Production of the smart fortwo electric drive Hambach, France

[John & Angela 16]

$599.00 per month is a bit steep,but it might be O.K. to be one of the first to own (lease) an electric car. After all you don't have to buy ANY gas.It doesn't seem so expensive now!

No air filters, fuel filters, fuel, oil etc etc etc. I would buy (depending on price) but not lease one.

[MikeT 747]

That will make it about 800/mo in Canada.

[smart142 605]

Autoblog green

250 Smart EDs coming to U.S. this fall with $599/month leases attached

by Sebastian Blanco on Jun 10th 2010 at 3:50PM

This is a post about the numbers. Here are three important figures about the second-gen all-electric Smart ED that was on display in New York City yesterday:

250 units are coming to the U.S. starting in October 2010

Leases will be $599 a month for 48 months (plus $2,500 due at signing, for a total of $31,252 before taxes or any potential governmental rebates), and Daimler takes the cars back at the end of the four years.

The car has a top speed of just 62.5 miles per hour.

These numbers are all huge hurdles to overcome on the road to electric vehicle (EV) acceptance if Daimler were trying to make a big splash with the Smart ED. Its not; that comes later, in January 2012, when the production models arrive. These first 250 vehicles make up a focused, limited test program that gives Daimlers a chance to learn about EVs in America. Find out everything you need to know about the program after the jump.

Smart USA debuted the second-gen Smart ED (Electric Drive) in Brooklyn this week because it considers urban environments to be the car's "natural habitat." Long time readers will know that Daimler has been testing electric versions of the Fortwo in Europe for a few years (and that we got a sneak peek of the second-gen Smart ED in Las Vegas a few weeks ago) and that the cautious testing period is now, finally, expanding to North America. Globally, Daimler will make and test 1,500 second-gen Smart ED units. Originally, the company was going to make just 1,000 at Hambach, but discovered demand was quite high for a battery-powered Smart car. Maybe that's because people just expect this car to be electric. Smart USA president Jill Lajdziak told us that she's been asked if her Fortwo is an electric car when she was literally at the gas station pumping fuel into it. The Fortwo in the U.S. wasn't electric before – now it is.

Before we get into the weeds about the program, here are some more Smart ED numbers from the briefing:

20 kW constant/30 kW peak power motor

88.5 ft lbs single fixed gear ration transmission

0-60 kph in 6.5 seconds

16.5 kWh li-ion battery

308 lbs heavier than the gas model (car goes from about 1,800 pounds to around 2,100)

3.3 kW onboard charger

83 mile range (Daimler's "conservative estimate")

4-5 hours of travel at typical city speeds

.2 kWh/mile efficiency

Has Level 1 and 2 charging, with Level 2 (220V) charging being the "sweet spot" that takes 3.5 hours to go from a 20 percent full battery to 80 percent full. The car charges from 0 to 100 percent full in about eight hours.

The lessee breakdown will see 80 percent of the 250 vehicles going to corporate entities (and some municipalities), with just 20 percent – so, only around 50 units – leased by individuals. First come, first serve.

We talked with Smart USA vice president Derek Kaufman and Smart ED product manager Pitt Moos, about the Smart EDs in America and how they might be received. While Kaufman said, "We think we've positioned a car here that's perfect for urban transport," the truth is that this car is going to be a hard sell. Just look at those first three numbers at the top of the post again: $599 a month for a car that only goes 63 mph (by comparison, Smart USA's lease for a standard gasoline-powered Fortwo costs just $169 a month)? Also, the lease limit is just 10,000 miles a year. Without a doubt, this is not the car that will change the general public's impression of electric vehicles in the U.S. forever. Both Kaufman and Moos said, though, that the Smart ED has the right stuff.

Moos has been watching the Smart ED testing (first and second generation) in Europe, and said that once people actually drive the car, their mindset about what a car needs to do changes. "We don't have to teach them," he said. "They learn." Kaufman said that he hasn't had any complaints from customers yet about the 62.5 mph speed limit, which is also in place on the first-gen models, but that's one of the the things this U.S. trial is all about. "If we get a huge push-back on this, changing it may be something we discuss."

The problem with the top speed, though, is that even though it is electronically limited, it's not just a matter of changing a line of code to increase it. Moos explained that the 30 kW peak motor power, which is required to get the car going faster, can only be called up for about two minutes. So, should Daimler and Smart USA want to up it, it could be difficult and may require a different motor.

As for the monthly cost of the lease – which gets kind of close to double what the Nissan Leaf will be ($349/month for three years) but is less than what the Mini E cost in its first year ($850 then, $600 now) – Kaufman said that money "covers the cost of the cars." This does not include the R&D costs that have gone into the program over the years, just what is required to actually produce this subset vehicles, he said. Moos said it was a reasonable amount, because, "Anyone who tells you they're making money on electric cars is lying. It's simply not possible now."

In its European testing, Daimler has seen the typical Smart ED drivers only needing to recharge once or twice a week. In the U.S., Smart USA will be introducing the car into five key launch areas: Portland, San Jose, Orlando (where there will be an EV corridor built soon), Indianapolis (where a lot of commuters from outside 465 drive around 20 miles each way to go to work downtown. Kaufmann said there are around 20 cities in the U.S. that have a similar setup in the U.S.) and the I-95 corridor around Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Some of the cars will also go to Austin, Detroit and Los Angeles. Smart will also follow Coulomb Technologies to the nine areas of the country where the DOE gave them money to install chargers. Smart USA hasn't negotiated any sort of special electricity rates for Smart ED drivers with the utilities it is working with in these areas, but it has discussed ways to incentivize electric vehicle purchases in the areas where the cars will be available.

These test areas will lay the carpet for the production Smart EDs to show up in January 2012, and who knows what those vehicles will cost or be able to do. We certainly expect changes of some sort. Right now, the Smart ED doesn't make the most sense from a purely numerical point of view. But that's not what Smart USA is counting on. No, the brand is working the lifestyle angle, a message Lajdziak explained earlier this year. Kaufman said that people who are interested in the Fortwo – no matter what powertrain it has – aren't usually interested in shopping different brands. People love this car for what it is, and Smart USA is confident there will be plenty of them willing to make the jump from gas to electrons once the first vehicles in the test batch arrive in about four months. Are you one of them?

The other bit of news from Brooklyn was the announcement of the $10 Smart ED iPhone app. We'll have posts up about that and what it's like to drive the Smart ED shortly.

..........................

PRESS RELEASE

smart fortwo electric drive

The smart with electric drive is coming to the USA

New York – Following the successful launch in European cities the new smart fortwo electric drive will take to the roads of North American cities from the autumn. The electrically powered trendsetter has been rolling off the production line since November 2009 – and due to the huge demand the initial production volume has been increased from 1000 to 1500 vehicles. The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is equipped with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery. It is neatly accommodated between the axles, which means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle. A 30 kW electric motor is fitted at the rear. This provides for very good acceleration and high agility with 120 Newton metres of torque that are immediately available. The smart fortwo electric drive can be charged at any normal household socket. The fully charged battery has sufficient power to cover approximately 135 kilometres in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle, making it ideal for urban use. smart has made electric drive a practical alternative for mobility with zero local emissions in urban areas.

The first of the new smart fortwo electric drive vehicles were handed over to customers in Berlin at the end of 2009, and the environmentally friendly pioneer will now demonstrate its suitability for everyday use in further cities in Europe, North America and Asia. From 2012 the smart fortwo electric drive will be available to anyone interested in almost 40 smart markets.

Marc Langenbrinck, responsible for brand management at smart says "In 1998 smart revolutionised urban mobility with the unique smart fortwo vehicle concept. Now smart is once again taking on a pioneering role and redefining zero-emission urban mobility. We are the first manufacturer to launch a series-produced electric vehicle. Daimler is spearheading electric mobility with the smart fortwo electric drive. The smart fortwo electric drive is a further logical step in the evolution of the smart brand which boasts the fleet with the lowest fuel consumption anyway."

Environmental friendliness and state-of-the-art functionality have been defining features of the smart fortwo ever since it was launched more than ten years ago. Since then its innovative concept has combined sustainable, forward-looking technologies with individual urban mobility. With a length of just over two and a half metres the extremely compact vehicle can also park perpendicular to the flow of traffic. In addition, the space-saving and environmentally friendly two-seater currently has the lowest fleet consumption and it brings its occupants to their destination comfortably and safely. Its design is fresh, youthful, modern and yet sophisticated and has made it an automotive lifestyle icon which shows that mobility, responsibility to the environment and joie de vivre are compatible with one another. The smart fortwo has established a class of its own.

smart fortwo electric drive offers innovative driving fun

The new smart fortwo electric drive, which started rolling off the production line in November 2009, is a logical continuation of a very ambitious goal: the production of a well-engineered, attractive city car that has no local exhaust gas emissions i.e. a zero emission vehicle. In 2007 smart kicked off zero-emission motoring in London with its tough city traffic conditions. Since then 100 smart fortwo electric drives of the first generation have been in practical customer operation there. The feedback from the UK capital has been very positive and confirms the high degree of maturity of this vehicle concept.

In 2008 smart presented the second generation smart fortwo electric drive, a more advanced electric drive with an innovative lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion technology has decisive advantages over other types of batteries including better performance, shorter charging times, a long life and high reliability.

Marc Langenbrinck says "The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on a successful and accepted vehicle concept with character and inherent environmentally friendly characteristics. Its innovative electric battery drive makes it the perfect car for the city: it is agile, economical and climate-friendly. Motoring with zero local emissions in an urban environment has become a reality. This equates to driving fun with no compromises."

Electric drive factored in from the very first concept

The smart fortwo electric drive is a smart fortwo that does not make any compromises with regard to safety, agility, comfort and space. Electric drives have been part of the smart concept right from the start. The later integration of the components needed for electric drive was planned at a very early stage. For example, there is space for the battery in the underfloor between the axles where the tank is located in other smart models. The electric drive module does not limit the space available in the smart fortwo electric drive in any way; there is just as much interior and luggage compartment space as in a smart fortwo with a combustion engine.

Powerful drive

A 30 kW magneto-electric motor is installed at the rear of the new smart fortwo electric drive and reacts directly without delay. Powerful torque of 120 Newton metres is immediately available. This results in a surprising amount of power when pulling away. The smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0 - 60 km/h in 6.5 seconds – just as quickly as a petrol model which it initially leaves behind it. After a year of driving the first generation smart fortwo electric drive in everyday conditions on British roads one of the participants in the large-scale London trial said "You can beat anything at the lights". The maximum speed of the smart fortwo electric drive has been deliberately limited to 100 km/h, a suitable maximum speed for the city.

Thanks to the power characteristic of the electric motor, just one single fixed gear ratio is required. There is no need for any gear changing – a major advantage in dense city traffic. To reverse, the engine's direction of rotation changes. "Fantastic and easy to drive. You just get in, turn on and go" was how experienced users from London summed up the smart fortwo electric drive.

The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a lithium-ion battery developed by Tesla Motors Inc. with electrical energy of 16.5 kWh. It is simple to charge at any fused 220 Volt socket. A fully charged battery is sufficient for up to 135 kilometres of driving fun (NEDC). This range is more than enough for city traffic as studies have shown that cars drive an average of 30 - 40 kilometres per day in towns and cities. For this, the vehicle only needs to be charged for three hours. At an average speed of 25 - 30 km/h that is normal in city traffic the smart fortwo electric drive can drive for around four to five hours continuously before it needs to be recharged. Plugging the car in overnight will fully recharge the battery.

Electronics optimise the battery status and power consumption

Special electronics ensure that all is well with the battery. This battery management system constantly monitors voltage, electricity and temperature. If one of these parameters reaches a specified limit – for example when driving up long hills at constant peak power (kickdown) – the electronics reduce the power output. However, this is barely noticeable and it rules out the risk of battery overload.

The electronics also monitor the charging process and control the capacity display. The vehicle's power electronics supply the vehicle's electrical system with electric current from the battery via a DC/DC converter. In addition, they also control the heating and air conditioning, for example, to minimise the strain

on the battery. Clever drivers can air condition their smart fortwo electric drive in advance as long as their vehicle is being charged at home – the long-standing dream of stationary cooling becomes a reality! No other car offers this comfortable option.

Extensive equipment

The new second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on the smart fortwo coupé/cabrio with high quality equipment. As well as air conditioning with automatic temperature control and pre-air conditioning, the equipment includes smart radio 9, electric power steering, electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, a two-spoke leather steering wheel, leather gear knob and 12-spoke alloy wheels. In addition to the battery indicator, an ammeter shows the consumption and the recuperated energy. Furthermore, all new second generation smart fortwo electric drives have green painted alloy wheels, green mirror caps, green contrast components and a green tridion cell created with green adhesive foil. The words "electric drive" on the rear and in the mirror triangle also draw attention to the vehicle's special status.

Very low costs

There are also numerous factors in different countries that make electric mobility attractive for customers. Tax relief and other government subsidies play an important role. For example, the state of Monaco offers tax relief of

up to €9,000 to electric car owners. Other countries have also set up funding programmes for sustainable mobility. France grants a "super environment incentive" of €5000 for every vehicle emitting less than 60 grams of CO2 per kilometre. In Great Britain there is a bonus of up to ₤5000 and in Belgium of €4540. In Denmark such cars are exempt from the extremely high registration tax and there are lots of further examples in Europe. In the USA there is a federal tax benefit of up to $7500 plus additional benefits depending on the state or city. China and Japan have announced subsidies of €6,500 and €11,000 respectively.

The maintenance costs are considerably lower than those of a smart with a combustion engine as the battery, motor and other components of the electric drive are maintenance-free.

smart fortwo electric drive in major cities in Europe and the USA

Since the end of 2009 the second generation smart fortwo electric drive has been delivered to selected customers. Leases are offered for a period of four years and 60,000 kilometres. The first vehicles were handed over to customers in December within the framework of the "e-mobility Berlin" project. Here, in cooperation with the energy provider RWE and with the support of the German government and the city of Berlin, Daimler is creating ideal conditions for running battery-driven vehicles with no local emissions. This includes setting up a network of electricity charging stations that enable intelligent communication between electric vehicles and the power network so that the battery can be charged when electricity is cheapest. But as mentioned, the smart fortwo electric drive can also be charged at any household safety socket with a 16 amp fuse (standard in Germany and other countries).

Further new generation smart fortwo electric drive vehicles will take to the roads of Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Milan, Pisa, London and the Midlands, Madrid, Zurich, Portugal, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands during the first half of 2010. In the autumn of 2010 the smart fortwo electric drive will then also be launched in cities in the USA and Canada, and from 2011 in some Asian countries. There is already a very lively demand for the smart fortwo electric drive, and from 2012 it will be produced in large volumes as a normal part of the smart range and sold via the smart dealer network. This third generation will be fitted with a new lithium-ion battery which Daimler is developing to production maturity in cooperation with Evonik. The lithium-ion battery currently used comes from Tesla and represents state-of-the-art technology. However, further progress is anticipated. The main differences between the two batteries lie in the structural design. The Tesla battery consists of lots of cylinder-shaped cells. The Daimler battery will be made up of fewer but larger plate units. This will first and foremost enable a greater energy density to be achieved (with greater energy content for a higher range) and an even longer life.

With the smart fortwo electric drive the brand is underlining its pioneering role on the road to attractive individual mobility with no local emissions in cities and urban areas. Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars says "All in all we believe that the outlook for electric mobility is good. Whilst our competitors are still presenting electric show cars, smart brought production models that are fully suitable for everyday use to the roads last year. This once again demonstrates our technical expertise and responsibility."

.................

Source.

[John & Angela 16]

At about 800 per month Canadian and even that just a lease, I doubt it will ever happen for us but we can keep dreaming I suppose. Thanks to all the posters who keep posting info on this great little but probably unatainable little car.

[Duck 16]

Leases will be $599 a month for 48 months (plus $2,500 due at signing, for a total of $31,252 before taxes or any potential governmental rebates), and Daimler takes the cars back at the end of the four years.

Fail.-Iain

[MikeT 747]

Even at $599 US it is a weak offer as Duck notes in his laconic fashion. They will be eaten alive; it is a 2 seater after all, which puts the car behind the 8-ball to begin with. Factor in the CDN surcharge and it will be an E-Class AMG substitute in terms of cost.

[Francesco 71]

Again, we are only speculating, and doing so on a tester batch of just (supposedly) 45 EDs to be run in Canada before Phase 3 series production begins. There is a lot of jumping the gun on "fail" pronouncements here. The MINI E test batch was snapped up at $800 a month each, as was the Rav4 EV before it at closer to $1000 a month.

When the final pricing is announced for the 2012 ED is when I'll decide if it's not right for me. Chances are that many -- if not all -- BEVs will have some form of battery subscription plan to give value to the EV's purchase. In other words, the ED cabrio might be priced at, say, $19K, with a battery lease of $120 a month.

[smart142 605]

The Electric Smart: A Car That Seems to Demand Batteries

By JIM MOTAVALLI (The New York Times)

The battery-powered Smart car is based on the 1-liter, 3-cylinder gas version introduced to the United States in 2008, but it sure doesn’t drive like one.

It drives better.

Some battery conversions suffer in comparison to their internal-combustion siblings. But the electric Smart, during a short ride in rainy Brooklyn, seemed to offer superior acceleration and braking compared with its tailpipe-equipped brethren.

With a 30-kilowatt peak-power motor and a 16.5 kilowatt-hour battery pack sourced from Tesla Motors, the electric Smart can reach about 38 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds. It has a cruising range of 83 miles. A charge from 20 to 80 percent capacity (which some people will experience in real-world conditions) takes 3.5 hours, and a full 100 percent charge from zero is less than eight hours (with a 220-volt outlet).

With narrow streets, tight corners and rough pavement, Brooklyn was a good proving ground for the battery Smart. The car has responsive steering and a tight turning circle, which helps fulfill its duty as a city vehicle.

Electric vehicles benefit from great torque availability at low speeds, but the Smart doesn’t leap forward. Instead, power builds slowly but surely, a somewhat welcome contrast to the lag-prone gas version. As in the gas car, there’s plenty of brake pedal travel, but also reassuring stopping power. The Smart cabin is very quiet, with no audible squeaks or rattles.

In October, Smart USA will begin deployment of 250 electric Smart cars in a pilot program that will be aimed at corporate users, governments, nonprofit groups and individuals (the latter perhaps 20 percent of the total). The electric Smarts, based on the Fortwo, will be available for a four-year lease at $599 a month. The first markets will be Portland, Ore.; San Jose and Los Angeles, Calif.; Indianapolis; Austin, Tex. (home to Daimler’s Car2go car-sharing program); Detroit; and the I-95 corridor between Washington and Boston. That includes New York City, of course.

On Wednesday, Smart had a Coulomb charging station set up on the sidewalk.

According to Derek Kaufman, Smart USA’s vice president of business development: “It was natural for us to move to electric drive. Some people already assume that because of the car’s looks it was already electric. We intend to come in with low volume and grow from there.”

The electric Smart, with some changes from the pilot version, will go into series production in the 2012 model year.

A total of 1,500 preproduction electric Smarts are being built for Europe, the United States and Canada, and the first deliveries in Germany began late last year. According to Pitt Moos, product manager for the electric drive Smart, more than 300 cars will go to Germany, 200 to France and 100 to Italy. An earlier pilot program introduced in 2007 put 100 electric Smarts in London. According to Mr. Moos, drivers in that program expressed early trepidation about the car’s range, but that evaporated after they’d spent time behind the wheel.

The electric Smart is also part of a program with General Motors and Ford that (with $15 million from the Energy Department) will put 4,600 Coulomb cost-free chargers in nine regions around the United States that are roughly analogous to those that will be part of the Smart pilot. According to Mr. Kaufman, the intent is to concentrate the cars in areas that have shown some interest in E.V.’s. “We didn’t want to just have one car in Austin, one in Boise and one in Birmingham,” he said.

Smart seems to be looking for some youth appeal in its plug-in car. The electric Smart features an application for the iPhone (variations for the Blackberry and other units are coming) that will, among other things, inform the driver of the car’s state of charge and locate it when it’s lost in a parking lot. It also has navigation features. When plugged into an iPhone cradle, it also plays the phone’s music collection through the car’s stereo.

.................

Source.

[Duck 16]

Again, we are only speculating, and doing so on a tester batch of just (supposedly) 45 EDs to be run in Canada before Phase 3 series production begins. There is a lot of jumping the gun on "fail" pronouncements here. The MINI E test batch was snapped up at $800 a month each, as was the Rav4 EV before it at closer to $1000 a month.

How am I even remotely jumping the gun? The exact terms are outlined specifically in Glenn's post. It's a total ripoff.-Iain

[Francesco 71]

First: we haven't seen any confirmation of anything from MB Canada about the Canadian test fleet. Second: assuming the terms are similar for our test fleet as the American test fleet, these are the terms for the TEST FLEET. We have no clue what the car will sell or lease for once it is in full, "phase 3" series production starting in 2012.

[MikeT 747]

courtesy of Daimler Media Services

smart fortwo electric drive: The smart with electric drive is coming to the USA and Canada

New York – Following the successful launch in European cities the new smart fortwo electric drive will take to the roads of North American cities from the autumn. The electrically powered trendsetter has been rolling off the production line since November 2009 – and due to the huge demand the initial production volume has been increased from 1000 to 1500 vehicles. The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is equipped with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery. It is neatly accommodated between the axles, which means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle. A 30 kW electric motor is fitted at the rear. This provides for very good acceleration and high agility with 120 Newton metres of torque that are immediately available. The smart fortwo electric drive can be charged at any normal household socket. The fully charged battery has sufficient power to cover approximately 135 kilometres in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle, making it ideal for urban use. smart has made electric drive a practical alternative for mobility with zero local emissions in urban areas. The first of the new smart fortwo electric drive vehicles were handed over to customers in Berlin at the end of 2009, and the environmentally friendly pioneer will now demonstrate its suitability for everyday use in further cities in Europe, North America and Asia. From 2012 the smart fortwo electric drive will be available to anyone interested in almost 40 smart markets.

Marc Langenbrinck, responsible for brand management at smart says "In 1998 smart revolutionised urban mobility with the unique smart fortwo vehicle concept. Now smart is once again taking on a pioneering role and redefining zero-emission urban mobility. We are the first manufacturer to launch a series-produced electric vehicle. Daimler is spearheading electric mobility with the smart fortwo electric drive. The smart fortwo electric drive is a further logical step in the evolution of the smart brand which boasts the fleet with the lowest fuel consumption anyway."

Environmental friendliness and state-of-the-art functionality have been defining features of the smart fortwo ever since it was launched more than ten years ago. Since then its innovative concept has combined sustainable, forward-looking technologies with individual urban mobility. With a length of just over two and a half metres the extremely compact vehicle can also park perpendicular to the flow of traffic. In addition, the space-saving and environmentally friendly two-seater currently has the lowest fleet consumption and it brings its occupants to their destination comfortably and safely. Its design is fresh, youthful, modern and yet sophisticated and has made it an automotive lifestyle icon which shows that mobility, responsibility to the environment and joie de vivre are compatible with one another. The smart fortwo has established a class of its own.

smart fortwo electric drive offers innovative driving fun

The new smart fortwo electric drive, which started rolling off the production line in November 2009, is a logical continuation of a very ambitious goal: the production of a well-engineered, attractive city car that has no local exhaust gas emissions i.e. a zero emission vehicle. In 2007 smart kicked off zero-emission motoring in London with its tough city traffic conditions. Since then 100 smart fortwo electric drives of the first generation have been in practical customer operation there. The feedback from the UK capital has been very positive and confirms the high degree of maturity of this vehicle concept.

In 2008 smart presented the second generation smart fortwo electric drive, a more advanced electric drive with an innovative lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion technology has decisive advantages over other types of batteries including better performance, shorter charging times, a long life and high reliability. Marc Langenbrinck says "The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on a successful and accepted vehicle concept with character and inherent environmentally friendly characteristics. Its innovative electric battery drive makes it the perfect car for the city: it is agile, economical and climate-friendly. Motoring with zero local emissions in an urban environment has become a reality. This equates to driving fun with no compromises."

Electric drive factored in from the very first concept

The smart fortwo electric drive is a smart fortwo that does not make any compromises with regard to safety, agility, comfort and space. Electric drives have been part of the smart concept right from the start. The later integration of the components needed for electric drive was planned at a very early stage. For example, there is space for the battery in the underfloor between the axles where the tank is located in other smart models. The electric drive module does not limit the space available in the smart fortwo electric drive in any way; there is just as much interior and luggage compartment space as in a smart fortwo with a combustion engine.

Powerful drive

A 30 kW magneto-electric motor is installed at the rear of the new smart fortwo electric drive and reacts directly without delay. Powerful torque of 120 Newton metres is immediately available. This results in a surprising amount of power when pulling away. The smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0 - 60 km/h in 6.5 seconds – just as quickly as a petrol model which it initially leaves behind it. After a year of driving the first generation smart fortwo electric drive in everyday conditions on British roads one of the participants in the large-scale London trial said "You can beat anything at the lights". The maximum speed of the smart fortwo electric drive has been deliberately limited to 100 km/h, a suitable maximum speed for the city.

Thanks to the power characteristic of the electric motor, just one single fixed gear ratio is required. There is no need for any gear changing – a major advantage in dense city traffic. To reverse, the engine's direction of rotation changes. "Fantastic and easy to drive. You just get in, turn on and go" was how experienced users from London summed up the smart fortwo electric drive.

The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a lithium-ion battery developed by Tesla Motors Inc. with electrical energy of 16.5 kWh. It is simple to charge at any fused 220 Volt socket. A fully charged battery is sufficient for up to 135 kilometres of driving fun (NEDC). This range is more than enough for city traffic as studies have shown that cars drive an average of 30 - 40 kilometres per day in towns and cities. For this, the vehicle only needs to be charged for three hours. At an average speed of 25 - 30 km/h that is normal in city traffic the smart fortwo electric drive can drive for around four to five hours continuously before it needs to be recharged. Plugging the car in overnight will fully recharge the battery.

Generation differences

First generation smart fortwo electric drive Second generation smart fortwo electric drive

In everyday use in London since 2007 Production of a small series started at the end of 2009

Battery: NaNiCl (sodium-nickel-chloride), works at temperatures between 280 and 320 degrees Celsius, and therefore needs to be heated. Also has an insulated casing like a thermos flask. Battery: lithium-ion, works at normal temperatures. The lithium-ion battery enables a cold start at minus 25 degrees Celsius. More useable energy with the same size. The same battery size as for the first generation smart was chosen. The range has increased from 100 km to 135 km.

Power output: 20 kW Power output: 20 kW plus peak power output of 30 kW for approximately 2 minutes. The peak power can be called up with the kickdown function.

Electronics optimise the battery status and power consumption

Special electronics ensure that all is well with the battery. This battery management system constantly monitors voltage, electricity and temperature. If one of these parameters reaches a specified limit – for example when driving up long hills at constant peak power (kickdown) – the electronics reduce the power output. However, this is barely noticeable and it rules out the risk of battery overload.

The electronics also monitor the charging process and control the capacity display. The vehicle's power electronics supply the vehicle's electrical system with electric current from the battery via a DC/DC converter. In addition, they also control the heating and air conditioning, for example, to minimise the strain on the battery. Clever drivers can air condition their smart fortwo electric drive in advance as long as their vehicle is being charged at home – the long-standing dream of stationary cooling becomes a reality! No other car offers this comfortable option.

Extensive equipment

The new second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on the smart fortwo coupé/cabrio with high quality equipment. As well as air conditioning with automatic temperature control and pre-air conditioning, the equipment includes smart radio 9, electric power steering, electric windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, a two-spoke leather steering wheel, leather gear knob and 12-spoke alloy wheels. In addition to the battery indicator, an ammeter shows the consumption and the recuperated energy. Furthermore, all new second generation smart fortwo electric drives have green painted alloy wheels, green mirror caps, green contrast components and a green tridion cell created with green adhesive foil. The words "electric drive" on the rear and in the mirror triangle also draw attention to the vehicle's special status.

Very low costs

There are also numerous factors in different countries that make electric mobility attractive for customers. Tax relief and other government subsidies play an important role. For example, the state of Monaco offers tax relief of up to €9,000 to electric car owners. Other countries have also set up funding programmes for sustainable mobility. France grants a "super environment incentive" of €5000 for every vehicle emitting less than 60 grams of CO2 per kilometre. In Great Britain there is a bonus of up to ₤5000 and in Belgium of €4540. In Denmark such cars are exempt from the extremely high registration tax and there are lots of further examples in Europe. In the USA there is a federal tax benefit of up to $7500 plus additional benefits depending on the state or city. China and Japan have announced subsidies of €6,500 and €11,000 respectively.

The maintenance costs are considerably lower than those of a smart with a combustion engine as the battery, motor and other components of the electric drive are maintenance-free.

smart fortwo electric drive in major cities in Europe and the USA

Since the end of 2009 the second generation smart fortwo electric drive has been delivered to selected customers. Leases are offered for a period of four years and 60,000 kilometres. The first vehicles were handed over to customers in December within the framework of the "e-mobility Berlin" project. Here, in cooperation with the energy provider RWE and with the support of the German government and the city of Berlin, Daimler is creating ideal conditions for running battery-driven vehicles with no local emissions. This includes setting up a network of electricity charging stations that enable intelligent communication between electric vehicles and the power network so that the battery can be charged when electricity is cheapest. But as mentioned, the smart fortwo electric drive can also be charged at any household safety socket with a 16 amp fuse (standard in Germany and other countries).

Further new generation smart fortwo electric drive vehicles will take to the roads of Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Milan, Pisa, London and the Midlands, Madrid, Zurich, Portugal, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands during the first half of 2010. In the autumn of 2010 the smart fortwo electric drive will then also be launched in cities in the USA and Canada, and from 2011 in some Asian countries. There is already a very lively demand for the smart fortwo electric drive, and from 2012 it will be produced in large volumes as a normal part of the smart range and sold via the smart dealer network. This third generation will be fitted with a new lithium-ion battery which Daimler is developing to production maturity in cooperation with Evonik. The lithium-ion battery currently used comes from Tesla and represents state-of-the-art technology. However, further progress is anticipated. The main differences between the two batteries lie in the structural design. The Tesla battery consists of lots of cylinder-shaped cells. The Daimler battery will be made up of fewer but larger plate units. This will first and foremost enable a greater energy density to be achieved (with greater energy content for a higher range) and an even longer life.

With the smart fortwo electric drive the brand is underlining its pioneering role on the road to attractive individual mobility with no local emissions in cities and urban areas. Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars says "All in all we believe that the outlook for electric mobility is good. Whilst our competitors are still presenting electric show cars, smart brought production models that are fully suitable for everyday use to the roads last year. This once again demonstrates our technical expertise and responsibility."

[gordo.bernard 1]

It's cute the way they say"This third generation will be fitted with a new lithium-ion battery which Daimler is developing to production maturity in cooperation with Evonik. The lithium-ion battery currently used comes from Tesla and represents state-of-the-art technology. However, further progress is anticipated."What they really said was "We hope to have a different supplier ready to roll out batteries if the rumored bankruptcy of Tesla happens sooner than we anticipated"There are also quotes thrown in of the American real world benchmark of 0-60 times...oh wait that's in kilometers not miles.They say the lease rate covers the expense of the car. Is that the lifespan of this vehicle? Is it absolutely worthless after this?BTW when one thinks that this price is OK considering that you never need to buy fuel again...exactly how cheap is your electricity at home? Just wait till the cities start tapping into charging premium rates for charging stations.This is also touted as "a practical alternative for mobility with zero local emissions in urban areas." What this means is the pollution will be indirectly transferred to a rural (or suburban) area...Hey, that's where I live.

[Francesco 71]

BTW when one thinks that this price is OK considering that you never need to buy fuel again...exactly how cheap is your electricity at home? Just wait till the cities start tapping into charging premium rates for charging stations.

This is also touted as "a practical alternative for mobility with zero local emissions in urban areas." What this means is the pollution will be indirectly transferred to a rural (or suburban) area...Hey, that's where I live.

My electricity at home *is* very cheap (5¢/KWh after tax). And there is nothing wrong with the "zero local emissions" statement. Smog almost always happens where there is the greatest concentration of tailpipes, and that is in urban centres. Where I live, there is no "transfer" of pollution to rural (or suburban) areas; 99% of my power is from hydro. Even using "dirty" power generation, the plants still produce power whether or not cars are plugged in. And plants can't shut down during times of low demand, such as at night, when BEVs are most likely to be plugged into the grid. In fact, this is of net benefit, as plants won't have to burn off this excess power at night (moving water uphill, etc.); BEVs will become a mesh storage network for the power generators.

[gordo.bernard 1]

I thought the whole aim was to be greener and cleaner not just greener and cleaner in the city but rather the planet. If your power all comes from hydro I think you might be misled. Power is bought and sold with mega contracts involved. Quebec has committed to sales of specific quantities of electrical power to the U.S. If they can't meet these demands with cleaner energy, they are still committed to supplying it and that means dirty electrical energy. If everyone were to reduce the amount of energy used, we could rely on just the greener sources...but we can't because we won't.

[Henry 40]

Electricity generated in mass is a lot cleaner energy than diesel or gasoline burnt to propel our vehicals. If one is super concerned about going green they could run solar pannels to take the load off the grid.Alan

Edited June 14, 2010 by Henry

[Francesco 71]

Misled? OK, sorry. 96% hydro, 2% nuclear, 1% "dirty" thermal, and 1% "other."

http://www.hydroquebec.com/sustainable-dev...e_achats_en.pdf

Please read up on Hydro Québec's contracts, projects and activities. It's very interesting.

But you are also missing (or choosing to ignore) one important facet about the introduction of BEVs to the national fleet, as I mentioned above. Power is generated 24/7, whether from clean sources, renewables, nuclear or fossil fuels. During off-peak hours, utilities must burn off the excess electricity that is constantly being generated. BEVs will likely most often be charged overnight, which is indeed off-peak time. This makes a fleet of BEVs into a large mesh-networked storage bank, increasing any electrical utility's overall efficiency. With some renewables such as wind, generation is at the whim of Mother Nature. A storage bank made up of BEVs helps mitigate the inefficiencies associated with wind power generation.

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/feb/24/business/fi-pge24

[gordo.bernard 1]

Still about 40% of my (since I live in Ontario) electricity is generated by coal, oil or gas. To exaggerate the point, if we would reduce our use by say 50%, then we would not need the say 40% that is generated with these 3 fuels...that was my point.

During off-peak hours, utilities must burn off the excess electricity that is constantly being generated.(if they choose to run the turbines)

From my understanding, this may be true of "hydro" but not of fossil fuels .

You're not trying to tell me that they run at 100% capacity 24/7/365.

[Francesco 71]

No, the opposite actually. Hydro plants can reduce flow during off-peak time and allow reservoirs to fill up -- which is beneficial for peak-usage periods. Thermal and nuke plants must be kept running 24/7 -- it is far too inefficient and time-consuming to shut down and cool a thermal plant and fire it up again the next day. Yes, that's what they do.

[John & Angela 16]

Electricity generated in mass is a lot cleaner energy than diesel or gasoline burnt to propel our vehicals. If one is super concerned about going green they could run solar pannels to take the load off the grid.Alan

Interesting you should mention that. Although we are currently around the 1KW size for our array on the motorhome (actually a little less as they are flat mounted) we have enough room to expand to 1.4 KW with a little shuffling. We already produce enough power to live off grid except for heavy air conditioner use on very hot days. We use dual inverters to run everything else that uses 110. If we ever were to purchase a smart EV )assuming I could afford it) I would consider adding the remainder capacity and a dedicated sine wave inverter to power the smart charger. Based on our expected mileage we would not produce enough power to both charge the smart and live normally but on sunny summer days there would be enough to provide our household needs and charge the smart. Unfortunately it is not sunny every day and of course there would be a net shortage wiithout the grid. Motorhome roofs are just not big enough to hold enough panels for this kind of thing. I love the hobby though. Doesn't play out well with BC power prices but at our place in California we are paying 18 cents per KWH on average.

[MikeT 747]

Car and Driver has done a review of the smart Erectile Dysfunction: smart ED review

[bilgladstone 13]

One wonders about battery performance at -15 degrees Celsius for 6 months of the year.One wonders about cabin temperature at -15C in winter and +35C in summerOne wonders about charge-time at North America's 115v versus EU 220v household current.One wonders where apartment dwellers (largest growing housing trend in Canada) will be able to charge the car. Rather than individual electric cars, the development of comprehensive and efficient public transit is the best way forward. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen either.Bil ... feelin' a little crotchety today...

[xakinedmonton 0]

For apartment dwellers the building has to provide 247 power for you.. so if you have a plug for a block heater.. they have to energize it for you.. thats what they are going to do for us! ( we spoke with our building management company and that was what they said they were doing for us)

[robm 1]

good news. I asked about it, here is MB response June 15 2010...Thank you for your recent inquiry. Please note the smart fortwo electric drive will be available in Canada sometime during the fourth quarter of 2010 as part of a very limited worldwide production. These particular cars will be marketed and retailed differently than the smart fortwos that are currently available in smart centres across the country. Subsequently, we have no further information at this time and we are not taking names at this point. We expect to have more details sometime late in the 3rd quarter (September) of 2010.

[Duck 16]

Still about 40% of my (since I live in Ontario) electricity is generated by coal, oil or gas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_s..._Canada#OntarioCloser to 30%, but still too high. Canada on a whole is much cleaner (mostly thanks to the other provinces).I was absolutely shocked when we visited the UK a few weeks ago at how much of their electricity comes from Coal. On the M62 we passed about 4 giant coal plants!France is all nuclear, which is fantastic - I hope to visit Cadarache someday, once ITER is running.-Iain

[smart142 605]

FOXNews

Quick Spin: 2011 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

By Gary Gastelu

Published June 17, 2010

click here.