2016 smart electric drive charges in 45 minutes, 160km range



The fourth generation smart fortwo electric drive has been announced, now with more power, torque, and an extended drive range compared to its predecessor. And this time the electric powertrain is also offered in the fortwo cabrio and the forfour as well, making smart as the only car manufacturer in the world to offer its model range with both combustion engines and pure battery-electric drive.

These rear-wheel drive trio share the same electric powertrain, which is a 60 kW (80 hp) electric motor with a fixed gear ratio. While the peak torque of 160 Nm is readily available from standstill, the smart electric drive is no pocket-rocket. Getting from 0 to 100 km/h takes 11.5 seconds in the fortwo, and the top speed has been capped at 130 km/h on all three variants to maximise the travel range.2016-smart-fortwo-electric-drive-003

A fully charged fortwo will travel up to 160km before it needs to find a power source to recharge its 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. Normal charge takes about 2.5 hours, but an optional 22 kW fast charger will be made available from next year and it will cut the charging time down to just 45 minutes. While the car is charging, owners can set a pre-entry climate control remotely using the smart control app too.2016-smart-electric-drive-009

Looks-wise the smart electric drive is no different from the non-electric variants, although the rev counter and clock pod on the driver side of the dashboard have both been replaced with a power meter and battery gauge. Externally, the optional electric drive design package will highlight the car’s green credentials with a splash of electric green paint.2016-smart-electric-drive-005

The entire smart electric drive range will debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, before going on sale in the USA by the end of this year. European sales start in early 2017, while the Malaysian sale is most unlikely to happen. Meanwhile you can get your EV fix here from Nissan Leaf or the Renaults Twizy and Zoe.


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smart fortwo electric drive

smart fortwo cabrio electric drive

smart forfour electric drive