[Nerdelux]

I just purchased my 2015 Fortwo ED. Is there a way to increase the brake regen. My model does not have the paddles. Also what is the 3 digit code for my model? is it a 451?

I tried doing a search but could not find anything on the brake regen increase without the paddles.

 

[Earls smart car]

Welcome to the club, your 2015 car is a 451, 451's were from 2008-2015, in 2016 the models changed to 453's. Earl

 

[sokoloff]

But the 2016 EV's were still 451's.

Len

 

[Nerdelux]

[SMART] Volant à palettes

La SMART Fortwo 451 était proposée avec différents volants, la mienne était équipée du plus basique, moins joli et surtout dépourvu d’options. Il y a une d’entre elles que je souhaitais…

stuffcc.fr

Looks like someone figured out how to retro fit the paddles. I can do this but I don't know how to reprogram the control module. i've done a bunch of coding on my BMW i3 but I'm new to Smart Cars I wonder how hard it is..

 

[Jeb Baker]

Minecooky might want to jump in here. His forum in Germany sells mods for improving regen and acceleration.

 

[Nerdelux]

I contacted Steinbauer to see if their kit would work on a car without paddles.

 

[Jmk2020]

You can do it with big and expensive effort with the Steinbauer Kit, or you just code the Paddles in the N127 / CEPC.
The Steinbauer solution are also sold direct in the US and offer more or less the same power than the extended Brabus version.

I just work together with a supplier on a special set for the 2 spoke Leather Steering wheel with adapted new special enclosure on the backside.
Then you could switch the modes on the steering wheel, as original intended.
Other nice and easy solution is to use OVMS to trigger the different activated modes in the 451. By this you could do this by mobile or via a app on a android radio.

If you additional flash a special software version on CEPC, you also could activate the additional "Brabus power". Means at least 5kW more peak power and 5km/h more top speed
in this case you also receive an addition 4th sport mode (from D-, D and D+ to D-, D, D+ and Ds). In this the acceleration and throttle behavior is more aggressive and also the recuperation is more often 100%.

If you own the necessary equipment i can help you out also via remote team viewer session. It is real easy.

But be aware the top speed is not limited by the power but by the max rpm of the electric motor. This is also the reason the Brabus version use some rear wheels with bigger diameter.

 

[Nerdelux]

Thank you for the help. Looks like I have some reading to do. I have an Android head unit on the way. Should be here Sunday. If I can easily trigger this on the Android device. I don't need the paddles. Once I get my Android head unit installed I will post in this thread.

 

[Smart car]

I contacted Steinbauer to see if their kit would work on a car without paddles.

I have the Steinbauer module and yes it does increase regen to over 100% without the paddles. Plus, it gives a heck of a seat in the pants acceleration boost!
Electric Smart Car Power Module - YouTube

 

[Jeb Baker]

"and yes it does increase regen to over 100% "
Could you elaborate on this, please? How does this change the feel of the car? Can you do a no-braking stop? Do you find the regen improves the economy of the car, can you go further distances before charging with it? Any downsides? Would you advise against stock tire sizes with this module? thx.

 

[sokoloff]

In addition to Jeb's questions above, I'd like to be educated about my Smart. I do have the paddles on one of my three EV's. I generally try to leave it in the no regeneration mode. My thinking is that not having the regeneration slow my car down when I take my foot off the accelerator will give me the most range. When I am coming to a stop, I will click it onto one of the two "regen" positions. I tend to think that using "regen" might give you a little bit of a charge, but is it enough to overcome the drop in speed and use of battery charge that doesn't happen when no "regen" is selected? Please educate me. I'm thinking that the bottom line is that it doesn't matter too much. In fact I seem to get better range in my two Smarts without the paddles. If the conditions allow, I will pop the transmission into neutral when coming to a stop way ahead of me or going down a hill.

Len

 

[Jmk2020]

Len you are right and wrong in the same situation.
For sure the regen would give you only a benefit if a change of speed (traffic in urban area) is necessary. As the recuperation only is a coupling of energy efficiency chains.
On highways sailing is more efficient as the energy will stay in the car and is not twice converted. Means from traction battery to the wheels and kinetic energy and back to electric energy again.

This is also the issue of the Steinbauer recuperation.
It is only as good as you control the driving situation.
This means the paddles or you manual approach to switch to neutral will help.
So the modification from normal Smart ED3 to Brabus power is very similar to the Steinbauer approach.
Real benefical and nice gadget is the additonal Ds Mode.
By the way you also could install both, but in this case you will get some non critical failures in the drive inverter, only about a little bit faster maximum torque above 15 miles a hour and the car is no more driveable in icy conditons by the too high negative torque by the too high recuperation.

So the different modes are really nice even the paddles are not really necessary to activate them.

For example at moment my OVMS is configured to switch automaticaly to Ds Mode on ignition on. If necessary i can switch it by the GUI interface of the OVMS nicely. But never the rest i work on a upgrade of the 2 spoke wheel to get all functions offered by the system.

 

[Mjolinor]

Worth including in the considerations is that higher regen takes load off the brakes.

I had a Prius about 15 years ago and did 120,000 miles in it and when my dad mangled the thing it was still on the original brake pads. I am not saying that is a good thing as unused bits on cars tend to seize but I never had the problem, each year it sailed through the MOT. The Toyota gearbox configuration is fantastic in the way it works and if I am remembering correctly the mechanical /hydraulic parts only worked under 6 MPH or in an emergency stop.

 

[Jmk2020]

Yes the recuperation is a real nice feature. Special in traffic situation where single pedal behavior seems to me most beneficial.

Never the less the ED3 even with Brabus Ds or D+ mode is different to Tesla style. The recupration goes done for ED3 and the car will not stop.
For Tesla it brakes the the car much more till lower speeds and even stops. But it also depend on the selected mode. And seems ti me not similar strong than the ED3 Ds or Steinbauer recuperation. But maybe i am wrong.

 

[Smart car]

"and yes it does increase regen to over 100% "
Could you elaborate on this, please? How does this change the feel of the car? Can you do a no-braking stop? Do you find the regen improves the economy of the car, can you go further distances before charging with it? Any downsides? Would you advise against stock tire sizes with this module? thx.

Since this is an ED3 I never take it on a road trip or rarely on the freeway since we all know VERY SHORT RANGE.
I 99.9% drive on city streets so strong regen is awesome, one pedal driving.
If I am cruising steady, I have learned to only lift my foot to "0" energy, not "off" the pedal. So I balance my foot to the traffic speeds needed and rarely use the brake pedal.
However, my car is Modified and nowhere like stock, The Steinbauer module will create 100% Regen at 45mph if you lift off the pedal. Around 25 -30 it lightens up to 70%'ish, I have a paddle for extra Regen when needed that also lights my brake lights when I pull it.

It does not do a complete stop, but it will get to under 5mph, then I use my brakes.
I see no range improvement, just brake life improvement and cleaner wheels due to less brakes.
It is more of a preference in driving style, One pedal driving is easy and less involved once learned.

 

[Nerdelux]

You can do it with big and expensive effort with the Steinbauer Kit, or you just code the Paddles in the N127 / CEPC.
The Steinbauer solution are also sold direct in the US and offer more or less the same power than the extended Brabus version.

I just work together with a supplier on a special set for the 2 spoke Leather Steering wheel with adapted new special enclosure on the backside.
Then you could switch the modes on the steering wheel, as original intended.
Other nice and easy solution is to use OVMS to trigger the different activated modes in the 451. By this you could do this by mobile or via a app on a android radio.

If you additional flash a special software version on CEPC, you also could activate the additional "Brabus power". Means at least 5kW more peak power and 5km/h more top speed
in this case you also receive an addition 4th sport mode (from D-, D and D+ to D-, D, D+ and Ds). In this the acceleration and throttle behavior is more aggressive and also the recuperation is more often 100%.

If you own the necessary equipment i can help you out also via remote team viewer session. It is real easy.

But be aware the top speed is not limited by the power but by the max rpm of the electric motor. This is also the reason the Brabus version use some rear wheels with bigger diameter.

I got my Android head unit installed this weekend. Was a pretty easy thing to do. I have a steering wheel with paddles coming soon. hoping it gets shipped this week. I likely won't have a chance to get it installed until after the first of the year. I should be ready to get the Brabus update done shortly after that. Looking forward to getting the extra power and multiple levels of regen. How should I contact you to get the work done?

 

[bill.kichman]

I was stuck at a friend's house a couple years back about 45 miles from home. I figured I'd be there long enough to charge. Unfortunately the guy's house had a wiring problem causing a charger error, and I was stuck. Had like 2% battery. (The problem was, the house main service electrical panel lacked the required neutral ground bond, the charger sensed it and shut down). Long story short, my other buddy there with a pickup offered to tow me part way home, till regen charged up the battery enough to drive the rest of the way. Well let me tell you, the regen is effective! A few miles' tow, I think it was 6 or 7, I had plenty of charge to drive off. It's hairy getting towed like that, you've got to minimize the slack in the rope. All kinds of illegal, but hey it was dark, and sort of an emergency You could actually watch the battery state of charge needle go up, it works that fast.

 

[Jmk2020]

Yes it is really fast and if you paddles you could switch to higher recuperation. Or like done by Dan trigger the brake sensor to get higher recuperation.

I know somebody who take a fast 400km journey by this. Drive till empty after charge with the second car following till recharged and drive on again till empty. You wound loss the charging time.

 

[Smart car]

So just a little Teaser.. an all wheel drive, dual engine, hybrid Smart Car coming soon to my youtube channel.
I am designing the system to put my motorcycle engine in my Smart ED front wheel drive.
Still leaving it a full electric car to drive to work, but if needed as I run out of range I can start the bike engine, hold the pedal in regen just enough to recharge the traction battery.

 

[Nerdelux]

I got the steering wheel with paddles today. The swap looks very easy. Should I remove the 12v battery negative before trying to swap or is there a fuse I can pull to disable the air bag?