Daimler to supply 1,000 Smart EV by 2011

[RSM]

Luxury carmaker Daimler AG will supply its latest electric vehicle 'Smart Fortwo Electric' to 1,000 select customers in the US and Europe by 2011.

The company last week started production of the lithium-ion-battery housed electric car at its plant here.

The company will go for large volume production for public in 41 markets around the globe with most recent market launches, including China and Brazil, in 2012.

In a first step, 1,000 smart vehicles will be provided to customers participating in various mobility projects in major cities in Europe and the US. The company is still to fix a price tag for it while the vehicle will be available to general public in 2012, company officials Jean-Yves Schmitt and Joel de Waha told PTI.

The second-generation smart car, which is just over two and a half meters long, is equipped with high performance lithium-ion-battery in a space-saving position between the axles. A 30 kW electric motor is fitted at the rear.

"A full battery charge costs approximately two euros (Rs 140) and is sufficient for a range of around 115 kilometres - more than enough for city traffic," the official claimed.

The electric vehicle accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in 6.5 seconds with maximum speed limit of 100 km/h. It doesn't require changing gear while air conditioning can be done in advance, they added.

The officials said the plant was utilising its optimal production capacity producing 1,20,000 gasoline and diesel vehicles last year with no impact of the global economic meltdown.

"We produce around 500 cars a day here, five days in a week, and we are fortunate that their was no impact of the global economic meltdown on our production or demand," the official said. The general versions of the small car are priced between 7,000 euros and 27,000 euros.

A Moselle province (France) government official Thierry Petry said the company had ambitious plan to tap more markets with its new eco-friendly zero-emission cars.

Source - Economictimes

 

[Zinam]

Great News & design seems impressive!

Will it be launching in India ?

 

[RSM]

Will it be launching in India ?

Now now. But who knows the future

 

[Arun]

Better than the Reva for sure! I'm pretty sure alloys won't be standard!

Doesn't the Reva do 80 kms on a full charge? 115 kms on a single charge is pretty impressive!

 

[Neil.Bhujbal]

Stylish !

Expect the Indian model to be with crappy wheels no features or maybe with different batteries.And the reason you know "COST FACTOR".