One strong contender for greenest car ever will be showcased at the New York International Auto Show — the tiny but cool Smart Fourtwo Electric Drive.

This zero-emission vehicle is powered by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. According to the EPA LA4 test cycle, it can travel up to 98 miles on a full charge, and, in combined city and highway driving, its range is estimated to be 63 miles. Plug it into a 220 volt outlet, and it takes only three and a half hours to charge the battery from 20 percent to 80 percent of its capacity, and about eight hours to reach full charge from a depleted battery.

This year a limited number of early adopters have been able to start leasing the electric drive for $599 per month for a four year lease.

Sales are expected to begin in 2012 for the next-generation vehicle, though the price is still to be announced.

City dwellers who opt not to own can also enjoy the flexibility of a green set of wheels. The Hertz Connect car-sharing club now offers the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive in New York City. Joining the club costs $450 per year ($25 for a one-off rental).The Smart electric car then costs $10 per hour including roadside assistance and insurance plus E-Z Pass for tolls.

For more information: smartusa.com/electricdrive and connectbyHertz.com