The US Debut of the Smart ForTwo at Herb Chambers Companies Somerville !

The tiny Smart car, fighting sluggish US sales, is getting a jolt under the seats.

That is where the lithium-ion battery pack sits in the new electric version of the two-seater, located where its 8.7-gallon gas tank used to be.

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive made its local debut yesterday at the Herb Chambers dealership in Somerville. Taking a cue from BMW, which leased its prototype electric Mini Cooper last year to 500 American drivers, Smart is bringing 250 test models of its electric car to the United States. They will be available through special lease programs, but most will be sold to corporate fleets.

Smart plans to build 1,500 before official production begins in 2012. The four-year lease is expected to cost $31,500, about $10,000 more than the most expensive gasoline-powered Smart, according to Derek Kaufman, one of the brand’s vice presidents.

“What we’re really trying to promote here is the electrification of transportation,’’ he said.

The Smart car, made by Daimler AG, was introduced in Europe in 1998, and brought to the US market two years ago, when gas prices hovered around $4. Nearly 25,000 of the tiny two-seaters were sold that year.

Now that fuel prices have ebbed, Smart has struggled to market a microcar with scant luggage space and average fuel economy. Smart’s US sales through June are down 61 percent over last year, with only 577 sold last month. Herb Chambers, who owns two Smart dealerships, says that in a “good month,’’ he sells up to 20 of the cars.

“If fuel were $4 a gallon, there wouldn’t be a car sitting here,’’ Chambers said in his Somerville showroom.

Other than green wheels, decals, and two circular gauges atop the dashboard to show battery life and available power, there’s no apparent difference from the regular Smart. Power cables stow inside the tailgate, and the motor and other electrical components hide under the cargo floor.

Despite adding roughly 300 pounds worth of batteries engineered by California-based Tesla Motors, the 8-foot, 10-inch ForTwo barely weighs a ton. Maximum speed tops out at 60 miles per hour and its range is 84 miles. A complete charge from a standard outlet takes about eight hours.

Later this year, a wave of electric cars is expected to go on sale.

Buyers of electric cars can qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits.

Clifford Atiyeh can be reached at catiyeh@globe.com.

~Photo by William Tauro

Herb Chambers helicopter landing pad to the stars!

By William Tauro

A helicopter takes off from on top of the Herb Chambers Auto dealership that’s located on McGrath Highway.

According to sources movie film actress Cameron Diaz is today’s passenger being transported to her movie set that’s being filmed locally.

Sources also tell us that movie star Tom Cruise was yesterday’s helicopter passenger for the day!

Allston Village Street Fair Co-presented by Herb Chambers

“Have fun at the Allston Village Street Fair on Sept. 20”

The Allston Village Street Fair Urban Mardi Gras Multi-Cultural Festival, scheduled for noon-6 p.m. on Sept. 20, will be six hours of fun, free and open-to-the-public stage and street performances. The fair takes place on Harvard Avenue from Brighton Avenue to Cambridge Street in Allston.

More than 30 rock bands will perform on two outdoor stages. There will be multicultural street performances, an artists/vendors market, an international food court, arcade/amusement area, interactive activities, face painting, air brushed tattoos, balloon twisting and thousands of promotional giveaways and product samplings in between.

The Allston Village Street Fair is MBTA-accessible, with free bike valet service offered at the AVSF Event, as well as free parking and shuttle bus service from the Guest Street Parking Garage in Brighton.

Free pearl necklaces will be given to the first 1,000 visitors to the PCBG Inc.

There will be an information table, compliments of Overstock.com.

For more details visit www.allstonvillagestreetfair.com and www.myspace.com/allstonstreetfair.

The Allston Village Street Fair is produced by the Parents & Community Build Group, Inc., www.parentsandcommunitybuildgroup.org, and co-presented by the Herb Chambers Companies www.herbchambers.com .