According to Daimler, the electric smart will also be available in some Asian countries starting 2011.
"The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on a successful and accepted vehicle concept with character and inherent environmentally friendly characteristics. Its innovative electric battery drive makes it the perfect car for the city: it is agile, economical and climate-friendly. Motoring with zero local emissions in an urban environment has become a reality. This equates to driving fun with no compromises," said Marc Langenbrinck, responsible for brand management at smart.
A third generation is also planned already, one that will be fitted with a new lithium-ion battery which Daimler is developing to production maturity in cooperation with Evonik. The lithium-ion battery currently used comes from Tesla.
The main differences between the two batteries lie in the structural design. The Tesla battery consists of lots of cylinder-shaped cells, while the Daimler battery will be made up of fewer but larger plate units.
"All in all we believe that the outlook for electric mobility is good. Whilst our competitors are still presenting electric show cars, smart brought production models that are fully suitable for everyday use to the roads last year. This once again demonstrates our technical expertise and responsibility," Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, said in a release.
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