Smart USA, the maker of the infamous Microcar, has announced plans to launch a 250 test-fleet of electric cars as a way boost enthusiasm towards the new eco-vehicles.

Jill Lajdziak, president of Smart USA, said, “The brand’s core is about sustainability. The goal is to be highly successful, obviously in urban markets.”

In order to achieve this, the company decided that the driving public had to become more aware of what an electric vehicle could offer them, hence the large scale trial.

The model which will be used in the trial is 95 percent recyclable because it uses a 16.5 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery which has been exclusively designed by Tesla Motors Inc.With such a high efficiency rate the car is set to make a big impact on the electric vehicle market.

Such a vehicle would need to be charged once or twice a week for the average driver, because it can be driven for approximately 83 miles before it needs to be recharged. This is a distance which is easily adequate for the general commuter.

The trial is only the first part of a wider plan to raise awareness of electric vehicles, with the overall aim being to expand distribution of the Smart electric models worldwide. To achieve this, Smart has set up similar trials in other countries, including offering 100 electric cars in London Smart dealerships.

Derek Kaufman, vice president of Smart USA, said that in Europe and the US the Smart electric car will be available to buy in early 2012. At such time the vehicle should become available to lease.