The new smart electric drive makes opting into electric mobility more attractive than ever. This is because it combines the agility of the smart with local emission-free driving – the ideal combination for urban mobility.
Zero-emission driving fun can be experienced not only in the smart fortwo and smart fortwo cabrio, but for the first time also in the four-seater smart forfour. Smart will be the only car manufacturer worldwide to offer its model range with both combustion engines and pure battery-electric drive.
The smart electric drive will go on sale in early 2017 In Germany prices for the smart fortwo electric drive will start at €21,940 (recommended retail price including 19% VAT). When the environmental bonus is taken into account this means that it will cost less than €18,000.
A 60 kW (81 HP) electric motor works at the rear of the smart electric drive and transmits its power via a constant ratio to the wheels. Powerful torque of 160 Nm is immediately available from a standstill. The electric drive has a range of approximately 160 km – ideal for local emission-free mobility in urban areas. The maximum speed is electronically limited to 130 km/h to maximize the range.
The electric motor is a separately excited three-phase synchronous motor. With this construction there is an excitation winding on the rotor that is magnetized when current flows. The flow of energy from the high-voltage battery to the electric motor is controlled by the power electronics that are compactly interlocked with the drive unit. The smart fortwo drive is produced in Renault’s plant in Clèon, Northern France, while the smart forfour electric drive is produced at the Novo Mesto site in Slovenia. The smart fortwo electric drive models are series produced at smart’s Hambach plant in France.
The smart is equipped with a lithium-ion battery from the Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE. The company based in Kamenz, Saxony, has been building the electric heart of the smart electric drive since 2012.
The battery has capacity of 17.6 kWh and is cleverly housed in the vehicle underbody between the two axles in a safe position that is favorable for the vehicle’s center of gravity. The battery consists of 96 flat cells and the cell chemistry has been improved compared with the predecessor battery.
To strengthen customers’ trust in the innovative drive technology, smart is issuing a battery certificate and therefore a service commitment for the high-voltage battery for the first time. This guarantees that the maximum energy content is not less than the specified battery capacity – over eight years and/or to a mileage of 100,000 kilometers.
All smart electric drives have a powerful on-board charger as a standard feature. This enables an empty battery to be quickly charged. In the USA and the UK the charging time is 2.5 hours – half as long as for the predecessor. With the “smart control” app the charging process can be conveniently monitored from afar and functions such as intelligent charging can be controlled.
From the autumn of 2017 a particularly powerful 22 kW fast charger will be available as an option in Europe. This enables the smart electric drive to be charged much more quickly: in less than 45 minutes if local conditions allow three-phase charging.
Furthermore, smart offers a wallbox as special equipment. This enables the vehicle to be charged with a higher charging capacity. The wallbox must be installed by a qualified electrician and correctly connected to the mains supply.
As well as the basic drive program the smart electric drive driver can select the ECO mode. This is designed for a particularly efficient driving style. In addition, the maximum speed is limited, the accelerator pedal curve adjusted and the maximum recuperation level is pre-selected. Furthermore, the air conditioning control adjusts the outlet air temperature from the air vents to reduce the energy consumption.
The driver can deactivate the ECO program with the kickdown function if necessary, for example for an overtaking manoeuvre. Pushing the accelerator pedal right down activates a temporary boost. This enables maximum acceleration with defined maximum battery power if the current charge level and the temperature of the battery allow this function.
In overrun mode or when braking the vehicle’s kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy – this is called recuperation. The electric motor then operates as a generator and generates braking torque on the wheels. The electrical energy generated flows back to the battery. The level of energy recuperation possible depends on the battery condition (charge level and temperature).
In Western Europe the smart electric drive models have anticipatory radar-based recuperation that is active in the basic drive program. The traffic situation is monitored with a radar sensor and a recuperation level that suits the current situation is selected. The electronically controlled recuperation takes place in five levels as soon as the driver takes their foot off the accelerator pedal (overrun mode). If the road is clear coasting is activated.
In the ECO drive program the highest recuperation level is automatically set.
To save energy and extend the range, the smart electric drive also features pre-entry climate control. For example, this enables the desired temperature to be reached in the interior while the vehicle is still charging at a socket.
With the “smart control” app lots of electric drive information can be called up via smartphone, tablet or PC and functions such as pre-entry climate control or intelligent charging can be conveniently controlled remotely. The new model has more operating options than the predecessor. For example, two programmable departure times mean that intelligent charging and pre-entry climate control do not always need to be reset for frequent journeys.
The smart electric drive models surpass the extensive standard equipment of their siblings with conventional drive as they additionally have a dashboard instrument with power meter and battery status display (standard) or on request the winter package with heated steering wheel for maximum climate comfort (optionally available). The electric drive design package (optionally available) gives the vehicle an expressive look with tridion safety cell and door mirror caps painted in exclusive electric green. And every wish can be catered for when it comes to colors and optional equipment as the smart BRABUS tailor made individualization program is also available for the smart fortwo electric drive.
