Smart electric drive

Not to be confused with Smart Fortwo.
Smart EQ
Smart EQ Fortwo
Overview
ManufacturerDaimler AG
Also calledSmart Fortwo electric drive
Smart ED
Production2007 (100)
2009–2012 (2,000)
2013-2016
2017–2024
Body and chassis
Body style
  • EQ Fortwo:
  • 3-door hatchback
  • 2-door convertible
  • EQ Forfour:
  • 5-door hatchback
Powertrain
Electric motorPermanent Magnet AC Synchronous motor (PMSM)

The Smart EQ Fortwo, formerly Smart Fortwo electric drive, smart ed or Smart Fortwo EV, is a battery electric vehicle variant of the Smart Fortwo city car made by Smart. Since 2020, Smart is only selling battery EVs.

The Smart EQ Forfour was an electric variant of the long wheelbase four-door second generation Smart Forfour city car Type 453 which shared approximately 70% of its parts with the third-generation Renault Twingo, both built by Renault in Slovenia.

Field testing of the electric Smart Fortwo 450 began in London with 100 units in 2007, leasing only due to the cumbersome molten salt ZEBRA battery. With drive train and lithium-ion battery provided by a California startup named Tesla, the second-generation ED with the second-generation 451 chassis was introduced in 2009 and made available in 18 markets around the world for leasing, or through the Car2Go carsharing service in selected cities, with over 2,300 units delivered.[1][2][3][4]

A near production version of the third-generation Smart ED, using the face lift 451 body and drive train plus complete LiIon battery built by Daimler joint ventures, was unveiled at the September 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.[5] Smart started in 2012 to mass-produce the electric car for regular availability in up to 30 markets worldwide.[4][6][7][needs update] Deliveries of the third-generation Smart ED began in the U.S. and Europe in May 2013. More than 8,800 units of the second and third generation Smart ED were sold in North America and Europe between 2009 and June 2014,[3][8][9] of which, over 6,500 units are third generation variants.[8][9]

Since 2017, the fourth-generation Smart Electric Drive is being sold.[10][11][12] As Daimler discontinued the electric joint ventures, it uses a Renault drive train, the fourth variant in as many electric generations. The body corresponds to the third-generation ICE-powered Smart 453; this mismatch in the numbering of generations arose because the Smart ED2 and the Smart ED3 were both based on the second-generation ICE-powered Smart 451.

  1. ^ "smart fortwo electric drive Debuts in the US". Green Car Congress. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference C&D was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Jeffrey N. Ross (3 October 2012). "Smart ForTwo Electric Drive will be cheapest EV at $25,000*". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Third-generation smart fortwo electric drive to launch worldwide in spring 2012; first use of battery packs from Daimler JV Deutsche Accumotive and motor from JV EM-motive". Green Car Congress. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference 3rdGen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Jay Cole (5 May 2013). "Another EV Hits US Shores, As Smart Sells 60 ForTwo Electric Drive Mini-Cars in May". InsideEVs. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  7. ^ Karla Sanchez (4 October 2012). "Smarter Car: 2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Starts at $25,750 – Photos Galore". Motor Trend. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2013Top20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2Q2014Top20 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "World premiere for the fourth generation smart electric drive: Electrification of all smart models".
  11. ^ "Der smart electric drive jetzt bei ROSIER".
  12. ^ "Smart ForTwo, ForFour Electric Drive go on sale in Germany".