The electric truck industry in the UK appears to be going into overdrive! Modec continues to land new accounts with their uniquely-engineered vehicle while over at Smith EV, they are celebrating a purchase order from their client, TNT, for 100 of their 7.5 ton Newton lorry (pictured above). The sale marks a significant continuation of their corporate relationship as the express delivery giant had already placed an order for 50 vehicles last year. This additional complement to their EV fleet will replace an equal number of diesel vehicles and is expected to reduce the company's emissions by 1.3 million kg of CO₂, not to mention the elimination of all the other nasties that come out of a diesel truck's tailpipe. Though these "clean lorries" only make up a small part of TNT's total fleet of 45,000 vehicles, it is a strong start in a positive direction.

The Newtons on order are powered by four large sodium nickel chloride batteries that can be charged from empty to full in eight hours, can reach speeds of 50 mph and have a range of 100 miles. That is more than adequate for the urban areas in which they will operate. The cost per mile for the electricity is expected to run around 7 pence. One other environmental feature of note are the recyclable, ultralight body panels manufactured by Omnia. These reduce the body weight as well as increase the payload capacity to 2,000kg . Hit the "read" link below to go to the detail replete announcement by TNT.


[Source: Smith EV / TNT]

Smith EV, which makes delivery vans and trucks in the UK and Europe, has finally announced its plans for the US: Up to 10,000 EV trucks will be built in a facility that "could be sited anywhere in North America, would require up to a 300 acre site, including a 500,000sq ft assembly facility, test track and space for rolling stock. It would create at least 500 jobs."

Smith already has a small plant in Fresno, CA, which can produce 1,000 EV trucks per year, as well as another factory in the UK with an output of 1,500 vehicles. Smith EV plans a new facility in the UK for European customers.

Smith makes a range of highway-capable EVs, from 7,000lbs vans to 25,000lbs trucks. With a top speed of 50mph, and a range on one lithium-ion battery charge of up to 150 miles. The company claims they are suitable for deployment in urban delivery applications.

(Editor's note: stay tuned for an interview with Smith EV direct from EVS23 in Anaheim)

Related:

• TNT courier company buys two Smith EV trucks for Rotterdam delivery
• Smith Electric Vehicles, Enova partner up for zero-emission van, truck

[Source: Smith EV]

Two commercial EVs will start rolling in Rotterdam (Netherlands) shortly. Ivo Opstelten, the mayor of the city and president of the City's Climate Initiative, and Peter Baker, president of courier company TNT, have introduced two electric freight vans from Smith Electric Vehicles. The two vans are the first left-hand drive vans Smith EV have ever produced and the first on the Continent.

The two models are the Smith Edison EV (which is based on the Ford Transit van) 3.5 tons and the Smith Newton 9 tons truck. The first is capable of a top speed of up to 50mph, a payload of up to 1338kg (about 3000 lb) and a range on one battery charge of up to 150 miles from its 90 kW (120 HP) motor. The latter is based on an AVIA D-Line regular truck (the base wss not specified but it looks to me like a Mitsubishi Canter), and the specs are quite interesting: 130 miles of range and a payload of 3,400 kg (about 7500 pounds) obtained from a 120 kW (160 HP) electric motor and Zebra Z5 Sodium Nickel Chloride cells. It can be charged either at a regular house electric mains or an industrial 415V three phase.

The two vehicles will contribute to the city plans on reducing a 50 percent of CO2 emissions compared to 1990 levels.

Related:

• Meet the MODEC: Electric Delivery Van
• Review: How about a test-drive in a new Xebra PK?

[Thanks to David for the tip - Link is in dutch]

[Edited: Thanks to Mark for the tip on the company name and to Andy for helping me identifying the base truck]

Smith Electric launches the Faraday in London, October 2005

Enova Systems, the Torrance, California company that we just featured for their work in Hawaii's EV scene, announced today that it has entered into a "significant production supply agreement" with Smith Electric Vehicles in the UK. For the last few months, Enova has been working with Smith (owned by The Tanfield Group Plc.) to develop a pair of high-performance electric drive systems, one intended for a zero-emission van and the other for a zero-emission truck.

The Smith Newton, the world's first zero emission 7.5t truck, will get Enova's 120kw system. Enova's 90kw electric drive system will go into the Smith Edison, the first all-electric 3.5t van. Enova says they'll ship at least 200 of these two drive trains to Tanfield this year, and will also supply the drive system for a 12-ton North American version of the Newton. While specifics are not up for the range of these heavy vehicles, Tanfield says that, "A typical Smith Electric vehicle can achieve ranges of over 100 miles between battery charges at speeds of 50 mph." Any fleets ready to sign up?

Related:

• Enova to Provide Power Control Units for Th!nk Electric Vehicles
• Electric trucks exempt from London congestion charges undergoing tests

[Source: Enova]