Daimler announces deal with RWE, 500 Berlin charging points, lithium Smart

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mercedes Benz, SMART, Daimler

Click the photo for a high res gallery

Daimler AG and German utility RWE are teaming up for what they are calling the largest electric car field test in the world. The “e-mobility Berlin” project will see Daimler deploy a fleet of over 100 second-generation Smart ED and Mercedes A-Class cars powered by lithium ion batteries. In order to facilitate the use of these cars around the German capitol, RWE will install 500 public charging stations. The charge points will get vehicle ID information when the cars are plugged in to allow accurate billing of the drivers. By working with the utility, Daimler wants to develop an integrated system that includes both electrically-driven vehicles and a publicly-accessible charging infrastructure. The latter is actually quite important because at least in the early years, the limited range of battery vehicles will mean that they are primarily used in urban environments. Many people living in such locales don’t necessarily have a garage or other place to plug in. Automatic charging points like the ones to be deployed by RWE or those developed by Coulomb technologies here in the U.S. will be an important part of the equation. The new electric Smarts to be deployed by Daimler will use lithium ion batteries but the company has not confirmed who will supply the packs. Previously the Financial Times had reported that Tesla would be supplying the batteries for these cars.

Gallery: e-mobility Berlin