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Daimler ramping up Smart Fortwo Electric Drive prodution to meet "high" demand

Autoblog -- Like Ford in the US, Daimler makes vehicles with different kinds of powertrains in one plant. Over in Hambach, France, around 750 Daimler elves workers put out all the Smart Fortwos in the world, over 1.4 million and counting. Daimler now also makes the Fortwo Electric Drive there, the first series production EV made in Europe. Daimler invested over 200 million euros to expand the plant for the EV model and future products. So far, over 1,000 electric Smarts have been built and Smart head Annette Winkler said that "production is now being continuously ramped up to meet the high customer demand worldwide."

It's not that surprising that people want this EV, since Daimler is making sure the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive will be crazy affordable (for an electric vehicle) when it goes on sale.

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Submitted Dec 13, 2012 By: BennoBlue

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 15, 2012 6:52:20 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse good beans!
bevmill Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,592 Points:602,495 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2012 5:42:32 PM Ignore bevmill Report Abuse ok
virostek Veteran Author Virginia Posts:423 Points:90,285 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2012 6:18:47 AM Ignore virostek Report Abuse OK.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,563 Points:1,920,875 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2012 4:35:48 AM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse Ok. Maybe.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,073 Points:2,347,460 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 14, 2012 2:06:36 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Daimler ramping up Smart Fortwo Electric Drive prodution to meet "high" demand? What demand?? 'Coming out of the closet' Sneeky's lousy, smoke and mirrors, lack of jobs, dog and pony show and in the crapper economy, the jobs are Not here. Sneeky's economy is not improving but continues to hurt the population and the job numbers continue to be down! People will still drive and buy fuel no matter what but it sure helps to have a job too! With much more time, EV's and Inbreds will improve, the vehicles will get better and maybe they will have a greater driving range, a higher battery storage capacity and a much quicker recharging time. What the future may hold is promising but it's Not for me at this time! Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,322 Points:483,315 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 11:16:49 PM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmm...
METEOR49 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,182 Points:457,175 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 11:12:25 PM Ignore METEOR49 Report Abuse expensive golf carts .
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,733 Points:390,900 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 11:08:11 PM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse This will be an interesting EV.
billy44bo Champion Author Mobile Posts:7,217 Points:1,492,820 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 11:07:51 PM Ignore billy44bo Report Abuse Good for them but that is not the car for me
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,911 Points:2,134,530 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 11:02:46 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse $70/mo for the 17.4KWH battery lease is too much. A bottom balanced LiFePO4 battery pack at retail is $5,709 (174V@100AH (54S1P) at 175Kg (385lbs)). Such a pack delivers 14KWH usable for 3,000 cycles. That is 210K miles at EPA highway. Considering that the normal US driver goes 1,250 miles/mo, that works out to 168 months or 14 years. $70 * 168 months is $11,760 or more than twice the going rate. Using EPA city, that range is over twice as long. It also delivers 67KW continuously and 97KW peak (15 seconds). Add $11.8K to the price and the ForTwo winds up at $36.8K not far from the $40K Ford Focus BEV which has more range and carries 2/2.5 times the people (four comfortably and 5 in a pinch) on its 23.5KWH pack (35% more than the ForTwo for a range 50% farther).
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,810 Points:416,040 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:59:26 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Show me a skateboard with seven airbags, @clermont40miles.
Red7002011 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:3,342 Points:670,670 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:59:02 PM Ignore Red7002011 Report Abuse Less wait and see what happen.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,810 Points:416,040 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:58:36 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Rates won't go up, @troutbum7. EVs are almost always charged up overnight when there's a surplus of capacity at the power plant. It's called off-peak pricing.
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,588 Points:1,774,820 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:57:34 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse I'm doing my part and not adding demand for this joke of a car. Beats a skateboard for getting around but may be more dangerous.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,810 Points:416,040 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:57:31 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @milespergallon wrote, "Electric is one of the worst propulsion ideas EVER foisted on the consumer." – Can't be any worse than ethanol.
troutbum7 Veteran Author Nevada Posts:308 Points:158,955 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:56:47 PM Ignore troutbum7 Report Abuse Hey neat get a bunch of electric cars so we can see electric rates skyrocket. No thanks just another worthless piece of junk not practical.
ProRogue Veteran Author Vancouver Posts:382 Points:1,085,990 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:56:20 PM Ignore ProRogue Report Abuse No sir, not for me-- not while there's still oil down there. We ain't done drillin' yet! Boy, I tell you what, I love the smell of exhaust fumes in the morning. I got a zillion reasons why Smarts just ain't for me, but I won't bore you with 'em. If you ask me, a car that don't need no gasoline just don't make no sense.
joeschmo12 Champion Author New York Posts:1,032 Points:308,395 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:55:27 PM Ignore joeschmo12 Report Abuse hey, i want one of those. it's cheap and it's french.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,810 Points:416,040 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:55:15 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse The old dead batteries are recycled, just like the battery in your car, @marion1739. I wouldn't worry about the batteries so much. There are plenty of hybrids on the road and their original, factory-installed batteries are still going strong.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,810 Points:416,040 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:53:27 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Why stop at a V8, @mcmonsta? How about a V12? For the record, Tesla's tiny little electric motor can smoke a Corvette off the line so size isn't everything.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,810 Points:416,040 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:51:31 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse The price keeps on going down. Pretty soon, people won't be able to use that argument anymore.
fuelsaverMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,282 Points:559,080 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:50:46 PM Ignore fuelsaverMN Report Abuse I DON'T SEE ME DRIVING ONE.
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,484 Points:1,713,785 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:50:26 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse where is this high demand?
Robert44 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,586 Points:1,222,710 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:49:13 PM Ignore Robert44 Report Abuse I don't see me driving one.
BREW9 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:896 Points:2,914,905 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:49:02 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse ok
wild3bill Champion Author New York Posts:2,546 Points:1,687,340 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:45:06 PM Ignore wild3bill Report Abuse I have a car costume for Christmas with ELF eARS!
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,237 Points:820,495 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:44:28 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse don't see one anywhere in my future..just make V8's just more advanced...is that too much to ask?
marion1739 All-Star Author Missouri Posts:839 Points:262,310 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:43:18 PM Ignore marion1739 Report Abuse Anyone think about what to do with the old dead batteries yet? Or like Nuclear fuel we'll worry about it later.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,320 Points:1,962,580 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:40:56 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse "Prodution"?
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,331 Points:857,085 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:38:38 PM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Don't see one in my future.
feldagast All-Star Author Toledo Posts:897 Points:104,560 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:34:03 PM Ignore feldagast Report Abuse golf carts for libs
speedys Champion Author Utah Posts:7,027 Points:2,560,835 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:34:01 PM Ignore speedys Report Abuse Golf carts are cheaper and probably better.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,080 Points:1,734,140 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:29:23 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse lets simmer down here HIGH????
karlet Veteran Author Pittsburgh Posts:258 Points:84,490 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:27:42 PM Ignore karlet Report Abuse OK
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,635 Points:3,497,630 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:23:52 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse The Smart For Two is an ugly golf cart on steroids.
lowspeed All-Star Author Akron Posts:736 Points:203,230 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:20:09 PM Ignore lowspeed Report Abuse too small for me
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:504,980 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:20:05 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse Bah, bah, bah.
GNo1 All-Star Author Nashville Posts:935 Points:384,630 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:15:39 PM Ignore GNo1 Report Abuse Really? Not here in the US.
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,579 Points:1,515,055 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:13:05 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Not for me
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,937 Points:1,577,905 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:11:04 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse Electric is good for only some
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,213 Points:874,085 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:08:53 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse Yea, crazy affordable (for an electric) vehicles. I'll bet the biggest buyers are still government entities. The majority of people do not see EV's as practical.
postcard9 All-Star Author Massachusetts Posts:883 Points:515,445 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:06:58 PM Ignore postcard9 Report Abuse Affordable is a great way to make products attractive.
Harry813 Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,015 Points:663,815 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:05:00 PM Ignore Harry813 Report Abuse Yep, affordable is the key ..
lsb1955 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:2,038 Points:521,520 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:04:54 PM Ignore lsb1955 Report Abuse ok
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:8,299 Points:1,677,455 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:01:48 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse It depends on price in North America. Too pricey and it won't sell.
prorodeo2012 All-Star Author Bakersfield Posts:528 Points:180,845 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 10:00:24 PM Ignore prorodeo2012 Report Abuse Like low prices
mlmeng Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,645 Points:593,010 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 9:57:35 PM Ignore mlmeng Report Abuse Pass
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,815 Points:821,260 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 9:57:15 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Hmmm...
kbierley Champion Author Dayton Posts:10,730 Points:1,415,690 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 9:56:51 PM Ignore kbierley Report Abuse Demand?
snerd All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:935 Points:656,000 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 13, 2012 9:54:30 PM Ignore snerd Report Abuse No EV for me.