smart USA will begin deploying a fleet of 250 electric drive vehicles across the U.S. this fall, targeting key electrification leadership cities and Department of Energy grant areas. The list of partners will be published later this year with series production for retail sales in dealerships scheduled to begin in 2012 with the 2013 model year.
“The United States' fleet of 250 electric drive vehicles will begin arriving in October 2010 and are the second phase of a three-phase program. Phase one started with the placement of 100 electric drive units in London in 2007. Phase two is producing 1,500 cars for cities in Europe, the United States and Canada as well as selected markets in Asia, and first deliveries started in Germany late last year. Phase three will be series volume production starting in the 2012 model year,” stated the press release.
The phase-two smart fortwo electric drive vehicles are electric-only vehicles that use a 30 kW (41 hp) electric motor and a 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The cars offer a driving range of 82 miles on a charge. The vehicles can be charged using a standard 220V outlet, with a fast charge (from 20 to 80 percent) taking three and a half hours and a full charge taking eight hours. The EVs can also be charged using a common household 110V outlet.
“The U.S. pilot program will provide third generation technology developers with performance experience in the breadth of different geographies and climates that make up the continental United States. The information gathered in the phase-two vehicle research will establish the performance, range capability and recharging time of the series production vehicles with third generation technology,” stated the press release.
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