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ED update 2011/2012

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#1 · (Edited)
See: smartUSA-ED

First introduced to the United States in June 2010, the smart fortwo electric drive marks a natural evolution of the smart brand and amplifies its environmental leadership. With an unparalleled eco-heritage, smart developed the electric drive as the next logical extension of the fortwo platform which continues to be a trendsetter in addressing issues facing urban mobility and conservation.


For update:
see the Daimler Press release dated August 16, 2001 at post #16 below.



smart ED third generation (introduction Spring 2012)

From smartUSA press release, Nov. 16, 2010:

The smart fortwo electric drive is a zero-emission visual statement on the ultimate conservation of materials and further defines the independent spirit of smart. Based off of the iconic smart fortwo, which has the smallest footprint of any vehicle on U.S. roads, the smart fortwo electric drive is the purist’s play in transportation electrification. The vehicle enters the U.S. market at an ideal time as the United States sets policy goals on CO2 reduction and independence from oil-based fuels.

Beginning in the fall 2010, smart USA is strategically deploying a test fleet of 250 model year 2011 vehicles, equipped with second generation electric drive technology, across the United States. Vehicle placement is nationwide, with an emphasis key on electrification leadership regions and Department of Energy grant areas to ensure ample vehicle charging locations. A majority of smart USA dealers have signed on to the program for showcasing electric drive technology to customers in their communities.

The phase-two vehicles are targeted to early adopters of electric drive technology who are helping define new alternatives in transportation for the United States and interested in making a passionate statement on conservation and environmental awareness. Branded “Team 250,” placements include companies, municipalities, organizations and individuals committed to a four year/40,000 mile lease. The “Team 250” is an elite club that has direct access to the smart USA team, receives electric drive communications, has the ability to participate in exclusive dialogue regarding their electric drive ownership experience and is invited to special events and forums. Leases start at $599/month for a standard coupe and $649/month for a standard cabriolet plus security deposit and additional available options, not including tax, title, license and dealer fees. This lease price factors in the $7,500 federal subsidy for electric vehicles, but does not include state and local municipal subsidies which, when available, can lower the lease price when added in. Leases include a limited warranty for four years or 40,000 miles, the duration of the lease.

Ecology is a hallmark of the smart fortwo, from the environmentally friendly manufacturing process in Hambach, France, to the recyclability of 95 percent of the vehicle’s parts. Additionally, the vehicle’s diminutive size translates to less material consumption in its production and a practical vehicle concept for low cost commuting and other urban travel.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Development of the smart fortwo electric drive

smartUSA press release, Nov. 16, 2010

Electric drive has been part of the smart concept right from the start. When conceiving the smart design more than 20 years ago, Daimler developers anticipated the need for an alternative powertrain and factored the integration of electric drive components into the first smart design.

By integrating the components and battery for an electric drivetrain, designers did not need to make sacrifices to the smart fortwo’s safety, agility, comfort and space. The battery fits in the underfloor between the axles where the gas tank is located in the gasoline smart model, while the electric drive module replaces the gasoline engine between the rear wheels. The result is a smart fortwo electric drive that looks just like its combustion engine counterpart except for the lack of an exhaust pipe. It has the same exterior footprint, luggage compartment space and large amount of interior head and legroom that have come to define the smart fortwo. We call it “no compromise conservation.”

Three-phase program
The development of the smart fortwo electric drive is a three-phase program. The first phase started in 2007 when smart launched a pilot project in London, England to test the first generation technology. smart leased 100 electric smarts of the former series model to gain real world experience. London is an ideal test city due to its high population and infrastructure density, which results in traffic congestion, parking shortages, severe noise and pollution. Participation in the project was first offered to companies that operate their own vehicle fleets and those who drive in inner city areas. The majority of the customers approached smart to participate in the London project. The initial project proved to be very successful with customers, who provided very helpful and encouraging feedback.

One key finding of phase one was the change in driver impressions about battery range after real world driving. At the beginning of the test program, the 100 vehicle lessees were asked about their level of anxiety with the battery range offered by an electric car. Eighty-seven percent expressed some level of anxiety. In the second survey 24 months later, only 17 percent of the group had the same anxiety. The takeaway was that drivers of electric vehicles felt much more comfortable with range after learning they had ample battery capacity between charges to accommodate their daily driving patterns.

Phase two, which launched in late 2009, produces 1,500 second generation smart fortwo electric drives for everyday use in cities in 18 countries around the world. The first phase two vehicles were handed over to customers in Berlin, Germany in December 2009 as part of the "e-mobility Berlin" project. In early 2010, the “e-mobility Italy” initiative started placing 100 electric cars onto the streets of Rome, Milan and Pisa. The United States will receive 250 of these phase-two vehicles for smart USA’s test fleet to the “Team 250.”

The U.S. pilot program will provide third generation technology developers with performance experience in the breadth of different geographies and climates that make up the continental United States. The information gathered in the phase-two vehicle research will contribute to the development of the third generation technology for series production vehicles.

Phase three is series production which begins in 2012 with third generation models to be sold to consumers through smart USA’s dealer network and at dealers in nearly 40 markets around the world.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Advanced driving technology for innovative urban mobility

Also from smartUSA press release, Nov. 16, 2010

The smart fortwo electric drive packages advanced technology in a clever way that maintains the car’s design history. Its lithium-ion battery and electric drive (motor) are leading edge components that are defining new approaches to innovative urban transport. It is built according to Daimler AG’s strict eco-balance sheet which considers multiple environmental impacts of the materials that make up the car.

Highly efficient lithium-ion battery
The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a lithium-ion battery, developed by Tesla Motors Inc., which provides 16.5 kWh of electrical energy with an efficiency of 110 watt hours per kilogram. It is neatly positioned between the axles in the underfloor, which means that space is not compromised in any way.

Lithium-ion technology has decisive advantages over other types of batteries including better performance, shorter charging times, a long life and high reliability. The battery is covered in a water jacket for heating and cooling. A fully charged battery has sufficient power to cover approximately 84 miles, making it ideal for urban use. The average urban commuter traveling 40 miles round trip per day will only need to recharge a few times a week, but consumers should charge each night to ensure a full charge in the morning.

The battery management system constantly monitors voltage, electricity and temperature to reduce risk of battery overload. The battery also automatically powers down to a 10 kW output below a 5 percent state of charge and at extremely high temperatures.

The third generation electric drive for series production will be fitted with a new lithium-ion battery which Daimler is developing in cooperation with Evonik.

30 kW magneto-electric motor
The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a Zytek 30 kW magneto-electric motor, installed at the rear that takes the place of the engine in the gasoline-powered smart fortwo. The motor responds immediately upon pressing the accelerator providing 20 kW of constant power and a powerful 89 foot-pounds of torque. With the “kickdown” function, the motor generates peak power output of 30 kW for approximately 2 minutes. The result is a surprising amount of power when pulling away from a stopped position or accelerating.

The smart fortwo electric drive accelerates to near 40 mph in 6.5 seconds. The maximum speed of the smart fortwo electric drive has been intelligently calibrated to reach 62.5 mph to create an ideal learning scenario for gauging the performance of the lithium-ion battery while maintaining typical city speeds.

Thanks to the torque 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. In order to move the car in reverse, the engine's direction of rotation changes.

Regenerative braking
The smart fortwo electric drive benefits from stop-and-go traffic conditions. The brake system on the vehicle has a regenerative function to help extend driving range. During trailing throttle and braking, the electric motor operates as a generator to pump between 3kW and 10kW of energy back into the battery. Thus, when the foot is taken off the accelerator or the vehicle is travelling downhill, the mechanical energy of motion is converted into electrical energy which recharges the battery. Congested urban environments, which are ideal settings for the smart fortwo electric drive, provide ample regeneration opportunities due to their stop and go traffic.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Intelligent charge management

The smart fortwo electric drive features a very sophisticated battery management system to maximize efficiency.

Charging the smart fortwo electric drive
The smart fortwo can accommodate both Level 1 and Level 2 charging. It can be charged at any normal household outlet through a standard 110 volt wall socket (Level 1) or a 220 volt socket (Level 2) similar to those used with electric clothes dryers and kitchen ranges. With a 3.3kW onboard charger that has a 13 amp draw, the vehicle has the ability to be charged directly from an electrical outlet without need of an external charger.

Using a 220 volt outlet, it takes only three and a half hours to charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent of its capacity and about eight hours to reach full charge from a depleted battery. Charging with a standard 110 volt outlet takes considerably longer, so smart recommends Level 2 charging for maximum customer satisfaction through less recharging time. Specifications for Level 2 charging require electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to be installed.

The vehicle is equipped with a J1772 charging socket and a J1772 connector on the charging cord in accordance with standards recommended by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Each vehicle comes equipped with a travel charging cord that can plug into any standard 110V outlet while away from home, which makes charging easy and worry free.

smartCharge Communication Unit
A distinguishing feature of the smart fortwo electric drive is its smartCharge Communication Unit (SCCU). Each time the vehicle is plugged in, the SCCU pulls information off of the vehicle’s controller area network (CAN) bus and transmits it through the electric power lines via a power line carrier (PLC) connection to the database of the local electric utility. This real-time data can provide extremely valuable information to owners, utilities and vehicle manufacturers about usage patterns, power draw and vehicle performance. As electric vehicles evolve and increase in number in the U.S. marketplace, this information is critical to help understand the impact of electric vehicles and educate users about an electric vehicle’s ability.

The SCCU is capable of performing optimized charging. It can create a “hand shake” with the local utility providing electricity and charge the vehicle in a manner that minimizes the impact on the utilities’ energy load and the vehicle owner’s energy bill. The communication between the car and the utility will eventually have ability to establish an optimal charging period that is off-peak hours for the utility and offer a low energy usage rate for the consumer. For example, if a vehicle requires four hours to recharge and it is programmed to allow for a 12-hour charging window, the car will charge during a period of lowest grid load to the utility and minimal rate to the consumer.

In the future, the SCCU will also have the potential to provide real-time information about state of charge, interior climate, system preconditioning and customer-directed charge timing. The SCCU will be able to facilitate automatic billing by the utility and support the utility’s grid leveling, even while charging at a public station. Daimler will create a personalized “dashboard” website for each owner that provides key performance and usage data such as battery charging history, a GPS-based travel history and battery range averages. With ideal information sharing between the utility and Daimler, owners can understand how to maximize their battery range and smart can study the extremes of driving environments and its effects on vehicle performance.

The SCCU supports information sharing with smart phone devices. The smart drive kit app will give the user charging information while the vehicle is plugged into the wall such as state of battery charge, amount of charge time remaining and expected completion time. When driving, the app’s map feature will highlight nearby charging stations around the car location. Users can also set favorite charging locations and get more information about them. Additionally, the app will have a range estimator where users can set his planned driving distance and track available battery range for getting there.

Preconditioning
Heating and air conditioning functions draw energy from the battery. In order to minimize depletion of the battery and maximize driving range on extreme cold or hot days, the smart fortwo will precondition the vehicle’s cabin and battery compartment to an ideal temperature while still plugged in. This feature draws energy directly from the power source rather than the battery to pre-heat or pre-cool the car in advance of driving. When the vehicle user plugs the car in to be charged, he can set the time of the next anticipated use, and the car will be pre-conditioned with a fully charged battery when he is ready to drive the vehicle.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Equipment on the smart fortwo electric drive

The 2011 smart fortwo electric drive is based on the updated 2011 model year smart fortwo with a fresh, new interior. The smart fortwo electric drive maintains the smart fortwo’s iconic dimensions and state-of-the-art engineering that gives it the “small on the outside, yet big on the inside” functionality in a package that is fun to drive.

The exterior
Consistent with the gas combustion engine smart fortwo, the electric drive features the combination of the tridion safety cell, made of high-strength steel, and the use of colored body panels made of premium, dent-resistant plastic, an important distinguishing feature of the brand.

All smart fortwo electric drive vehicles have white exterior body panels with an electric green-colored tridion safety cell and accents. Additionally, the electric drive has electric green-painted 9-spoke alloy wheels, green caps over the heated side mirrors and green contrast components. All coupes come standard with a solid roof.

Lessees of the 250 phase-two test vehicles can choose between coupe and cabriolet body styles. They also have the ability to customize the car with a wrap promoting a brand or product.

The interior
The smart fortwo has an all new interior look for 2011, and the electric drive vehicles will benefit from this change.

The full fabric-covered instrument panel features harmonious styling and new fabric designs for the cockpit, door center panel and seats. Lessees of the smart fortwo electric drive have a choice of cloth seat colors—black, red and beige—with an elegant fabric pattern. Leather seating surfaces are not available on the electric drive model, but a leather-wrapped two-spoke steering wheel and gear shift knob are standard.

The dashboard mounted rev counter and clock that are available as options on the gas combustion smart fortwo are replaced in the electric drive with a standard state of charge gauge on the left and a battery draw gauge on the right.

The state of charge gauge shows the percentage of battery power remaining, with a red line below 20 percent state of charge. When the vehicle reaches a 5 percent state of charge, an audio warning sounds and the performance indicator on the main instrument cluster begins to flash. Between 5 percent and 2 percent state of charge, power output is limited to 10kW.

The battery draw gauge shows the battery’s power draw and regeneration, in kilowatts, in real time. With zero at the top, indicating no power draw, the right has an increasingly large yellow line showing amount of power draw and the left side of the gauge has an increasingly large green line showing amount of regeneration. When driving, the indicator rotates right and left as the vehicle draws and regenerates battery power.

The instrument panel behind the steering wheel has been redesigned for the 2011 smart fortwo and adapted for the electric drive system with new warning lamps and a power indicator in place of the fuel level indicator. New warning lamps include:
• Charging cable connected
• Regenerative braking inactive
• Drive system diagnosis indicator lamp
• Drive system diagnosis warning lamp
• Electric drive system, high-voltage charger and battery coolant temperature warning lamps
• High-voltage battery warning lamp
• 12V battery warning lamp

Standard equipment
The smart fortwo electric drive comes loaded with standard features.

• Air conditioning with automatic temperature control and pre-air conditioning
• Radio (AM/FM with RDS, USB/Aux interface and two speakers)
• Power steering
• Power windows
• Electrically adjustable side door mirrors
• Solid roof made of fiber reinforced glass (coupe) or electric Tritop fabric soft top (cabriolet)
• 9-spoke alloy 15” wheels
• Redesigned instrument panel
• New interior fabric pattern

Optional equipment
In addition to the ample standard features on the smart fortwo electric drive, lessees have several options to choose from to add onto their vehicle for an additional cost.

• Center console storage box
• smart sound system (2 tweeters, 2 mid-range speakers, subwoofer, MP3 interface)
• Polycarbonate panoramic transparent roof (coupe only)
• Driver’s side armrest
• Daytime running lamps


Very low operating costs
The cost to operate the smart fortwo electric drive is lower than operating a gasoline model smart fortwo when you compare the cost of electricity and the cost of fuel. There is an even greater savings when comparing the smart fortwo electric drive to larger gasoline models in the marketplace. Maintenance costs are also considerably lower than those of a smart fortwo with a combustion engine as the battery, motor and other components of the electric drive are virtually maintenance-free.
 
#6 ·
smart fortwo electric drive technical data

Battery
Type Tesla 16.5 kWh Lithium-Ion
Heating/cooling Water jacketed for heating and cooling
Output High energy constant output
Energy density 110 Wh/kg

Drive motor and transmission
Drive motor Zytek permanent magnet motor
Power 20kW constant/30kW peak
Transmission Single speed
Torque 89 ft. lbs.

Charging System
Charger 3.3 kW onboard
Draw 13 Amps
Charging capability Level 1 (110V) and Level 2 (220V)
Charge times (at 220V) 3.5 hours 20-80% SOC/8 hours 0-100% SOC)
Vehicle socket J 1772 connector with travel cord

Suspension
Front axle Lower wishbone, McPherson strut, anti-roll bar
Rear axle DeDion axle, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers

Brake system Dual-circuit brake system with tandem servo assistance
10 kW regenerative braking charges battery
11 inch diameter disc brakes at front
8 inch diameter drum brakes at rear

Safety systems Electronic stability program (esp®) with hill start assist
Anti-lock braking system (abs®)
Electronic brake-force distribution

Steering Rack-and-pinion steering
Electric power assist standard

Wheels and tires (front/rear) Aluminum alloy wheels
All-season tires
155/60R15 on 4.5Jx15 (front)
175/55R15 on 5.5Jx15 (rear)

Interior Standard HV air conditioning
PTC type heater
All 2011 ICE smart fortwo options available
Electric green interior trim paint
Battery state of charge and battery draw gauges
Exterior White body panels with electric green tridion paint scheme
Electric green 9-spoke alloy wheels
Choice of coupe or cabriolet body style

Dimensions and weights
Wheelbase 73.5 inches
Track width front/rear 50.51 inches/54.53 inches
Length 106.1 inches
Width 61.38 inches (69 inches with side mirrors)
Height 60.71 inches
Headroom 39.7 inches
Legroom 41.2 inches
Shoulder room 48 inches
Hip room 45.4 inches
Passenger volume 45.4 cu. ft.
Turning circle 28.7 ft
Luggage compartment capacity 7.8 cu. ft. to beltline/12 cu. ft. to roof
Battery weight 326 lbs.
ECE weight without driver 1,958 lbs. (coupe)

Performance
Maximum speed 62.5 mph

Range (on 100% state of charge)
Range in miles 84 miles
 
#8 · (Edited)
Posted earlier:


Did you know the pursuit for the ideal electric plug in car may be over, and it just could be the all new Smart ED Fortwo electric drive edition, which is a zero emission town and city car, which is touted to be in the United States in 2010? The ED Smart Fortwo electric drive has all the features that made the Smart Fortwo the most sought after car of 2008, and with reported sales for 2009, it appears the Smart and smart USA, is headed for another record sales year. Oh yes, the Smart Fortwo ED edition is minus one thing, a gas combustion engine and at long last the United States may have a zero carbon emissions car.

The Smart electric drive will be powered by a high-performance, lithium-ion battery pack along with chargers made by Tesla, a pioneer in the EV industry for environmentally friendly batteries. Tesla made the announcement at this year's Detroit Auto show.

According to D. Schembri, President, smart USA smart USA will have 300 full electric vehicles available in late 2010 and will go into full series production in 2011. He also adds “haven't figured out exactly how to do the distribution, but they will be for general consumer use.”

There’s rumor of some kind of waiting list? Let’s hope the do a little better with this list and allocating of these electric vehicles than with the 30,000 units they sold in 2008.

Due to many issues, one being the lack of communications, sales have dropped off dramatically for 2009. As well smart USA was offering a $99/month financing as part of the "cash for clunkers" deal. Causing negative reactions from some after discovering that the $99 a month loan plan had a little sting…at the end of the three years the buyer had a balloon payment of $6,667! Estimates for 2009 are an annual rate of just over 13,000 cars sold.

The Smart Fortwo's battery will be stowed in the Smarts underbody, allowing the Smart's interior area to stay the same. The Smart electric drive version takes four hours to charge to 80%, and eight hours to charge to full capacity.

When drained, it can be charged at any 230 volt power socket and you can charge the batteries up to 1000 times. Rumor has it, the Tesla battery can last up to ten years. When fully charged, the Smart can travel a distance of approximately 80 miles and has a top speed of 70 mph.

The electric drive Smart Fortwo is said to be the most cost-effective and climate-friendly option for metropolitan driving.

Daimler started a pilot program to test electric Smart cars in London in 2007 and the trial has facilitated Smart's manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz, in developing the car, evaluating its effectiveness and dependability.

Below is a very special Smart Fortwo Brabus powered by state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries.

Nevertheless Tesla has had problems getting its own electric Model S on the highway, but perhaps they can help others get their electric vehicles on our roads.

Tesla has continually postponed manufacturing its Model S sedan; however Tesla has delivered around 150 Roadsters.

Their Roadster is not yet profitable and Tesla's power train venture is the only division of the company that is cash positive.

Tesla will manufacture the battery packs in California, which is good news for California. The final details of the smart, GmbH battery pack by Tesla are still under development.





 
#9 · (Edited)
Also posted much earlier:



Smart GmbH the manufacture of the smart fortwo electric drive will roll off the production line at the smart factory in Hambach, France, starting this November. The second generation smart fortwo will be equipped with a ground-breaking and cost-effective lithium-ion battery manufactured by Tesla. Media.daimler.com states the car will be available starting in 2012 to anyone? According to D. Schembri, President, smart USA smart USA will have 300 full electric vehicles available in late 2010 and will go into full series production in 2011. He also adds “haven't figured out exactly how to do the distribution, but they will be for general consumer use.”

There’s rumor of some kind of waiting list? Let’s hope the do a little better with this list and allocating of these electric vehicles than with the 30,000 units they sold in 2008.

Due to many issues, one being the lack of communications, sales have dropped off dramatically for 2009. As well smart USA was offering a $99/month financing as part of the "cash for clunkers" deal.

Causing negative reactions from some after discovering that the $99 a month loan plan had a little sting…at the end of the three years the buyer had a balloon payment of $6,667! Estimates for 2009 are an annual rate of just over 13,000 cars sold.

From mid November 2009 the new smart fortwo electric drive will roll off the production line at the smart factory in Hambach, France. Unlike its predecessor, the electrically driven smart fortwo of the second generation is fitted with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery.

It is housed in a space-saving position 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 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. In Germany, a full battery charge costs approximately two euros and is sufficient for a range of around 115 kilometres – more than enough for city traffic.

smart has made electric drive a practical alternative for zero-emission mobility in urban areas. The new smart fortwo electric drive is initially being leased to customers in Berlin and other cities in Europe and the USA who will subject the environmentally friendly trendsetter to intensive real-world testing in tough everyday conditions. From 2012 it will be available to anyone interested.

Environmental friendliness and contemporary 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 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.

Read what the UK smart site tells us about the ED Smart Fortwo:

"We’d like to introduce you to a car that’s designed to bring a breath of fresh air to the streets: the refreshingly new smart electric vehicle – or smart electric drive, as we call it. It’s the natural product of smart’s unswerving commitment to the environment and innovation – not to mention fun.

Think of a smart. Then think of an electric socket concealed behind what used to be the fuel cap. Picture the complete absence of exhaust fumes, so no CO2 emissions from the rear. Close your eyes and hear… no sound at all coming from the engine. Imagine no engine oil, no road tax, and no London congestion charge and you’ll start to get a sense of what really makes the new smart electric drive tick.

Powered solely by electricity, and chargeable from any three-pin socket the smart electric drive can achieve the equivalent of 300 mpg – that amounts to a saving of up to 80% in fuel costs over the already highly economical smart fortwo. The electric drive can travel up to 72 miles between charges, which typically take around 8 hours for a full charge – ideal for charging at work between your morning and evening commutes. If your journey takes you into the capital, you will find free electricity provided by some London boroughs, as well as free or discounted parking. With a top-up charge during the day, the smart electric drive’s daily range weighs in at 100 miles.

What’s more, our electric drive hasn’t had to sacrifice any of the fortwo’s performance or class-leading equipment: expect the full complement of Mercedes-Benz safety features and a powerful Zytek electric motor, electronically-limited top speed of 60 mph. Once it’s up to speed (0-30mph in an impressive 6.5 seconds) the electric drive uses its tiny weight gain to deliver an exciting and stable drive.

Since 2007, we’ve been trialling 100 first generation smart electric drive’s with selected blue chip companies who are happy to meet our requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources. When we say zero emissions, we really mean it! Among the partners enrolled in the trial are e-on, Islington and Coventry Councils, Environment Agency, CarbonNeutral Company, EDF Energy, Amey and the Metropolitan Police Service.

All this is in preparation for volume series production from 2012. We have opened applications for the 2010 trial and if interested, you can apply for these by completing our online form. Click here to complete the form.

smart is inviting applications for up to 100 users to participate in ‘electric drive' research trials across the London South East and West Midlands regions, beginning 2010. The research will be conducted using second generation smart electric drive vehicles with new lithium-ion battery technology for a minimum of 12 months and leases will be subsidised by public funds.

The trials are a unique opportunity for users to influence the product development and design process, and will include a focus on domestic recharging behaviours.

So there you have it: a zero emission vehicle that is 100% smart; a car that will save money and the environment."

smart fortwo electric drive offers innovative driving fun

The new smart fortwo electric drive from the popular brand that will roll off the production line from mid 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. smart started emission-free driving in the tough everyday conditions of city traffic in 2007 in London. Since then 100 smart fortwo electric drives of the first generation have been in practical customer operation. The feedback from the UKcapital 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 higher performance, shorter charging times, a long life and high reliability. Marc Langenbrinck, responsible for brand management at smart, 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 a clear conscience."

Electric drive taken into account in the very first concept

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 immediately and without delay. Powerful torque of 120 Newtonmetres 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. Its maximum speed has been deliberately limited to 100 km/h, a suitable speed for the city. Thanks to the power characteristic of the electric motor, the smart fortwo electric drive needs just one single fixed gear ratio. There is no need for any gear changing – a major advantage in dense city traffic. To reverse, the engine's direction of rotation changes.

The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a lithium-ion battery from Tesla Motors Inc. with capacity of 14 kWh. It is simple to charge at any fused 220 Volt socket.

A fully charged battery is sufficient for up to 115 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. Plugging the car in overnight will fully recharge the battery.

Electronics optimise the battery charge status and power consumption

Special electronics ensure that all is well with the battery. The electronics also monitor the charging process and control the capacity display.The vehicle's power electronics supply the 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.

The new second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on the smart fortwo coupé/cabrio passion. As well as air conditioning with automatic temperature control all the equipment features of the popular passion equipment line are included. In addition to the battery indicator, an ammeter shows the consumption and the recuperated energy.

Very low costs

Based on German electricity prices it costs approximately two euros to drive the smart fortwo electric drive for 100 kilometres (even cheaper with off-peak electricity). This is less than the price of two litres of petrol. Electric power is much cheaper in lots of countries. 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.

In addition to the low running costs, there are further cost advantages in lots of countries and cities. For example, drivers of a smart fortwo electric drive are entitled to national subsidies, tax advantages or exemption from local toll charges such as the city centre congestion charge in London.

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

From the end of 2009 the smart fortwo electric drive will be delivered to selected leasing customers. Leases will be offered for a period of four years and 60,000 kilometres. The first vehicles are destined for 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 Daimleris creating the 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.

Further vehicles of the new generation smart fortwo electric drive will take to the roads of Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Milan, Pisa, Madridand they will also be deployed in further projects in Europe. Some of the models will also go to cities in the USA.

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 underlines the pioneering role of the car brand on the way to attractive individual mobility with zero local emissions in cities and urban population centres.

Source: Media.daimler.com







 
#10 · (Edited)
I enjoyed reading the manufacturer's puff piece, but was distracted by the constant need to convert to English measurement. Didn't we fight a war so we didn't have to put up with the metric system?

Seriously, for about ten years after getting out of the Army (where ranges are routinely reckoned in meters and kilometers (but angles are still given in mils, a long obsolete French system that we stuck with after World War I), I thought in metric all of the time. The advent of Japanese cars (with dual scale speedometers) helped perpetuate this as well.

Carter's administration made the big try to go metric, with "introductory" road distance signs and all, but most of that has been rooted up in the years since. (There's still one "Saint Louis - 100 km" sign on I-44 in southern Missouri, but all the rest are gone.)

You would think that Penske would "Englishsize" the promo literature, the better to get ******** on board with the program. Euro style appeals to some, but not to all.

Or, maybe the 100 km range figure is a way to disguise the fact that you only can drive sixty odd miles on one battery charge. Nah, that's too cynical...
 
#11 ·
I am happy to see electric Smarts making their way into our world. I wonder how long I will have to wait before I can afford one. One dealer told me the one ED they were getting was going to be about twice the price of the gas burner. I believe it is much easier to make an electric drive train than one with internal combustion engine, transmission, cat converter, etc. The prices must and will come down before we see them on every street. I am looking forward to that day as well as the day I get mine.
 
#12 ·
Not precisely...Modern EV tech is still fairly new and the only EV that has a practical range is the Tesla...Only when building a practical EV will be easier will the costs come down.
 
#13 ·
range vs price

85 mile range is more than enough for me but 25+ grand is not practical. Remember for most the electric car is not the primary car at this point. However as the charging stations spread to more places like rest stops, restaurants, movie theaters, beach and mall parking lots, single charge range becomes less of an issue. Now that the plug standard for charging stations has been settled these charging places will appear quickly. Competition will bring the prices down. We will all benefit from that. If you compare the number of parts necessary to make an IC engine with an electric motor there will be huge cost savings. Even modern gas tanks are filled with high dollar pumps and vapor control plumbing. Ever look inside a modern automatic transmission, parts, parts, parts. The ED eliminates all that stuff. Should be much cheaper to make as production quantities ramp up.
 
#16 ·
From Daimler's Media Page:
Zero-emission motoring with even more driving fun – the third generation smart fortwo electric drive will be available from the spring of 2012. In total a five-figure number of vehicles will roll off the production line in Hambach, France. Following the huge success of the second generation, electric mobility will then become accessible to anyone interested in more than 30 markets worldwide. In the development of the new generation smart benefited from extensive experience and customer feedback gathered worldwide over the past years. Driven by a battery supplied by Deutsche Accumotive for the first time the 55 kW electric motor passes the 120 km/h mark. From 0 to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds - even driving on urban motorways becomes enjoyable. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the lively city car to travel around 140 kilometres in city traffic without producing any local emissions.

"The smart fortwo has exceeded itself. It has always been a pioneer of urban mobility and with the new electric drive it is once again setting standards with even more driving fun and environmental compatibility," says Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart. "With the new generation the frequently cited "electric era" has finally arrived." For the further development of the smart fortwo electric drive the company was able to bring in extensive experience and customer feedback from various electric mobility projects. For example, this is reflected in clearly improved performance data. Driven for the first time by energy from a battery supplied by Deutsche Accumotive the 55 kW electric motor effortlessly passes the 120 km/h mark. The smart developers were also able to realise the more powerful acceleration requested by customers. From 0 to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds - even filtering into traffic on urban motorways is a pleasure. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the lively city car to travel considerably more than 140 kilometres without producing any local emissions.
Ever since 1998 the smart has been revolutionising urban mobility like no vehicle before it. Compact, agile, environmentally friendly and stylish – it has evolved from a practical small car to a lifestyle product and has long become a familiar sight on the roads of cities around the world.
With the start of the first electrically driven test fleet in 2007 in London smart also took on a pioneering role in the area of electric mobility when 100 smart fortwo electric drives took to the roads of the British capital – with great success. Today the vehicle is a trendsetter and a synonym for forward-looking battery-electric-driven urban mobility of the future.

One of the largest electric fleets worldwide
With the introduction of the second generation in 2009 the smart fortwo electric drive was ready to take to the roads. The electrically driven avant-gardiste from Stuttgart was introduced in 18 markets. The objective of the second generation was to gather as much experience as possible about how customers use and charge electric vehicles. The huge demand exceeded all expectations. Instead of the planned 1000 vehicles more than 2000 smart fortwo electric drives are being produced in Hambach. This means that smart has one of the largest fleets of electrically driven vehicles on the roads worldwide and a trove of customer experience and wishes that have been input in the third generation smart fortwo electric drive.
A higher top speed and better acceleration at speeds above 60 km/h were right at the top of the customers' list of priorities.
Contrary to prevailing opinion the range wasn't the crucial point from the perspective of the test customers. The vast majority of users confirmed the results of surveys which say that people drive approximately 30 to 40 kilometres per day on average in urban areas and they expressed great satisfaction with the range of their smart.

Even better in the third generation
With total production amounting to a five-figure number, from the spring of 2012 the further developed smart fortwo electric drive will start winning wide-ranging buyers in more than 30 countries for an innovative and forward-looking drive concept.
The third generation smart fortwo electric drive features a 55 kW magneto-electric motor - the first product from the EM-motive joint venture founded together with Bosch - which ensures that it is as agile and lively as ever. With torque of 130 Newton metres it accelerates powerfully and immediately from 0 to 60 km/h in 5 seconds and thanks to better acceleration in the higher speed range it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds as it has much more tractive power than its predecessor. This makes for speedy driving and overtaking. The battery-electric two-seater smart fortwo now also has a higher top speed of more than 120 km/h, putting it on a par with the combustion-engined smart.
A battery supplied by Deutsche ACCUmotive is fitted in the new smart fortwo electric drive for the first time. With capacity of 17.6 kWh the lithium-ion battery from the joint venture with Evonik Industries provides for well over 140 kilometres of pollutant-free driving fun. In addition to the higher battery capacity clear improvements have been made to the efficiency of the drive system, resulting in a greater range. When completely empty it takes a maximum of eight hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries i.e. overnight.

Quick charging in just one hour
For the greater freedom of quick charging it is possible to optionally equip the vehicle with a quick-charging function. The 22 kW on-board charger enables a completely empty battery to be fully charged in less than an hour. A power cable is needed for this which is used to connect the vehicle to a public quick-charging station or a wallbox at home or work.

A fresh green and even more colours
With a larger radiator grille featuring the electric drive logo, stylish LED daytime driving lights below the headlamps, wider door sills and several modifications to the rear the new model is much more dynamic than its predecessor.
The new smart fortwo electric drive comes in all smart colours and colour combinations that are also available for the diesel and petrol models.
The new colour fresh green is a particularly visible manifestation of electric driving fun. In addition to crystal white bodypanels the electric drive design package comprises white alloy rims, a green tridion cell, green mirror caps and numerous green accents in the interior which form an attractive contrast to the black seats.

Perfectly equipped
As to be expected the new smart fortwo electric drive features extensive equipment. A highlight is the fully automatic air conditioning with pollen filter and pre-air conditioning. As with the second generation the vehicle can be pre-cooled or pre-heated as required for a programmed departure time when it is connected to the power network. A new feature is the possibility to start the pre-air conditioning via the internet or a smartphone at any time. The standard equipment furthermore includes electric windows and electrically adjustable door mirrors, a leather steering wheel, leather gear knob, the entry line radio, power steering, 9-spoke alloy wheels and a luggage compartment cover. As with the predecessor model in addition to the standard solid roof a glass roof and a cabrio version are available. The trip computer – also a standard feature in the electric smart – shows journey information including the remaining range. And like the predecessor model the two round instruments show the charge status of the battery and the energy used and recuperated. In addition, the smart fortwo electric drive can be equipped with a navigation system and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel.
Clever app for infotainment with smartphones
smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone®. Together with the smart kit and cradle for the iPhone®the cult phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone®has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras – for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.
The new smart drive app for the iPhone®is simple to operate and features extra-large buttons among other things. The new app makes urban mobility even easier and more fun - the declared objective of the smart philosophy.
Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone®a perfect team:
The smart cradle for the iPhone®with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone®and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made.
The smart drive app for the iPhone®is the world's first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters.
Always know how far you can go: connected services
The smart drive app for the iPhone®can be tailored to the smart fortwo electric drive with further functions. However, the current charge status or the SmartCharging charge configuration can also be conveniently controlled and managed via a web portal from a home computer or with any modern smartphone.
The Vehicle Homepage offers every third generation smart fortwo electric drive customer a chance to visualise the range on an interactive map with 3D views. All the destinations that can be reached with the current battery charge are displayed. The public charging stations within reach can also be seen at a glance. If a desired destination is further away than the available range the Vehicle Homepage can be used to quickly check the additional battery charge needed. Among other things the depiction of the range considers the topography and the route profile. The intuitive graphic depiction that can be combined with 3D views and satellite images is an attractive feature. Furthermore, the vehicle itself can also become active. Information on the charge status and range can be sent by email or Twitter messages for example. The driver is notified as soon as the desired range can be reached with the current charge.

Intelligent charging
The smart fortwo electric drive can be connected to the internet at home via a standard powerline adapter (Homeplug AV) for SmartCharging. After entering the planned departure time in the vehicle or the web portal the vehicle will be fully charged in a battery-saving and economical way, and pre-air conditioned if required so that it is ready to start. The pre-air conditioning can also be conveniently activated online shortly before setting off.
 
#18 ·
Test drove one already

I drove one last weekend at the Smart "funtestdrive" drive event here in Miami FL. Frankly I was very impressed, the EV version of the Smart feels like what the Smart should have been in the first place - it feels "right" in this version. The EV Smart is VERY quiet, ultra smooth acceleration (say goodbye the annoying transmission in gas version), great torque, great pickup - the rest is pure Smart no major changes to the exterior/interior except a few more gauges telling range, battery charge, brakes regenerating power. There is also a subtle body decal indicating its an electric vehicle. I was informed its range is about 65 or so.
I drove the cabriolet version and the event people informed me this version is about $29,000 (don't faint now!). The EV version does qualify for a tax credit of $7500 in the U.S. and they also informed me that they have special leases and plans for the EV Smart.
In terms of the battery, charging, etc...they gave me this link:
smart Electric Drive Charging FAQs ? SPX Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions
Unfortunately the Smart EV is very expensive but - its a wait and see game now...not too many people like Smarts to start off with as well as EV's (Nissan Leaf etc) so I expect a lot of rebates, incentives coming up.:)
 
#19 ·
NO new smart EV until sometime in 2014!

"Phase three is series production which begins in 2012 with third generation models to be sold to consumers through smart USA’s dealer network and at dealers in nearly 40 markets around the world."

Does not look like they got the year correct, add 2 years or so, maybe sometime in 2014 we will see the smart electric here in the Midwest. The Volt and the leaf are looking better and better as the years go by. :(
 
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