When the UK's Green-Car-Guide got started in late 2006, the site's stated goal was to "end motorists' confusion about green cars." Well, considering everything that's happened in the last 18 months, I doubt everyone concerns have been fully addressed, but at least there's more information out there to let people figure out what vehicle might be right for them. If you'd like still more information, and you will be near Liverpool next week, you can see some energy-efficient vehicles on display at Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008. Think of it as the website in the metal.

The free (registration required) one-day event will happen at the Arena & Convention Centre in Liverpool on Tuesday, June 12th and is aimed at businesses and those with vehicle fleets. The show will feature a 100 percent biodiesel racing truck, a Honda Civic hybrid rally car, an electric Smart, and electric vans from Smith and Modec, among many others. There will also be seminars on green vehicle topics (sustainable biofuels, anyone?). Makes me wish we could do ABG Live!

[Source: Green Car Guide]

Although there are some concerns about the range of an electric taxi for a city like London, Smith Electric Vehicles wants to prove that it can be made. Smith has announced, via its newsletter, an agreement with LTI Vehicles, the manufacturers of the iconic British taxis, to build a battery powered, zero emission urban taxi cab. Under the agreement, LTI and Smith will produce an all-electric version of LTI's TX4 black cab, branded the TX4E. First tests show that the vehicle can get up to 50mph and has a "range in excess of 100 miles on one battery charge."

According to Smith, the TX4E will contain all the conventional features of the TX4, but will be powered by Smith's advanced electric drive train and a lithium-ion iron phosphate battery pack. It will be manufactured in the UK for the domestic market (so no chance to buy it abroad) and sold through LTI's distribution network. Smith says that, based on current electricity prices, the vehicle will cost less than 4p per mile to run - which is far better than the diesel versions. The last time I checked diesel in the UK it was more than a pound per liter, and the TX4 needs about 10-12 liters/100 km (20-ish mpg U. S.) to run in urban traffic.

[Source: Smith Electic Vehicles]

The rumor has now been confirmed. Smith Electric Vehicles launched the Ampere electric van at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham NEC. If the Ampere looks like a Ford Transit Connect to you, nicely done. It's built on the Transit Connect chassis. The EVs specs are quite respectable: a 70mph maximum speed with a range "in excess" of 100 miles. It is powered by a 50kw motor and an under-slung lithium-ion battery pack, which leaves the van's full interior volume available for carrying capacity. The Ampere has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 2,340kg and a payload capacity of up to 800kg. Smith's factory in Washington, Tyne & Wear will start production of the Ampere for European markets later this year.

At the CVS, Smith EV also announced the Faraday II, an EV truck using the Ford F650 chassis cab. This larger truck has a GVW of up to 13,000kg and is expected to have similar specifications to the Smith Newton truck that is sold in the UK and Europe. Specs are: top speed of 50mph and a range of more than 100 miles on one battery charge. Finally, Smith also confirmed that the Newton will use now Iron Phosphate lithium-ion battery packs instead of Sodium Nickel Chloride batteries. Those batteries had been used since the Newton launched in 2006,


[Source: Smith EV]

So, how is the EV-building business going? Just fine, if you ask any of the executives over at the Tanfield Group PLC. Expecting to surpass the £120 million mark in sales this year, the owner of the worlds oldest electric vehicle manufacturer, Smith EV, is "close to signing a deal on a new North-East factory" according to a story in today's edition of The Northern Echo. With this expansion they also expect to hire another 300 people. The company is going to need the extra employees and production capacity if it's going to achieve its goal of building 3,000 trucks in the UK and the U.S. in 2009. It's current facility, located in Washington, can only churn out 1,500 a year and they also need a bit of space to build some of their other products.

You can't build trucks if you don't have the parts, so to that end, an order to Enova for 4,000 of their 90kW and 120kW electric drive components has been announced. The Smith Newton (pictured above) is 7.5 ton vehicle and will be powered by the 120kw drive system while its little brother, the Edison, will be fitted with a 90kw drive train. Delivery of these essential bits has already begun.


Related:

• EVS23: The green machine - Smith Electric Truck comes to America
• Smith EV announces electric truck factory for the US
• Smith Electric Vehicles, Enova partner up for zero-emission van, truck

[Source: The Northern Echo / Enova via Green Car Congress]

Right next to the Modec booth at EVS23, Smith Electric Vehicles commanded a swath of floor space with their large Smith Newton electric truck. Mark Aubry, North American sales manager for Smith Electric Vehicles, was available for an interview and told AutoblogGreen about how these trucks could work for American companies. The official launch of these EVs in the U.S. was two days before we spoke.

The Smith Newton is a 26,000 pound GVW truck, a class 7 truck, 16,000 payload. Smaller versions - class 5 or 6 - are also available. Depending on customer need, these trucks can be delivered with between two and six batteries (one battery doesn't have enough power to move the truck). Using four batteries, the truck can go 150 miles with a 50 mph top speed, while two batteries give you a 40-60 mile range and work best with light products (garments, for example). More batteries also reduce the payload capacity. Each battery pack costs $16,000. With four battery packs, a 2007 Smith Newton is $150,000 ($64,000 for the batteries, $86,000 for the truck). While that's a large amount, Aubry said operating costs are a low 11 cents a mile.

Smith Newtons use sodium nickel chloride (Zebra) batteries, the current battery of choice for heavy trucks. Aubry said that Smith is testing lithium ion batteries and expects to sell trucks with that option in the near future. The Zebra-laden trucks are available now, as is my interview with Aubry (7:30 min, 5 MB).

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]