Residents of the UK will soon have another version of the smart fortwo to choose from.  That's because today, DaimlerChrysler has announced that Britain has been selected as a test market for the smart ev, a new electric variant of the smart fortwo.

Featuring a 30K output and a top speed of 70 mph, the smart ev has a range of 72 miles.  It's also exempt from Britain's road tax and the congestion charge.

According to Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes Car Group: "A market trial of the smart ev is a significant step for the Mercedes Car Group as it is an important part of our commitment to sustainable mobility."  Kelly continued: "We expect to deliver up to 200 units in this market trial phase and will work with corporate partners, to find suitable applications for the ev, and with green energy suppliers to deliver zero emissions from well to wheel."

For those interested, you won't have long to wait to get up close and personal with the smart ev - it's making its debut at the British Motorshow on July 18th.  To learn more, head over to Motortorque for the full scoop.