OK one more viable delivery truck running on batteries.

This joins Smith and Modec in the BEV delivery van market.

Good - but is it cost effective or just another demo like EV-1 - for when batteries are "ready" ?
Do the drivers get discounts at the local gym to make up for all that repetitive motion exercise they'll be deprived of?
I hope such efforts promote public demand and accelerate converter, and drive train development, but not too exciting
But then, neither is this post.

I like it. How does it compare to a UPS truck for payload, anyone know? A Ford F-350 maxes out at 5800lb, so 6500lb for this is probably pretty impressive.

I doubt very much that this is "just another demo". These companies can see the tidal wave of gas prices coming and would very much like to stay in business. These guys will be some of the very first to electrify. I'm sure the thought of being able to contain and give certainty to transport costs has everyone drooling.

More and more electrics coming down the line.

Keep 'em coming.

Yep. The future is electric. Depot based delivery fleets have become obvious markets for makers of all-electric trucks and vans. Over a thousand will be shipped this year in the UK alone by Smith, Modec, ZEV, Zeroed, etc. Next year 3000 or so, and twice that in 2010.

It's a market in which the 100-150 mile range limitations are not a problem. And one in which hard-headed fleet managers can see that the overall economic case stacks up in favour of EVs.

Ack! I don't like the battery chemistry, especially in a collision ... in the rain ... or a rollover into a river or lake.

NCyder, Believe me, you would MUCH rather have an electric vehicle roll into a lake than a gas or diesel.
Sealed batteries don't leak, liquid fuel and lubricant do, get educated.

This vehicle design seems to be well suited to electric energy. Wish them the best and much more.

BEVs are looking better and better, month after month. Good days ahead.

The Zebra battery is not the ideal from a weight and energy storage / energy efficiency perspective. However, they are cheaper than even lead acid, and only 10% of the cost of Li.
They are also recyclable with no hazardous chemicals used.

Once BEV production increases we can expect alternate battery technology to become competitively priced.

I agree, keep these ideas coming, getting better month after month, and good times ahead. BEV are our future, in personal vehicles, so when I see this in heavy delivery vehicles, it is even more impressive, and also more relevant.

Keep them coming, across the board.

My dream for the year 2025: battery powered farm equipment, recharged with windmills, growing soy diesel for an ever DECREASING fleet of diesel powered long haul truckers and diesel-electric locomotives. Then the excess soy diesel supply used in efficient heating oil, with excess farmland capacity used to grow food for our tables, like it should be!

My dream for the year 2025: We have battery powered farm equipment, recharged with windmills, Farms are growing food crops. Any liquid fuels needed are being made by algae or other bio organisms.

Most all private cars are BEV. Recharging is at home, and in every public parking location, especially at large shopping malls. BEV Range is 300 km, and recharging takes 2 hours, so you know other drivers sharing the road are all well rested.

Homes have photoelectric and wind generating to provide most all needed personal power. The grid has wind machines to overcapacity power, and old fossil fuel generators are reused as peak emergency power driven by hydrogen made by excess wind.

Cities are clean and quiet. We no longer use fossil fuel.
The nice thing ... it is do-able, and at a profit for all.

John - I like your idea, but being a person who travels a lot, I certainly hope vehicles have a longer range than 300 km (186 miles? That would drive me insane!).

Anyway, I was looking at the vehicle and I can honestly say it would look nice in UPS Brown or with huge FedEx emblems emblazoned on the side. I certainly hope it does more than demonstrate what electric vehicles are capable of - we have too many of those already.

Donnie Mac:

Yes, first generation BEVs with 300 Km between charges may not be enough for people doing a lot of long distance trips.

In your case a PHEV 60 to 100 Km may be a better idea, at least until BEVs can do 500+ Km between charges. That be not happen for another 3 or 5 years.

@ Donnie Mac & friend ...
While I agree that 300 Km is not enough for everyone, it is plenty for over 90% of us. I think of it this way, ... whenever I drive for 3 hours it's a major trip and I plan to stay for a couple of hours. If recharge stations are available, everything works out. Most trips are under 100 km, so a 300 km range offers lots of leeway.

On car-safaris or driving holidays the family runabout won't have quite the legroom or luggage space preferred, so a rental makes a lot of sense. Besides, getting broken down in 'lost-gulch' where parts are unavailable is a really bad holiday. A replacement rental is only a phone call away, and the fix-up is someone else's problem. For these situations, a 'guzzler' or hybrid may be a good choice.

Meanwhile, for scooting to work and picking up groceries, a 300 km range is generous. Actually, even a 100 km range would be ok for one car in a two car family. When electric cars show up en-mass, a variety of battery options and extended range vehicles will be offered. No doubt within five years some models will have a 500 Km range that will make long distance commuters really appreciate the cash savings at fuel up time.

In any event, I'm happy to see a Canadian E-truck startup, and their first big customer.

ps ... GM is closing their Canadian Oshawa truck plant this next month despite the Ontario Government giving them $250 million last month. I wonder how easy it would be to convert that factory to make Unicell's Quicksider Electric Delivery Vehicle? This truck would keep the autoworkers busy and guarantee job security!