2 days ago
New hybrid EV by China's Geely, Mercedes offers 1,000-mile range with lithium battery
Smart, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and China's Geely, has introduced the new Electric Hybrid Drive (EHD) version of its SUV, called Smart #5, with about 155 miles of pure electric range and nearly 1,000 miles total range.
The Smart #5 EHD offers an estimated real-world range of about 250 miles (375 miles WLTP) and can recharge in under 15 minutes.
Currently, the SUV is only available as a battery electric vehicle in five trims. Rear-wheel-drive options offer either 335 or 358 horsepower with 76 or 100 kWh batteries, delivering up to 354 or 460 miles of range.
The all-wheel-drive version adds a 221-horsepower front motor, paired with a 100 kWh battery, giving it an estimated range of 361 miles or 360 miles depending on configuration.
SUV pairs turbo engine with CATL battery
Smart's new plug-in hybrid SUV uses a 1.5-liter turbo engine producing 161 horsepower, paired with a lithium iron phosphate battery from CATL. While full battery specs have not been confirmed yet, Smart says the vehicle has over 40 kWh capacity and achieves fuel efficiency of about 53 miles per gallon.
The gasoline engine functions primarily as a generator, extending the vehicle's total driving range to 995 miles according to the Chinese standard, which likely corresponds to about 620 miles in real-world conditions.
Even as a plug-in hybrid, the Smart #5 EHD drives its wheels fully on electric power, but its drivetrain is completely different from the all-electric version. A roof-mounted LiDAR sensor hints at the SUV's advanced driver-assistance features, likely enabling functions such as lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and enhanced safety systems.
2024 sales in China decline nearly 20%
In 2024, Smart sold a total of 33,427 vehicles in the Chinese market, representing a year-over-year decline of 19.37%. The sales figure fell short of the company's annual target of 50,000 units, highlighting challenges Smart faces in gaining traction in one of the world's largest EV markets.
However, despite the setback, the Chinese-German brand continues to invest in new models and technologies to regain momentum and meet future demand.
According to the most recent sales data available from March this year, Smart #1 led the lineup with 1,659 units sold. It was followed by the Smart #3, which recorded sales of 568 units, while the Smart #5 saw 344 units being sold during the same period.
Germany and the broader European market have emerged as significant buyers of the Smart #5 SUV, a trend that is already evident in the brand's recent sales data. With the Smart #5 having only recently launched across key European countries, these early sales figures are expected to convert into a steady increase in vehicle registrations over the coming months, reflecting a growing interest in compact SUVs.
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