"Daimler Announces Plans to Produce 10,000 Electric Vehicles by 2012" Green Car Advisor

Daimler Announces Plans to Produce 10,000 Electric Vehicles by 2012

In March we brought you news that Green Car Advisor had spied a pair of electric-powered Smart Fortwos in California and that Smart USA President David Schembri hoped to begin testing a small fleet of Smart EVs here in America sometime next year.

Today we can report that Daimler Group, which owns Smart, is aiming to produce 10,000 electric vehicles by 2012.

"By 2010 we will be very close to series production and aim to start with limited numbers in the hundreds," Thomas Weber, Daimler's director for research and development, said in Stuttgart Saturday. "Our aim is to cover costs by 2010. By 2012 we would be producing around 10,000 units."

Weber said "the next phase in electric car production is equipping the Smart microcars with lithium-ion batteries, with Smart two-seaters and the Mercedes A series coming onto the market the following year."

Daimler research shows that for most European customers 80 percent of their mobility requirement was under 31 miles a day. Weber said Smart electric cars can go 60 miles between charges.

The most promising market is seen as Europe, where environmental concerns are widespread. Weber said Daimler was planning further tests on top of those currently running since last year in London.

"Berlin is very interested, and Paris and Rome would also be possible," he said, but he made no mention of Smart or Mercedes EVs coming to the U.S., and calls placed to Daimler regarding the subject were not promptly returned.

Scott Doggett, Contributor