Posted on 06/30/2008 8:58:43 AM PDT by Red Badger
FRANKFURT - Daimler AG (DAI) plans to introduce a purely electric version of the Mercedes-Benz A- and B-class models, Daimler executive board member Thomas Weber told weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche in an interview distributed Sunday ahead of publication. Asked which electric versions of Daimler cars other than the electric version of the smart model are currently being planned, Weber said "one option would be our current Mercedes A- and B-class." Given the models' sandwich construction technique, these cars would be well suited for alternative power trains, Weber told the magazine. Separately, weekly Automobilwoche reported that U.S. car supplier Tesla Motors is expected to deliver the needed lithium ion batteries for the Mercedes cars. The magazine didn't reveal the sources for its story. WirtschaftsWoche said Volkswagen AG (VLKAY)is also working on an electric version of its entry model Up!, which the magazine says could hit the market by 2010. WirtschaftsWoche said the hybrid version of the Golf model, however, won't come before 2012. The magazine didn't reveal its sources. Canadian car supplier Magna International (MG.A.T) is also working on its own electric car, which should be ready by 2010 or 2011 at the latest, WirtschaftsWoche said. Citing Magna Chief Technical Officer Burkhard Goeschel, the magazine said that Magna plans to offer the full vehicle, or sell parts like the power train to carmakers around the globe.
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That’s pretty impressive — I didn’t think the Smart car could win a collision, but that one looks like it came out ahead.
Interesting. I wonder if Mercedes could deliver them some transmissions?
Transmissions in an electric car?
- Daimler AG (DAI) plans to introduce a purely electric version of the Mercedes-Benz A- and B-class models, Daimler executive board member Thomas Weber told weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche in an interview distributed Sunday ahead of publication. Asked which electric versions of Daimler cars other than the electric version of the smart model are currently being planned, Weber said "one option would be our current Mercedes A- and B-class." Given the models' sandwich construction technique, these cars would be well suited for alternative power trains, Weber told the magazine.
Separately, weekly Automobilwoche reported that U.S. car supplier Tesla Motors is expected to deliver the needed lithium ion batteries for the Mercedes cars. The magazine didn't reveal the sources for its story.
WirtschaftsWoche said Volkswagen AG (VLKAY)is also working on an electric version of its entry model Up!, which the magazine says could hit the market by 2010. WirtschaftsWoche said the hybrid version of the Golf model, however, won't come before 2012. The magazine didn't reveal its sources.
Canadian car supplier Magna International (MG.A.T) is also working on its own electric car, which should be ready by 2010 or 2011 at the latest, WirtschaftsWoche said. Citing Magna Chief Technical Officer Burkhard Goeschel, the magazine said that Magna plans to offer the full vehicle, or sell parts like the power train to carmakers around the globe.
But the lack of crush zones impacts a lot of that energy directly to stopping the passengers inside the cage.
Heavier autos are built with crumple zones.
They could build the car to withstand higher-speed/energy collisions, but that would be translated to other parts of the car and the occupants.
The lighter Smart car can be built more solidly, because it’s mass is much smaller. I’ve seen videos where they just bounce off of stationary obstacles with minimal frontal damage, even after all four wheels go into the air.
Exactly.
Doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily safer.
That thing is so small that one airbag is good for TWO people!
Looks can be deceiving. The SMART car has less crumple zone, so the deceleration Gs must have been higher.
No transmission is supposed to be one of the the beauties of electric cars. I see Tesla needs two gears to get performance. Interesting.
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