smart gives electric drive version the green light
smart ed - Click above for high res image gallery
Mitsubishi and Subaru were the first to start production, but the list of major automakers that are going electric is growing. As rumored, the Daimler is adding its name to the list with an announcement today that the smart ed "is ready for small series production." Apparently, the trials that have been going on in the UK since December 2007 have proven successful and the company is ready to re-commit to putting the smart ed into production with lithium-ion batteries. Details on how many smart ed's will be produced and when the first deliveries will take place were not given, other than the UK will get some production cars "in early 2010." During the Detroit Auto Show, smart said that the cars would be available by the end of this year. Next year should also see 1,000 smart eds start testing in the U.S. More details available after the jump.
Gallery: smart ed
[Source: smart]
PRESS RELEASE:
Electric smart to go live
Following successful trials in the UK, the iconic, zero-emission, smart fortwo electric drive is ready for small series production.
Reaction from customers taking part in the UK trial, including the Metropolitan Police, universities, local councils, architects and energy companies, has proved so encouraging that smart's parent company, Daimler AG, can confirm that the smart electric drive will go into small series production, with cars coming to the UK in early 2010.
The second generation smart electric drive will also be taking part in projects in Rome, Milan and Paris. Several cities in the US are also due to start trials of the fully electric car and the invaluable feedback will be incorporated into the development of future production models.
Featuring a lithium-ion battery the second generation smart electric drive's power source will have a longer range, boast a shorter charging time and will give improved performance.
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: "It is absolutely fantastic to see manufacturers like smart leading the way to make the electric vehicle an easy choice for Londoners. The move to electric vehicles, which emit zero pollution on London's streets, will have a massive impact on cutting carbon emissions to curb climate change whilst improving air quality and noise levels for our citizens."
Kulveer Ranger, Mayor's director of transport, said: "The Mayor and I are working with manufacturers through the London Electric Vehicle Partnership and urge the entire car industry to invest in this technology. Not only can we create green collar jobs but also smooth the way for less polluting transport choices which will improve our air quality, reduce traffic noise and contribute significantly to the Mayor's ambitious carbon emissions reduction target."
Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz UK, said: "smart have been leading the way in pioneering environmentally friendly, sustainable concepts for future mobility and we're delighted that the UK trial is proving to be so successful. The smart electric drive is exempt from vehicle excise duty and the London congestion charge and this, underlined with incredibly low operating costs, means that companies taking part in the trial are finding it makes perfect fiscal sense."
Gallery: Detroit 2009: smart ed
1. A UK market trial of 100 cars started in December 2007 with fleet customers. The trial lasts for 4 years and customers are leasing the vehicles at a monthly cost of £375.
2. The smart electric drive burns no fossil fuels and drivers can expect to achieve the equivalent of around 300 mpg from running the vehicle.
3. The smart ed emits no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydro-carbons, particulate matter or any harmful substance – in fact it emits nothing at all.
4. The smart ed has no engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs or exhaust. In fact there are only a handful of moving parts in the driveline, resulting in significantly lower servicing and maintenance costs compared to a petrol driven smart. Apart from regular charging the high tech battery is maintenance free and depending on use can last up to 10 years.
5. The smart ed retains all the safety equipment you would find on a regular smart. So unlike electric quadric-cycles you will find ESP, ABS brakes two airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners on the ed. The ed also borrows the tried and NCAP tested Tridion safety cell from the petrol driven smart.
6. The smart ed has no gear change and can reach 30 mph in a very nippy 6.5 seconds. It has an electronically limited top speed of 60 mph. All this is made possible by a powerful 30kW electric motor which is built for us by Zytek Automotive.
7. The smart ed has its own charger on board. This means you can plug it directly into any UK mains 3 pin plug socket and it will happily recharge. The 'state of charge' meter on the dash swivels through 90 degrees so it may even be possible to see the state of charge from inside your house!
8. As a company car the smart ed brings big benefits. Electric vehicles currently get a preferential tax rate of 9% and in the case of the ed, fuel scale charges are dramatically reduced as no petrol is provided and the provision of free electricity by the employer to the employee is not treated as benefit in kind. Furthermore, employees choosing the smart ed as a company car can enjoy a notional taxable value of just £13,750.
For more information about smart log onto www.smart.com/uk
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
guyledouche 4:41PM (6/22/2009)
Assuming a decent (IE not rediculous) price, I would scoop on of these in a heartbeat for my wife. We loved the car when we test drove one, but HATED the jerky garbage transmission they put in them. An EV version would be just the ticket though.
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David 5:07PM (6/22/2009)
You are absolutely correct! I have the gas model and I really look forward to getting the electric version. It seems that this car may be the perfect electric car...along with the Mitsubishi MiEV....which I really want too.
organic 5:27PM (6/22/2009)
Are the smarts in testing now based on the tesla batt and motor? Or only the 1000 that will be built for the US?
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Chris M 5:46PM (6/22/2009)
Yes. The first Smart EV prototypes use "Zebra" batteries that had reasonable range, but low power.
The Tesla designed batteries for the new Smart EV gives it more power for better performance, and a better range, too.
Pudgie 7:22PM (6/22/2009)
I am concerned that using Tesla-designed batteries will make it cost-prohibitive.
RAN 8:15PM (6/22/2009)
Someone please define "small series production". I hope it means more than the 170 units Subaru intends to produce. Surely big bad Daimler can make at least 500 of them?
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Greg Blencoe 9:27PM (6/22/2009)
While there is no doubt that thousands of these "cars" (golf carts?) will be sold, mainstream consumers are not interested in them. They are simply WAY too small.
Where will the groceries go? Where will the kids sit? Were are you supposed to put the luggage on a trip?
Has anybody taken a look at the vehicles that are on the road today? This is what people want.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can give customers the driving range, fueling time, and trunk and passenger space that mainstream customers want. They will be arriving at dealerships by 2015. I think there is little doubt that more than 95% of mainstream consumers would rather have a Toyota FCHV-adv mid-size SUV hydrogen fuel cell vehicle than one of these.
Daimler knows this. This is why the company is investing approximately $700 million between 2009-2011 on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
This equals an average of over $230 million per year on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from 2009 to 2011.
Energy Secretary Chu is trying to eliminate the DOE hydrogen vehicle research program in the 2010 fiscal year.
The DOE hydrogen budget for the 2009 fiscal year is $200.6 million.
Therefore, Daimler will invest more per year between 2009 and 2011 on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles than the entire DOE hydrogen budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
And the company has spent approximately $1.7 billion on hydrogen fuel cell technology since 1994.
Here is a link that discusses this:
http://hydrogendiscoveries.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/daimler-will-invest-more-per-year-between-2009-and-2011-in-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles-than-doe-hydrogen-budget-this-year/
All of these small battery-only "cars" only distract attention away from the real solution which is hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Here is the plan for U.S. Congress to launch the hydrogen car revolution. Tell your members of Congress to support it.
http://hydrogendiscoveries.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/plan-for-u-s-congress-to-launch-hydrogen-car-revolution-proposed-tax-incentives-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles-and-hydrogen-fueling-stations/
Greg Blencoe
Chief Executive Officer
Hydrogen Discoveries, Inc.
"Hydrogen Car Revolution" blog
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walter 9:43PM (6/22/2009)
Yes but hydrogen in a car is a stupid idea, and thats why people and gov are moving on. We can turn any gas car into an electric car today, but hydrogen dream is years away and will never make sense. It's just a way of big oil derailing the electric car.
SenatorPerry 9:43PM (6/22/2009)
Greg... Tread lightly...
Most people don't take their children back and forth to work with them. Personally I only need the size of a SmartCar whether it is Hydrogen or Battery. Unfortunately nobody will get their act together and make a SmartCar style vehicle that will match the MPG of my Prius. As a result I carry around a back seat that is unused on a trip back and forth to work...
It is about right-sizing vehicles and Hydrogen, as well as Battery technology, has a role in this...
xyz 3:09AM (6/23/2009)
I don't know how often you need to run into a brick wall before you will get it that hydrogen is just NOT the way things work out RIGHT NOW. Many very knowledgeable people on this forum have so many times explained this to you but you still keep on pushing your propaganda.
It's always the same:
1. Hydrogen fool cell propaganda from Greg.
2. Reasons from knowledgeable readers why it doesn't work out
3. Silence from Greg or some unrelated BS.
4. Next time when hydrogen issues come up it starts all over again.
Get a life and a job!
Can someone from ABG please stop this SPAM? Thanks.
Alan 4:44AM (6/23/2009)
Oh please do shut up. One scenario that so many people like you never seem to even *consider* is a multi-car household. My wife has a 'regular' car, and at the moment so do I which I only use for commuting. My next car will be either all electric or plug-in. It does not need to be huge, it does not need to be powerful, it does not need huge range, it does not need any luggage space, it just needs to be economical, so it certainly won't be using hydrogen!!!
Alan 4:45AM (6/23/2009)
I was replying to Greg by the way ;-)
andrichrose 6:06AM (6/23/2009)
Is this guy for real ? Greg over here in Italy there are thousands
of these cars on the roads , and it would be even better if they
were all electric considering the relativly short journeys made in
them !
DasBoese 6:53AM (6/23/2009)
Reported for spam.
I know that ABG will probably never ban you like they should or even delete your comments, but this is getting out of hand. The same copy-paste propaganda snippets EVERY time. Seriously, just stop it. If you have something constructive to say, you're welcome to the discussion, but until that is the case, STFU.
guyledouche 7:32AM (6/23/2009)
GLEN -- Please, for the love of God, STFU!!!!!!!!!
Nobody here wants to read you pointless hydrogen pumping and ill-informed "opinions" on the matter. Hydrogen is not happening any time soon, if ever. Get it through your thick scull.
Your H2 conquest is a sad sad story and one you might as well retire for the time being.
If they did bring the Smart ED to the States, it would definitely sell. I know its hard for you to understand that, but its the truth. On top of that, they could do it right now. Cant do that with H2 can you??!!
Move on Glen, move on!
Allen 7:10PM (7/19/2009)
I have been hearing that Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered cars are 15 years in the future for the past 40 years. Seems that they are still 15 years into the future.
cheleball 3:24AM (6/23/2009)
Please, tell me I'm not the only one who thinks "Smart ED" is a branding mistake. I mean, they're already fighting the American macho car ethos...and then they call their petite runabout "ED"? How do you not catch that?
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Rahul 5:33AM (6/23/2009)
I think Smart ED is a move towards energy conversation. The earth needs Green Cars to beat off the enviromental blues.
Rahul
Indian Car Advisor (Carazoo.com)
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MarkT 6:57AM (6/23/2009)
Greg,
>They are simply WAY too small.
Go to a dealer and sit in a Smart. Unless you are over 6'4" you'll find it quite spacious.
>Where will the groceries go?
In the trunk! What a novel idea... Enough space for a week's shopping.
>Where will the kids sit.
Take a good look on the roads. What % of cars have occupancy of over 2 people? Maybe 5%? So this car is fine for the other 95%.
>mainstream consumers are not interested in them.
Well I'm a mainstream consumer and I am. And I have money to spend. We'll be buying an electric Smart which we'll be using for most of our journeys, and use our wagon for long trips.
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Rob 2:28PM (6/23/2009)
while waiting for second generation smart ed, the fortwo conversion into electric is made possible by the open source community Ecars-now!.
The Italian Local group has worked to the conversion of a 2003 smart for a few months and now the base model (performing a 15Kw AC induction powertrain with lead AGM batteries) is in advanced testing phase.
The conversion plans will be available to the community soon in next Autumn.
further informations are available here:
http://ecars-now.wikidot.com/ecars:electric-smart-fortwo
to join the community:
http://ecars-now.wikidot.com/community:participate
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