Smart is ramping up production of its 2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive in the French town of Hambach. The company is planning to sell the latest ForTwo Electric Drive in 30 countries, making it one of the most widely distributed electric vehicles of all time.

To date, more than 1,000 2013 ForTwo Electric Drive vehicles rolled off the line at Smartville, the name of Smart's purpose-built factory in Hambach. But 1,000 is only a fraction of what's needed to fulfill high global demand, according to Smart.

Smart stated that the first Electric Drive vehicles have been delivered to customers in Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal.

Buyers in the U.S. will have the opportunity to purchase this latest version of the electric ForTwo in spring 2013. In October, the company announced a starting price of $25,000 for the Smart ForTwo ED, undercutting the competition by thousands of dollars. If you factor in the $7,500 federal tax credit, the price for the 2013 ForTwo ED drops to $17,500, which will make it the most affordable electric car on the market.

Smart claims that the highway-capable 2013 ForTwo ED sprints from 0 to 37 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds, and 0 to 62 mph in 11.5 seconds. Top speed is listed at 75 mph. The electric motor cranks out 55 kW and 96 pound-feet of torque.

Range from the Smart ForTwo's 17.6-kWh lithium-ion battery is 90 miles per full charge. That's not an official EPA number. Look for its range rating on the window sticker to be closer to 70 miles.

PluginCars.com contributor Laurent Masson took a test drive of the new Smart ForTwo Electric Drive in July. "Getting into the car, my first thought was about the not very positive experience I had with the old electric Smart," he wrote. "This new model is way better."