smart Shows Diesel and Gasoline Hybrids, EV and CNG Prototypes of smart Car
12 December 2005
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| The smart ev. |
DaimlerChrysler’s smart division has developed a series of concept test cars that incorporate a range of advanced and alternative-fuel technologies: gasoline and diesel hybrids, cng-fueled, and electric.
These follow on the premiere of the crosstown hybrid showcar concept presented at the Frankfurt auto show in September.
The crosstown hybrid. The crosstown smart car prototype combines an electric motor (with an output of up to 23 kW) with the 45 kW (61 hp) gasoline engine from the smart fortwo.
The result is a 15% reduction in fuel consumption to 4.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (55 mpg US). The smart crosstown furthermore offers approximately 10% better acceleration (the production car requires 15.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h).
The mild hybrid system offers start-stop capability as well as assistance during acceleration and during gear changes.
Instead of using a conventional automatic transmission and torque converter, the smart crosstown works with a manual transmission mechanism including friction-disc clutch. The advantages of this compared with a fully automatic transmission lie in the much higher efficiency, lower weight, more compact dimensions and lower production costs.
However, unlike an automatic transmission, this principle causes traction interruptions between opening and closing the clutch for gear shifting. In the smart crosstown these are bridged by the electric motor. For a few tenths of a second it supplies the propulsion power needed, enabling harmonious, steady acceleration over the whole gear spectrum.
Regenerative braking recharges the battery.
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| The smart test prototype vehicles. |
smart fortwo micro hybrid. A micro hybrid version of the smart fortwo uses a belt-driven starter generator in combination with the 45 kW (61 hp) gasoline engine to reduce fuel consumption by 5%.
The micro hybrid version offers no regenerative braking, nor any tractive assist. It does provide start-stop functionality.
With the micro hybrid the standard fuel consumption level of 4.7 litres per 100 kilometers (50 mpg US) is reduced by 0.25 litres to less than 4.5 liters (52 mpg US). In urban traffic, the smart fortwo micro hybrid uses a 13% less gasoline.
smart fortwo cdi hybrid. The diesel hybrid version of the smart car consumes just 2.9 liters of fuel/100 km (81 mpg US).
The diesel hybrid combines a 20 kW electric motor with the 30 kW (40 hp) diesel engine. The design is much the same as crosstown hybrid, with the electric motor providing start-stop functionality, drive assistance, shift delay bridging and regenerative braking.
Because the car’s shift delays are bridged by the electric motor, it only needs 17.8 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h. That’s ten percent—two seconds—better than with a conventional diesel drive.
smart fortwo ev. The smart fortwo electric vehicle is driven solely by its electric motor with an output of up to 30 kW (41 hp). With a consumption of 12 kWh per 100 kilometers, the car has a range of 110 kilometers (62 miles).
A full recharge takes 8 hours; charing from 20% to 80% capacity takes four hours.
smart created the electric drive in cooperation with Zytek, a British company that focuses on developing hybrid and electric drives.
smart fortwo cng. The bi-fuel version of the smart allows drivers to choose between gasoline or natural gas drive. The modular design of the fuel system means that the entire high-pressure natural gas tank (2 x 16 litres) and the petrol tank (12 litres) fit in the car’s underbody. The volume of the car’s interior and luggage compartment remain, as in the case of the electric drive model, unimpaired.
The car consumes approximately 3.2 kilograms of natural gas (or 4.7 liter of petrol) per 100 kilometers, giving it a range of 385 kilometers (239 miles)—138 km with natural gas, and 255 km with gasoline. The gasoline model, with a tank volume of 33 litres, can, on a purely calculative basis, travel some 700 kilometers without a fuel stop.
| smart Hybrid and Alt-Fuel Prototypes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crosstown | Micro–Gasoline | Mild–Diesel | EV | CNG | |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline | Diesel | Electric | CNG/Gasoline |
| Displacement | 698cc | 698cc | 799cc | – | 698cc |
| Engine Power | 45 kW | 45 kW | 30 kW | – | 45 kW |
| Motor Power | 23 kW | 20 kW | 20 kW | 30 kW | – |
| Fuel consumption | 4.3 l/100km | 4.5 l/100km | 2.9 l/100km | – | 3.2 kg CNG/100km 4.7 l/100km gasoline |
| Fuel economy | 55 mpg US | 52 mpg US | 81 mpg US | – | 3.2 kg CNG/100km 50 mpg US gasoline |
There is no commitment from smart to commercialize any of these—yet.
I think the Lexus that you are referring to will be called the IS 150h
It apparently has a push button "Silent Running Mode" or SRM. Very cool.
Posted by: Murphy | 04 January 2006 at 04:32 PM
In terms of energy efficiency, the EV smart is the way to go. With regards to reliability, the EV will outlast any ICE vehicle with less expense (minus the batteries) - a good electric motor can have 50K+ hours of operation. The GM EV1 was killed, despite public outcries - they know they can't compete with EVs. Keep it simple – drive an EV around town and have a small, frugal diesel (non-hybrid) for longer trips. The Smart EV selling price should be less than an economical ICEV, say about $6K to $8K max, to attract customers and give incentive to change their driving habits. This can be achieved with feebates (the REVA EV from India, which is almost as big as the smart car, sells for about $6K USD). A non-hybrid diesel, such as the VW 1-liter (production ready) concept car, which gets 265mpg US, can be used for longer trips. Behavior modification with the right incentives to reduce consumption are the key. The smart car is great, but sales are soft because the marketing guys are not in line with the customers’ needs. Car companies have created a product that is environmentally negligent, and in response to public pressure to help mitigate these effects, they want to absolve themselves of any responsibility and use misleading marketing to pass the buck on to the customer for their negligence. The Toyota Prius is successful because industry has decided to absorb part of the development cost of this vehicle, making it cost competitive with similar vehicles in its class. We do not have a technical problem - the EV first went into production in 1896 and the hybrid was developed in 1904. In 1936, cars were able to get 55mpg US and now we have cars that fly (Moller), but we do not have reliable, efficient vehicles that are cost effective because no one wants to take into consideration the costs associated with environmental degradation, public health, resource depletion and political upheaval.
Posted by: Andriko Zavadell | 06 January 2006 at 01:32 AM
I have a smart car in Atlanta GA. It is the Diesel smart fortwo pulse. I could sell 100 of these cars. EVERYONE likes it and wants one. It does not feel like a small car until you get out and turn around. I highly reccomend this car.
Posted by: ces | 08 January 2006 at 03:19 PM
"BUT I still think its better for goverment to promote these cars instead of sending young boys to die for oil that all America can drive SUVs." Blah blah blah... what a stupid comment.
We turned Iraq from a dictatorship to a democracy and now the Iraqis have the oil to (eventually) benefit them, not the USA.
It's a nutty and demonstrably false comment to talk about the war that way. If we wanted cheap oil, we'd just keep sending the money to the oil dictatorships like Chavez, Ghaddafi, Iran, etc.
"The GM EV1 was killed, despite public outcries - they know they can't compete with EVs."
hmmm. the EV1 was a boat anchor, GM built it like a Buick - big, heavy, slow. And it has lead-acid batteries. Now that battery technology is getting better (Lithium-ion), there is hope for EVs, and EVs will look like smart cars. Cheap Li-ion batteries will make EVs a reality.
Posted by: Patrick | 08 January 2006 at 06:04 PM
A hybrid or pure electric smart has a limited market. I can understand that smart would want to hold onto as much of that potential market for itself. If they had no plans to go-to-market, I think they'd be happy to sell the sleds (engineless carcasses) to developers.
Smart considered a diesel/electric hybrid along the lines of the mild hybrid (called the HYbrid/PERformance or HYPER drive) some years ago but decided against it at that time because of the cost of training engineers to service/diagnose it was more expensive than the money they could have made out of it. Remember, Smart have limited funds - they are struggling at the moment.
The term "mild" hybrid seems a little self-deprecating. After all, Honda's "Insight" couldn't propel itself on electricity alone or fill in between gear changes, yet smart's hybrid can.
I've owned two petrol smarts; yes, they are small on the outside (but surprisingly big on the inside), but they are great for getting around crowded European town and city streets.
Even with petrol at $5/gal and more in Europe, paying the premium for a diesel, hybrid or battery car doesn't save you money unless you do a high (>12,000) annual mileage. The kind of person who would by such a car is making a statement rather than actually saving the environment. With a range of 65miles/overnight charge, the EV is just about getting there.
There would be some LOCALISED improvement in city centres if enough stop/start hybrids were introduced.
Posted by: Alan Jenney | 09 January 2006 at 11:45 AM
And at least it's less expensive and less of an impact on the environment than hydrogen production.
Posted by: Alan Jenney | 09 January 2006 at 11:48 AM
What happened to the Lexus IS hybrid discussed above. It looks like it was bad information - I didn't hear anything about it.
That's not to say that I wouldn't like to see a small luxury hybrid in the form of a Lexus IS but I do wonder if they are really smart enough to pull off a light weight "sporty" hybrid.
We'll see.
Posted by: Steve | 21 January 2006 at 02:39 PM
I own a Smart Fortwo and it's perfect for my every need. To give you an example: I'm 190cm tall and this is the best car I have ever fitted in, because the doors are very big (bigger than the Volvo S80's, to compare to something standard).
I love this car, everybody who said that it's a disposable "use and throw away" car are morons, many people said that and when I took them for a ride they took everything back.
It's s so spacious, ask yourselves, are you moving house every day to need that AWD, 2 tonnes car?
The problem these days is the mentality and the rationality, unfortunately mentality takes over in most of cases...
Posted by: Karl | 11 March 2006 at 10:49 AM
The GM EV1 Gen 2 was the best EV ever, very powerful, ungoverned top speeds at 183 MPH, governed at 80 MPH. 0-60 MPH in 8 seconds. It was built with all the goods that you would expect from a normal car like traction control, power windows with express down, power door locks, electro-hydraulic variable assist power steering, keyless entry, AM/FM stereo with CD/cassette/4 speakers, power outside mirrors, solar reflective "ElectriClear" windshield, rear window defroster, heat pump climate control with air conditioning/heating/cabin pre-conditioning, cruise control, interior lights with delayed shutoff, remote trunk release, automatic parking brake activation and release, cupholder, ABS/regenerative electro-hydraulic braking system (truly a marvel - puts energy back into the batteries every time you stop), Michelin 175/65R14 Proxima RR self-sealing tires, tire pressure warning indicator, traction control, bucket seats, center-mounted vacuum/fluorescent instrumentation with state of charge/power use indicator, 1,200 watt trunk mounted 120v convenience charger, daytime running lamps, foward and reverse gear pedestrian alert horns, dual air bags
Also the interior was awesome looking with keypad ignition. The range on the Generation 2 NiMH for back then is also good at 150 miles. Considering the weight of the battery's and all the options, a weight of 2960 pounds is not excessive and the car was fun to drive.
I can't see how someone posting here can trash this car when we are yet to see anyone offer a EV that is half as good.
http://www.kingoftheroad.net/charge_across_america/charge_html/faqs.html
Posted by: MRWSM | 02 May 2006 at 10:18 PM
Where can I buy a diesel smart car?
Posted by: craig | 11 May 2006 at 05:59 PM
I'm just wondering why the Smart doesn't come with a CVT. It would smooth out the jerkiness of the present drive train which is the main reason I wouldn't buy one. It would also improve the mileage. With the growing worldwide popularity of CVT's, it seems that this would be a perfectly obvious match.
Posted by: Toni B | 18 July 2006 at 08:10 AM
where can we find or buy this kind of car? Also who makes them?
Posted by: shawn | 17 August 2006 at 06:36 PM
Please register your interest in the Smart EV Car at the following location so that they will bring it to our country. You may have to specify that you are a "company" before their website accepts your notice of interest.
http://www.smart.com/-snm-0157694444-1157920986-0000005617-0000006356-1160151955-enm-is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/mpc-uk-content-Site/en_UK/-/GBP/SVCPresentationPipeline-Start?Page=issite%3a%2f%2fmpc-uk-Site%2fmpc-uk%2ecom%2fRootFolder%2fsmart%2fsmartEV%2fEVPandR%2epage
Posted by: James Adcock | 06 October 2006 at 09:53 AM
I'm from the UK.
As the owner of many different Smart Cars I can give you an insight into what owning one is like.
1. Smart is the best City Car you can own.
Why.
a. Plastic panels that bend when you kick them.
b. Nobody is gealous of you having on.
c. Thousands of free parking spaces that a motorbike would normally take.
d. I can drive out of 50% of official car parks without paying. Most barriers are designed for bigger cars
e. How often do you have more that one passenger?
f. The money I saved on fuel approx $2000 a year on 20,000 Miles.
g. In the UK only 10 smarts have ever been stolen. Due to people leaving the keys in them.
h. Cars value doesn't depreciate after 3years
i. Most cars occupancy is 1.4persons so 2 seats is never a problem.
j. Servicing is cheap.
k. Everything just unscrews so you can fix it yourself
l. ABS as standard
m. Traction Control as standard
n. Airbags as standard
o. Superstrong body shell/roll cage
p. Great all round visability
q. You'll stand out amoungst the crowd
r. Can be modified upto 100HP if you want too. kills effeciency though
s. Even if your 6foot5inches like me, no problem getting in
t. High ride hieght, you can see over most cars
u. panels can be changed if you get bored of the cars colour.
v. Great Fun
w. You can fit most items in the boot. 2 bails of hay say
x. 6 speed gearbox
y. cheap to insure
z. try it you mike like
BUT
It is not for everyone.
Its not that suitable for Highways but it will go 91mph if put your foot down.
IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY
IT IS A GREAT CAR
Posted by: Ian Powell | 09 October 2006 at 12:21 AM
our company is specializing in manufacturing composite CNG cylinders in china ,welcome to contact us!
we are permitted to produce seamless steel cylinders, wrapped cylinders and cylinders for NGV. At present the company mainly produces steel lined carbon fiber hoop-wrapped composite cylinders for NGV .
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Posted by: Robert | 27 July 2007 at 11:31 AM
Most people in the U.S. that express interest in a SmartCar, do so mainly because they expect something so small to deliver astounding fuel economy. But when they discover the stock ForTwo delivers only slightly better fuel economy than a full-sized Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic, etc, they are going to balk.
But offer them a Diesel-Hybrid that gets 81mpg, and they'll be lining up around the block to get one.
Posted by: Mugsy | 27 January 2008 at 06:59 PM
Offer the common senior citizens trying to stay "afloat" the Ev electric Smart car that gets 62 mpc, and they'll be lining up around the block. We'll be first in line. We are waiting to buy the electric; we do not plan to buy another gas vehicle.
Posted by: Theresa/Wally Wixon | 02 March 2008 at 09:07 AM
I hope this doesn't die like the GM EV-1 did.
I guess if all else fails, we have the cars, and you can convert it yourself for about 15k. It is just sad that they would go to all the trouble to build it, and then only make 200 and then shelf it.
Please send emails to smart and don't let this die. info@thesmart.co.uk tell them you want to see a Smart EV.
Posted by: Bralda-him | 15 April 2008 at 07:51 PM
just visiting, read this thread. from 2005 comment.
These puny cars are simply not going to sell mainstream in the states unless the sh*t hits the fan.
What's the price of gas today? The fan doesn't smell so nice now, does it!
Posted by: | 13 June 2008 at 08:11 AM
All that bla,bla,bla is not acceptable for Americans, who like comfortable,powerfull,large cars....
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Posted by: Jaroslav Suchanek | 21 July 2008 at 03:56 PM