In a letter to dealers (reviewed by Reuters) the head of Mercedes-Benz USA — Dietmar Exler — outlined that sales of Smart cars powered by internal combustion engines would cease in North America when the 2017 model year ends this coming fall. The Smart will then only be available as an all-electric model: the Fortwo electric drive.
The move, first reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, reflects the high demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US. It also points to flagging US sales of the Smart. Last year Mercedes-Benz USA sold only 6,211 units, down 16% on 2015.
The Smart Fortwo employs a 17.6 kWh battery to power a rear 60 kW (81 hp) three-phase motor.
Specifications for the all-electric Smart models are:
Smart Fortwo electric drive:
- Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 11.5 sec
- Range: ~160 km (~99 miles) (NEDC)
Smart Fortwo electric drive cabrio:
- Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 11.8 sec
- Range: ~155 km (~96 miles) (NEDC)
While these figures are rather mundane, Daimler’s Smart car would be ideal for running the daily errands or driving to and from work. You could squeeze into those tight city parks, given the car’s small size. And, never fill up with gasoline, ever again.
“The Smart is the perfect city car, and with electric drive it becomes a little bit more perfect,” said Annette Winkler, head of Smart.