and longest day of the entire drive for this review. Since most of the roads used are state roads, energy consumption is quite efficient, but the traffic jams start to make me want to drive faster.Unlike the previous three days, where I was probably driving normally, the driving on the fourth day was a bit aggressive as I was fighting against the clock. Masakan no, from the city of Kelantan to the end of Johor which is Pekan Desaru, has a distance of more than 700km. So if I originally wanted to charge at ChargEV Starbucks Indera Mahkota, Waze has provided a faster route that goes through Mydin Gong Badak, allowing fast charging to be done.If on the third day I saw the benefit of the regeneration function that provided energy during the descent, the fourth day was the day I drove aggressively and still also regenerated the energy. This is because using the state road, there are times when you have to overtake the vehicle in front and EV is the best car and still has a price that is not too expensive for this function.Often mentioned is the Smart #1 Premium's acceleration power which can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, and in state road driving, I was happy to overtake slower vehicles with ease. And after cutting, the resulting inertia provides energy regeneration and charges the battery, although it is not a high value, but it is enough to increase your travel distance.I have been charging at ChargEV Starbucks Indera Mahkota but due to the sudden unavailability of this charger, I have diverted to Pesat CTM but not for long as the location will be closed. So I turned back to complete a full charge at Starbucks Indera Mahkota's ChargEV. I have been in Kuantan for 2 hours to charge from 22% – 100% to continue the journey to Desaru.Heading to Desaru, I didn't see many EVs on this trip, and since it was getting dark, I drove faster than usual to catch up with time, but still had a very good energy consumption considering the average energy consumption of 156 kWh and also the energy regenerate as much as 47kWh for driving for more than 12 hours.Day Five – From Johor Back to KLFor the last day, I have been fast charging at DC Handal, and it took 1 hour 11 minutes for 55.76 kWh which required a payment of RM 83.63. This charger also manages to provide energy as high as 122 kW as a result of Smart #3 which supports DC charging up to 150 kW. For the return trip, since I started late, I drove faster than usual, and had time to stop at the KM 0 Johor Bahru landmark.Logically I should be able to reach Awan Besar R & R which is 440km from Desaru, but due to driving and also several stops, I stopped at Shell Pagoh to try to charge Parkeasy. Here I have charged for 15 minutes to get a percentage of 36%-61% and have charged 17.06 kW with a payment of RM 42.54. This was the most expensive payment of the entire trip.Continuing the journey home, I drove through the rain and here too I found the energy consumption to be higher. This is because rain causes increased resistance, and more energy is needed to move the car, as well as the use of more windshield wipers and air conditioners.I arrived at ChargEV Starbucks Conezion Putrajaya with 16% power left and charged for the last time, before returning this Smart #1 Premium. With a 22kW AC charger, I charged 13.97kWh from 16% – 36% for 43 minutes while eating dinner. I ended my journey at the same place, the Big Cloud Rest Area with 2345KM recorded during these 5 days.ConclusionThis 5-day trip gave me a lot of knowledge about EVs in general, and also how the Smart #1 Premium performs for long trips. Some may say about the range, and the 440KM range may be seen as a bit much when compared to other EV cars that offer a longer range. For me, the 440KM distance offered by Smart is sufficient for a single travel segment such as KL to Kedah, or KL to Johor, but it will be very challenging when traveling over a distance such as from Kedah to Johor, or Kelantan to Johor.I also record the driving pattern and also the average consumption of kWh / 100km. Only the journey from Penang to Johor uses Eco mode, while all other days use Comfort mode. Smart #1 Premium was found to be very reliable in providing performance, providing a driving pattern similar to a normal petrol car, and can guarantee good travel distance. No travel annoyances resulted, in fact the problem arose from the charging infrastructure, and not the EV itself. I myself really enjoy driving on state roads with the quick acceleration, and regenerative braking.The 22kW AC charger can also be said to be a factor that always wins Smart because of the shortened AC charging time. I personally used the 22kW charger 4 times, with 3 of them using ChargEV and once using ChargeSini. Another thing I like is the storage space that has air conditioning, can cool drinks for long trips.And the lack that remains to be faced is the driver monitoring system that is seen to be too sensitive, which can be proven in a few moments, and more noticeable when as early as the morning of the fourth day when starting the journey, it detects that I am 'tired to drive' whereas what happened was that I was distracted to record video.And since the Smart #1 Premium is in the hatchback class, the 323 liter luggage space may be a dilemma for those of you with a large family, or those of you who prioritize luggage space. At its updated price of RM 209,000 it competes closely with other EVs that offer larger luggage capacity, and if you still want a Smart with a large luggage capacity, you may have to wait for the Smart #3.ProThe travel distance of 440km can be said to be suitable for medium-long tripsAcceleration performance makes it easier for cars to overtake on state roadsConsistent travel distance prediction, and does not produce any travel annoyanceConsAn overly sensitive driver monitoring systemSmall luggage space