Smart Electric Drive

Smart first started trialling the Electric Drive version of its Fortwo model in 2007, when100 first-generation all-electric Smart EDs were placed with a range of vehicle fleets including energy companies, local councils, universities and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Users wanted for second generation Smart Fortwo Electric Drive research

Smart is now inviting applications for up to 100 users to participate in a second stage ED model research programme across the London, South East and West Midlands regions, beginning in 2010. The research will be conducted over a minimum of 12 months using second generation Smart Electric Drive vehicles. The vehicles will be leased by participants and subsidised by public funds.

In order to provide the second generation test vehicles for the research in the UK, as well as in Berlin, Paris, Rome, Milan and cities in the US, there will be a limited production run of vehicles towards the end of 2009. Volume production is planned to start in 2012.

Lithium-ion batteries supplied by electric car maker Tesla

The new ED is based on the second-generation Fortwo model, and the biggest technical change is a move to lithium-ion batteries instead of sodium-nickel-chloride. This increases the life of the battery pack, while cutting recharge times. The batteries are to be supplied by US-based electric sports car maker Tesla, in which Smart’s parent company, Daimler AG, has a share in the ownership.

The second-generation ED represents a major upgrade on the first version. The Electric Drive can now achieve the equivalent of 300 mpg, amounting to a saving of up to 80% in fuel costs over the already highly economical Smart Fortwo. The new ED can travel up to 72 miles between full charges, which typically take around 8 hours. With a top-up charge during the day, the ED’s daily range weighs in at 100 miles. It’s also very nippy in town – 0-30 mph is 6.5 seconds. The top speed is electronically-limited at 60 mph.

Smart electric car safety features

The move to electric propulsion hasn’t meant sacrificing any of the Fortwo’s performance or equipment. The ED has the full complement of Smart safety features such as ESP, ABS brakes, two airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners (unlike electric quadricycles).The Zytek drivetrain integrates the electric motor, power and control electronics into one assembly with only three connections: water, high-voltage electrics (300V) and low-voltage electrics (12V). This replaces the conventional petrol engine and rear axle, and removal of the fuel tank allows room for a battery pack below the floor.  

Volume electric car production starts in 2012

When volume production starts in 2012 at the Hambach plant in France, the Electric Drive will have five years of extensive field research behind it. The vehicle’s development will reflect the focus placed on domestic recharging which is likely to be the most significant finding in the entire programme.