Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive is an electric vehicle version of the Smart Fortwo city car, produced by Daimler AG and developed in cooperation with Tesla, Inc. and Robert Bosch GmbH. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was first introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show and was designed to provide an environmentally friendly and efficient mode of transportation for urban areas, similar to the Volkswagen e-Up! and Nissan Leaf. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was also tested in Car2Go carsharing programs in cities like Austin, Texas, and Vancouver, in partnership with Europcar and DB Rent.

Introduction

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was launched as a pilot project in London in 2007, with a fleet of 100 vehicles, in collaboration with British Gas and E.ON UK. The project aimed to test the feasibility of electric vehicles in urban environments and to gather data on their performance and user behavior, similar to the Mini E trial in New York City and Los Angeles. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was also part of the Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program in Canada, led by the Government of Canada and Natural Resources Canada, which included other vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The program was supported by Hydro-Québec and Toronto Hydro.

Design and Development

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was designed and developed by Mercedes-Benz in cooperation with Tesla, Inc., which provided the electric motor and battery management system, similar to the Tesla Roadster. The vehicle's lithium-ion battery was supplied by Deutsche Accumotive, a subsidiary of Daimler AG, and was designed to provide a range of up to 145 km (90 miles) on a single charge, comparable to the Renault Zoe and Peugeot iOn. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was built on the same platform as the Smart Fortwo and featured a similar design, with some modifications to accommodate the electric powertrain, such as the BMW i3 and Volkswagen e-Golf. The vehicle was assembled at the Smartville factory in Hambach, France, which also produced the Smart Forfour and Smart Fortwo.

Specifications

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was equipped with a single-speed transmission and a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, similar to the Porsche 911. The vehicle's electric motor produced 55 kW (74 hp) of power and 130 Nm (96 lb-ft) of torque, comparable to the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive had a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) and could accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 11.5 seconds, similar to the Fiat 500e and Kia Soul EV. The vehicle's lithium-ion battery was charged via a Type 2 connector and could be fully charged in 3.5 hours using a wallbox or public charging station, such as those provided by ChargePoint and EVgo.

Marketing and Sales

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was launched in several countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and the United States, in partnership with Car2Go and DriveNow. The vehicle was marketed as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, similar to the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was priced competitively with other electric vehicles on the market, such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Peugeot Partner Tepee Electric. The vehicle was also offered for lease through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Daimler Financial Services, which included Chrysler Financial and Ford Motor Credit Company.

Reception and Impact

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive received generally positive reviews from critics and customers, who praised its environmental benefits and low operating costs, similar to the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. The vehicle was also recognized for its innovative design and advanced technology, including its regenerative braking system and energy-efficient battery management system, developed in partnership with Bosch and Continental AG. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive was awarded several prizes, including the 2013 Green Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the 2014 Electric Vehicle of the Year award at the Geneva Motor Show, which also recognized the Tesla Model S and BMW i3.

Technical Details

The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive featured a range of advanced technologies, including a regenerative braking system and an energy-efficient battery management system, developed in partnership with Robert Bosch GmbH and Continental AG. The vehicle's electric motor was powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 17.6 kWh, similar to the Renault Zoe and Peugeot iOn. The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive also featured a range of safety features, including airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), and electronic stability control (ESC), which were also found in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 5 Series. The vehicle's infotainment system was developed in partnership with Harman International and featured a range of connectivity options, including Bluetooth and USB connectivity, similar to the Audi A4 and Volkswagen Golf. Category:Electric vehicles