Smart Takes Charge of Plans for Electric Vehicle Test Fleet
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI - The smart brand is in the process of settling in the United States and the company hopes to have a small fleet of electric-powered smart fortwo coupes in the U.S. for tests in about one year, according to an interview with David Schembri, smart USA president, at the New York Auto Show.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI - The smart brand is in the process of settling in the United States and the company hopes to have a small fleet of electric-powered smart fortwo coupes in the U.S. for tests in about one year, according to an interview with David Schembri, smart USA president, at the New York Auto Show, reported in www.TheCarConnection.com.
Parent Daimler AG began testing a plug-in-electric version of the smart around London last summer. An electric-powered smart is preferable to a hybrid, Schembri said, insisting that lithium-ion is the way to go.
Even though Daimler’s first test of a plug-in smart used a different battery technology, Schembri indicated the U.S. test-fleet will be powered by the new lithium-ion batteries that Daimler plans to introduce in a hybrid version of the big Mercedes-Benz S-Class due out next year.
The launch of the conventional, gas-powered smart fortwo is under way in the United States.
Roger Penske, chairman of the Penske Automotive Group, said during a conference call with analysts last month that smart USA's 68 dealerships should wholesale between 20,000 and 25,000 vehicles this year, provided it can get enough vehicles.
More Green Fleet
The EV Breakdown Nobody's Talking About: Why Most Electric Vehicle Roadside Calls Aren't Mechanical Failures
Here's why EV breakdowns are widely misunderstood.
Read More →
ChargePoint Now Available in Energy Pass
ChargePoint and additional planned charging network integrations were added to GM's Energy Pass.
Read More →
First Look: Slate Auto's Electric Fleet Pickup
Could an affordable, modular EV pickup make electrification more practical for fleets?
Read More →
Slate Debuts Colorful, Unique EV Models
A recent media and client event, studded with electric vehicles dressed up on platforms, planted a new position for the manufacturer in the wider EV market. Fleets will find cost-saving advantages.
Read More →
Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Switchable Model Aims For Light-Duty Fleets
Everything about this EV is counterintuitive and understated, making it stand out from the crowd.
Read More →
Inspiration Mobility Acquires Key Electrada Assets
Inspiration Mobility Group has acquired select assets of Electrada, adding the fleet electrification provider's team, technology, and charging infrastructure development capabilities to its energy management business.
Read More →
Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter
Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.
Read More →
Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?
Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.
Read More →
Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges
For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.
Read More →