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Smith Electric Vehicles Reports Largest Order to Date for Newton and Edison
20 December 2007
Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV) reported an order for 100 of its vehicles, a mixture of the Newton truck and Edison van models, destined for fleet operators across the public and private sectors in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is the largest new customer order to date, according to the company, and was not preceded by the purchase of trial vehicles.
The Board of Directors of the Tanfield Group, parent of SEV, believes that this initial fleet order, secured without the need for an assessment period, demonstrates the growing market acceptance of the company’ zero emission technology.
SEV has increased production capacity in line with management’s target of producing up to 30 vehicles a week by early 2008. Order intake also remains strong for the purchase of single seed vehicles or small fleets for assessment.
Fleet operators who have recently ordered seed vehicles include: Amey Construction; Carlsberg; Cadogen; Tate; Alstec; and A-Plant.
AT EVS-23 in December, Smith launched a 12,000kg version of the Newton truck in the USA. (Earlier post.) This 12,000 kg model is the largest electric vehicle Tanfield has produced to date, and is designed specifically for the US market. It will be powered by a lithium-ion phosphate battery pack and has a range of up to 150 miles. The Company is on track to commence manufacture of the USA Newton for the North America market early next year.
December 20, 2007 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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Early next year is kind of in a month or two. And the vehicles for the US market are being built with lithium batteries. In other words, Smith will sell series produced lithium powered vehicles in a few months for the US market. This is also a world’s first. They will beat both Tesla and Think City on being the first company in the world that sells a series produced lithium powered vehicle. I hope I did not misunderstand something. If I have understood everything correctly Smith has spend less than a year with its lithium battery manufactory (Axeonpower) to develop both the battery and the battery packs and to set up volume production for a hundreds of packs per month. This is much faster than any other companies out there that are trying to do this.
Posted by: Henrik | Dec 21, 2007 2:40:04 AM
I'm pretty sure you are right, Henrik. Smith will commence US production within weeks. Initially at a factory they already own at Fresno, California - where they have space to make 1000 a year, followed by a new-build factory that will produce 10,000 a years from 2010. They are also aiming at 5000 per year in Europe, and have delivered the first 250 already.
Unlike some new ev start-ups whose production abilities might not match their dreams, Smith have been making electric vehicles since about 1920, in which time they have quietly shipped and serviced around 70,000 worldwide, so they do know what they are at. And now the whole world is coming around to wanting their products bigtime.
I find it very disappointing that in the US, electric vehicles are still regarded as a fringe market product. Maybe once people see a few 12-ton Smith Newton trucks in service, attitudes will change, and media coverage will become less frivolous.
Posted by: Stan Wellaway | Dec 21, 2007 6:00:31 AM
I believe the Newton at evs-23 had Zebra nickel sodium packs and they are still testing the lithium packs in their vehicles....there's an interview on AutoblogGreen with the U.S. rep from Tanfield....and it is very dissappointing that the best we can do here in America is have Bush talk of having enough wealth to move forward new technologies and sign a Cafe bill that won't take affect for 12 years...if it wasn't so infuriatingly sad...it would be funny...ha..ha..cough..cough...
Posted by: rick smith | Dec 21, 2007 6:25:09 AM
Im very iterested in electric vehicles, and to find a U.K. company with vehicles of up to 120 to 150 miles range as distinct from companies from across the atlantic is really great. To realise that this company has such experience is even greater. Somebody please let me know where in the R.O.I. these can be bought and most importantly , how much
Posted by: billy kennedy | Mar 16, 2008 5:16:01 AM
