Smart fortwo ‘electric drive’ production begins, public sales by 2012

November 25, 2009 by Matt Brogan

Daimler has this week commenced production of its smart fortwo ‘electric drive’ model at the smart plant in Hambach, France.

Initially the fortwo electric drive models will be provided to 1,000 selected customers participating in various mobility projects in major cities across Europe and the US. The idea is to gather broad feedback on how viable electric driving under everyday conditions actually is.

“With the start of the series production of the smart fortwo electric drive, the Hambach plant enters a new era – at the same time, the smart fortwo emphasises its pioneering role on the way to individual mobility with local zero-emissions in cities and urban areas,” said Mr Marc Langenbrinck, Managing Director of the smart brand. “Its innovative battery-electric drive makes the smart fortwo electric drive the ideal vehicle for the city: it combines responsibility to the environment with driving fun and joie de vivre in a virtually perfect manner.”

The second-generation smart fortwo electric drive is now equipped with the most modern of lithium-ion-battery.