KANSAS – US – Smith Electric Vehicles, who recently moved into their new 80,000 square foot facility adjacent to the airport here, watched their initial US truck roll off the production line this week. Tanfield owned Smith’s have headed electric truck production in the UK with their Transit based electric vehicles and now have moved into the US market.
Smith’s, under the auspices of SEV US Corp, have installed five British workers to instruct the US staff in construction of the American vehicles, initially building five trucks from kits sent over from the UK and then commencing production from scratch before the end of October. SEV US Corp licences the technology from Smith Electric Vehicles in the UK, in exchange for a royalty fee for every vehicle sold.
Launched in the UK in 2006, the Smith Newton is the world’s largest road-going electric truck. Three models are available in Europe, with gross vehicle weights of 7,500 – 12,000kg. The Newton has a restricted top speed of 50mph (80km/h) and its lithium-ion batteries deliver a range of up to 100 miles (160km) on a single charge. A full recharge takes 6-8 hours.
The move follows the export of half a dozen UK manufactured models which were tested by operators such as AT & T, Staples and Coca-Cola. SEV US Corp has received $3m in tax credits from the state of Missouri as an incentive to set up in Kansas City and recently won a $10m grant from the Federal Government, to produce 100 electric trucks next year. Later in 2010, the company will also start production of a battery-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect light van.
Founded in the UK in 1920, Smith’s is one of three commercial electric vehicle suppliers shortlisted for the Department of Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, to deliver electric vans into key public sector organisations. Smith also recently secured funding from the Government’s Technology Strategy Board, to extend its commercial electric vehicle technology into passenger vehicles. This includes an electric taxi cab based on the TX4 chassis produced by London Taxis International Ltd, plus a zero emission minibus and a battery-powered people carrier.
