Smart will use the Mercedes A-Class’ unusual chassis as a shortcut to a two-model full-electric car range inside three years, Mercedes-Benz insiders have told Leftlane. While the first electric car from Smart will come in the form of a modified ForTwo, a larger vehicle based on the Mercedes platform (and similar to the now defunct ForFour) is also in the cards.
Mercedes insists Smart will be one of the first carmakers to use breakthrough Lithium-Ion battery technology to boost its full-electric recharge range. It has had a fleet of 100 electric Smarts roaming London’s streets for a year and is committed to a full-electric two-seater within the life of the current generation Smart fortwo.
“We will have a Lithium-Ion car on sale during the current life-cycle of the Smart. It will get the lithium battery in full electric in large numbers,” the Director of Mercedes-Benz’s Research and Development Group, Dr Thomas Weber, admitted during a technology forum in Seville, Spain, earlier this month.
“The battery is the key. Lithium-ion technology offers advantages that others haven’t mastered, and we have 25 patents on it.”
“But production will be a step-by-step approach for Smart. The next step should be a production run of above 1000 but below 10,000 cars, but internally we are a little bit more precise,” he said.
A-Class-based electric Smarts?
Senior Mercedes management has hinted that the electric ForTwo will be followed up by a four- or five-seater, based on the A-Class.
While both generations of A-Class have had only petrol or diesel engines, both use an expensive, space-limiting sandwich floor construction, originally conceived to carry either a bolt-in fuel cell or an electric battery pack.
While the next-generation A-Class won’t use this platform, future Smart models might.
“On the market today there is no better architecture for electric cars than the A- and B-class and we won’t waste that,” explained Weber.
“If there is a need for pure zero-emission vehicles, if the time comes for a zero-emission vehicle to be a stand-alone car then with this architecture, Smart is in much better shape for this than any of our competitors.”
And, while Smart last year ceased production of its sporty coupe and Mitsubishi-built ForFour, Daimler management believes the oil-price crisis has brought the market back to a frugal, city-focused mini car range.
“I believe we are on the border of a great new definition for personal mobility,” he said.
Words by Michael Taylor.
06/19, 3:34 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
For the cost this car has poor performance, relatively poor fuel economy, and no interior space. It’s only gimmick is you can park two back-to-back in a normal parking space. This is a very limited niche in highly urban areas, and most have better public transportation options.
I’d rather have a skateboard and a granola bar.
06/19, 4:28 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’d rather have a cement mixer, a bottle of tequilla and bucket of ball bearings but then we’re probably not talking about the same thing.
06/19, 7:14 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
I’d rather have 10 minutes with Katherine Heigl’s boobs. OK, OK, OK. 30 minutes. WAIT! 2 hours! Mmmmmmmmmm…..
06/19, 8:15 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Ok,
Katherine Heigl in a cement mixer, with a bottle of tequila with granola bar chasers, and skateboards strapped to her boobs.
Anybody who’d choose a Smart over this is GAY.
06/20, 12:32 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
I’ve ridden in one twice, and it is surprisingly roomy. It is like a normal car with the back half chopped off. The woman who owns it actually is on her second one; the first one was hit by an SUV at 45mph in the front corner, probably the worst place to get hit. The result? She walked away without a scratch, and Smart bought her a new car — they wanted the wrecked one to study and show others how well they hold up in a wreck. I’d never buy one, but they aren’t disposable little jokes. Laugh now, but the safety tech in those is going to make it a very influential design model in the future.
06/20, 1:51 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
Great city car as an all electric… I hope they build it!!
06/20, 3:08 AM
posted by:
Stinky007
I still like my bike better!
Electric doesn’t sound that bad at firs but considering how expensive the gas/diesel versions are, I wouldn’t get my hopes up..
06/20, 3:39 AM
posted by:
GT Pro
Electric ForTwo? I need one of these for when I go to uni; concerns of fuel prices will eb a thing of the past.
06/20, 8:57 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
I’m with global lightning on this one - I can’t figure out the appeal when there are tons of better options.
Why HEigl’s boobs? Why not someone with a real nice set of cans, like Denise Richards or Pammy “Hep C” Anderson?
06/20, 9:20 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Denise Richards doesn’t have any anymore.
06/20, 10:06 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
Sorry, PA doesn’t do it for me anymore; diseased AND fake. Gotta draw the line somewhere. If the Smart were a woman, it’d be a midget pr0n actress. You’ld think ‘hot!’, immediately followed by ‘WTF?’
06/20, 8:22 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Katherine Heigl is a good choice, but I would need all of her, not JUST her boobs. And I would need a whole night. Why settle for two hours? Lose the tequila (I want to remember it, and I want her to remember, too), fill the cement mixer with whipped cream, get a couple of granola bars for when we need an extra energy boost, and forget about the ball bearings and the skateboard, we won’t be needin’ those. However, if you desire a better rack, I suggest Marlena Fávela. Look her up, you won’t be disappointed.
What I don’t understand is why people say there are better choices than Smart for the same price. There aren’t. I think people make the mistake of comparing the Cabrio (highest price) with the base price of other cars. The base price of a Smart is $11,590, which is really good for what it comes with. It may not outperform a Corvette, but it will outperform a stock 1990 Toyota Celica. There is no car that is safer, gets better mileage, is as comfortable, AND has as many options for THE SAME PRICE. There may be cars that offer some of those items, but none that offers all. The base Yaris is just $50 cheaper, but the safety rating on the base Yaris is poor. Once you add the airbags in order to give it nearly the same safety rating, the price jumps up $3,000. There is also no convertible car for near the same price, not even the Mazda MX-5. The Smart may be a goofy little car, but get used to it. They are here to stay.
I welcome the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive with open arms. I just hope it isn’t as pricey as current electric offerings.