For the first time, all versions of the smart range will get an electric variant. The new electric smart family will be shown at the Paris Motor Show.
The Smart family concept with rear wheel drive and rear engine fits the electric propulsion very well. Because of the characteristics of electric engine – high torque available almost from zero revs – the rear wheel drive is more efficient for an electric propulsion.
Besides, the smart architecture offers the perfect solution for the electric propulsion.
“smart was designed for electric drive right from start and ‘living electric’ is our motto as an electric car pioneer”, says Annette Winkler, Head of smart.
The electric propulsion will be available for smart fortwo, smart forfour and smart fortwo cabrio.
The battery is supplied by the Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, located in Kamenz, Saxony, while the electric engine for all three smart versions is produced in Renault’s plant in Clèon, in Northern France.
After the world premiere in Paris, the new smart fortwo electric drive will be launched in the USA, before the end of the year, where recently, around 25 percent of all smarts sold featured the battery-electric drive. This will be followed by the market launch of the two-seater and four-seater in Europe, in early 2017.