Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Priced at €16,000 in Germany

The new generation smart fortwo electric drive will have a starting price under €16,000 plus the monthly rental fee for the battery.

The new smart fortwo electric drive will be launched spring 2012 on more than 30 markets around the world.

In Germany, the fortwo electric drive will be available to order for less than €16,000 ($22,169) before tax – plus less than €60 ($83) per month for battery rental.

Those who would like to be among the first owners of the new third-generation smart fortwo electric drive will have the opportunity to reserve one online as of the fourth quarter 2011.

The third generation smart fortwo electric drive features a 55 kW magneto-electric motor – the first product from the EM-motive joint venture founded together with Bosch – which ensures that it is as agile and lively as ever.

With torque of 130 Newton metres it accelerates powerfully and immediately from 0 to 60 km/h (0 to 37 mph) in 5 seconds and thanks to better acceleration in the higher speed range it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in less than 13 seconds as it has much more tractive power than its predecessor. This makes for speedy driving and overtaking. The battery-electric two-seater smart fortwo now also has a higher top speed of more than 120 km/h (75 mph), putting it on a par with the combustion-engined smart.

A battery supplied by Deutsche ACCUmotive, a joint venture between Daimler and German alternative energy specialist Evonik, is fitted in the new smart fortwo electric drive for the first time.

With capacity of 17.6 kWh the lithium-ion battery from the joint venture with Evonik Industries provides for well over 140 kilometers (87 miles) of pollutant-free driving fun. In addition to the higher battery capacity clear improvements have been made to the efficiency of the drive system, resulting in a greater range. When completely empty it takes a maximum of eight hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries i.e. overnight.

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Sep 15, 2011