Smith Electric Vehicles
Encyclopedia
Smith Electric Vehicles is the world's leading manufacturers of electric commercial vehicle
s; battery-powered vans, and trucks Smith Electric Vehicles has always focused on the commercial vehicle market – it does not produce electric cars and has never done so.
In 2011 after its United States subsidiary bought its European parent for $15 million it is based in Kansas City, Missouri
.
Founded in 1920 in North East England, it now produces the largest range of commercial electric vehicles in the world, with Gross Vehicle Weights (GVWs) from 3,500 kg – 12,000 kg.
It was formerly based in Washington, Tyne and Wear
, Smith produces vehicles for the UK and exports to South-East Asia, Europe and Scandinavia. It was formerly part of The Tanfield Group Plc, which trades on the AIM market
of the London Stock Exchange
.
Tanfield established a separate company, Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (SEV US Corp) in 2009 to penetrate the North American market. Its headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri
. The United States company in March 2010 indicated it wanted to buy out the UK company.
The name comes from the Smith family that founded the business and ran it until 2004. The family remains in North East England and it still owns Ringtons Tea
, engaged in the importation, blending and distribution of tea.
The Smith Electric Vehicles business blossomed in the 1950s and 60s thanks to Britain’s affection for the milk float
, a vehicle solely engaged in the doorstep delivery of milk and other dairy products. As the dairies phased out delivery by horse and cart, they opted for near-silent electric vehicles for their early morning deliveries, instead of the noisier ICE-powered vans and trucks.
In the mid-1960s, Smith revolutionized the milk float with the launch of the Smith Cabac, the first float to have a rear entry cab so the milkman could exit the vehicle on either side. Smith produced four series of the Cabac; the 65, 75, Jubilee 77 and 85.
, signed a partnership with coachbuilder Boyertown and the Exide Division of the Electric Storage Battery of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in order to produce an electric-powered route delivery truck.
The Boyertown-Smith connection had been made in the late 1950s, when the British firm’s managing director was in the United States exploring a partnership with William and James Conway, the owners of Mister Softee
, whose mobile ice-cream trucks were built by Boyertown.
Smith eventually secured the United Kingdom rights to the Mister Softee brand from the Conways and started producing Mister Softee electric ice cream floats in 1959, in partnership with a J. Lyons & Co. subsidiary named Glacier Foods Ltd.
The Smith family had been impressed with Boyertown’s quality and approached the firm with the Battronic proposal in 1962. At that time, Smith was the world's leader in electric vehicles, with over 14,000 Smith Electrics in service across the United Kingdom and Western Europe.
The new company was organized as the Battronic Truck Corporation. Exide’s parent company was a pioneer in motor vehicle traction batteries and Smith was a world leader in the production of electric delivery vehicles. Boyertown’s contribution was its high-strength, lightweight Multalloy body.
Early Battronics had a top speed of 25 mph and could carry a 2,500 lb (5,500 kg) payload up to 62 miles (99 km) on a single charge. The Potomac Edison Company of Hagerstown, Maryland, took delivery of the very first production Battronic in March 1964.
Smith withdrew from the partnership in 1966, a prescient move as ultimately Battronic produced and sold less than 200 vehicles in its entire 20 year life (1963–1983).
The company rebranded itself as SEV Group Ltd and diversified into fleet management, mobile vehicle repair and the sale, hire and maintenance of fork lift trucks and materials handling equipment.
The Tanfield Group Plc, an engineering company also based in North East England, acquired SEV Group Ltd in October 2004, for £2.2m and 1 million new ordinary shares. Tanfield immediately restored the historic Smith Electric Vehicles brand name and initiated R&D work to develop a new generation of better electric delivery vehicles.
Built on Smith’s own all-steel chassis, Faraday had a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW
) in excess of 5,000 kg. Early adopters such as TNT N.V.
and Sainsbury’s liked Faraday’s efficiency and its operational capabilities, but wanted an electric vehicle that better matched UK driving licence restrictions. In the UK, anyone with a valid licence can drive a light commercial vehicle up to 3,500 kg GVW
. For vehicles between 3,500 kg and 12,000 kg, the driver requires a C1 commercial vehicle licence.
in the Czech Republic
.
Leading express and mail operator TNT N.V.
took the first Newton, for assessment in its London
fleet.
In April the same year, Smith Electric Vehicles unveiled the Smith Edison. Based on the Ford Transit
, this was the first electric light commercial vehicle to have a GVW
of less than 3,500 kg – meeting the “everyman” driving licence requirement of UK fleet operators. First movers to deploy Edison included the retailer Sainsbury’s and utility company Scottish & Southern Energy .
Also in April, TNT N.V.
ordered a fleet of 50 Smith Newton trucks, following its successful trial of the first Smith Newton
Recognising the company’s key role in this emerging sector, Smith was one of several electric commercial vehicle companies invited to the Department for Transport
(DfT) in London
, for discussions on how the UK Government could help stimulate the market for commercial electric vehicles. This led to the announcement of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, in the Government’s Energy White Paper of May 2007.
During the summer, Smith produced its first vehicles for export, which were delivered to TNT.NV
in the Netherlands.
In December, the company also showcased its Newton truck in North America
and announced ambitious plans to establish a US production facility .
.
However, by the end of June 2008 the recession had started to bite; Smith’s parent company, Tanfield
, reported the cancellation and postponement of customer orders.
In November, Smith Electric was shortlisted for the DfT
’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme , a subsidy scheme that offered select public sector bodies the opportunity to buy electric and low carbon vans for the same price as the equivalent diesel vehicle.
The economic downturn interrupted the company’s fast growth; electric vehicle sales for 2008 were relatively flat at £25.1m (2007: £26.1m), reflecting a positive start to the year followed by a difficult second half. Smith’s parent company, Tanfield
, cited a combination of supply chain constrains and fleet operators reducing spend in line with their own decline in sales, plus the lack of available credit facilities for those who did want to purchase . Furthermore, the recession also impacted on the company’s plans to open a production facility in the USA.
.
In February 2009, Tanfield
announced the formation of Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (Smith US), a joint venture that is 49% owned by Tanfield
, with the 51% majority share owned by private investors and Smith US management . A full description of Smith US is given below.
Along with establishing an associate company in the USA, Smith adopted a policy of appointing full-service distributors in all foreign markets that were offering attractive incentives for EVs. The company defines a “full-service distributor” as one who can sell products and also has the technical expertise to provide the right level of after-sales service and spare parts.
In March 2009, Smith delivered its first Newton electric truck to Electric Vehicles Ireland, its official distributor for the Republic of Ireland
and Northern Ireland
. The 10,000 kg vehicle was purchased by building materials retailer Grange Builders Providers, of Dublin.
This was followed by the appointment of AllGreenVehicles in The Netherlands as the full-service distributor for the Benelux
region.
Meanwhile, the relationship with Ford of Europe blossomed. At the Geneva Motor Show, Ford unveiled a concept pure electric people-carrier version of the Ford Transit Connect
. This prototype was produced by Smith Electric Vehicles.
2009 was also the year that the UK Government finally came good on its promise of funding for electric vehicles.
In June, Smith announced that it was one of the successful bidders into the Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme (ULCVDP), administered by the Technology Strategy Board
(TSB). This programme provided match funding for the development of demonstrator electric passenger vehicles. Smith announced it would produce a seven-seat, executive minibus; 10 London taxis based on LTI
’s TX4
chassis; and five people carriers, similar to the concept Ford Tourneo Connect
that Ford exhibited in Geneva
.
The same month, the UK Government confirmed that Smith had made the final shortlist of suppliers into the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. Smith was one of three electric van manufacturers to make the shortlist .
However, in November, Tanfield
announced it was terminating its involvement in the electric Ford Transit Connect
project in both North America
and Europe
, by mutual consent with Ford. Smith cited the unexpected early success of its Newton all-electric truck in the US market; Smith US already had an order book for 255 units and therefore decided to focus its resources on the Newton product. In Europe
, Tanfield
felt the market for smaller vans was becoming too competitive.
Meanwhile, Smith UK appointed Sime Darby Motors as its distributor for Hong Kong
and Macau
.
The year ended on a high, with Smith UK securing repeat business from Sainsbury’s, which ordered an additional 50 Smith Edison electric vans. When added to Sainsbury’s existing 20 electric vans, this created the largest fleet of new technology electric commercial vehicles in the world .
Both the Smith Edison and Smith Newton vehicles took part in a parade of low carbon vehicles as part of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
in Copenhagen
.
And the company celebrated on December 10 when its three-year campaign for tax breaks on electric vans finally succeeded - the UK Government announced Enhanced Capital Allowances for electric vans.
The ongoing recession saw sales of electric vehicles decline in 2009 to £15.1m (2008: £25.1m). However, Smith Electric Vehicles grew its customer base over the year and significantly increased export sales, from less than 1% of sales in 2008 to more than 15% of sales in 2009.
, then forecast how they could impact on Germany
's plans to deploy 1million zero emission vehicles by 2020.
In March, the company made further inroads into Europe, appointing ElecTruckCity as its distributor in France .
In the UK, April saw the intiation of Phase One of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. Smith won 67% of the orders for electric vans; more than double the combined number of orders won by the other two electric van suppliers in the programme, (Modec
and Allied Electric).
At the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show in the UK, Smith celebrated its 90th anniversary. The company also unveiled Smith Telemetry , the first ever telematics
system dedicated to electric commercial vehicles using software supplied by StormMQ
. Along with providing customers with real-time data on battery state-of-charge and vehicle location, the system accommodates the extensive data-monitoring required for government-funded projects such as the DOE
programme in the USA and the DfT
programme in the UK.
The CV Operator Show, held in Birmingham NEC, also heralded the launch of the UK’s first all-electric, 17-seat minibus. The Smith Edison minibus is based on the Ford Transit
minibus chassis.
acquired its parent for $15 million and moved its headquarters to Kansas City International Airport. The new, united company is exploring the potential for an Initial Public Offering IPO. Tanfield maintains 49% ownership in the new company. Bryan Hansel is the CEO.
In November 2011, the company filed with the SEC to raise up to $125 million in an initial public offering trading on the NASDAQ
exchange under the ticker symbol SMTH.
was the first fully productionised, new technology, electric commercial vehicle from Smith. Smith offers Newton in three GVW
configurations: 7,500 lb, 10,000 lb and 12,000 lb. Each is available in short, medium or long wheelbase.
The truck is currently powered by a 120 kilowatt electric induction motor from Enova Systems, driven by Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate batteries supplied by Valence Technology
. Smith offers the battery pack in either 80kWh or 120kWh configurations.
Customers include TNT Express
, TK Maxx, DHL
, Balfour Beatty
, Bunzl
, AG Barr, the Office of Public Works
in Ireland and Celtic Linen in Dublin.
Newton was named Green Commercial of the Year in the electric vehicle section of Fleet Transport magazine’s Irish Truck of the Year Awards 2010, sponsored by Castrol
.
In November 2011, the company announced that the Newton would be built at Hunt's Point in the Bronx in New York City
in a $5 million 90,000 square foot warehouse. New York offered incentives of $3.4 million from the Empire State Development Corporation
, $1.5 million from the state Energy Research and Development Authority and $1.7 million from the city Industrial Development Agency.
chassis. It is available as a panel van and minibus, as well as a chassis cab that can accommodate most body types, such as box, refrigerated, tipper, cage, flat bed and beaver tail. Edison is currently powered by a 90 kW induction motor from Enova Systems and a 40kWh or 51kWh Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate battery pack from Valence Technology
.
The Edison chassis cab is available in six configurations, in GVWs of 3,500 kg – 4,600 kg. The Edison panel van is available in 12 configurations, in GVWs of 3,500 kg – 4,600 kg and a range of options on roof height and wheelbase length. The Edison minibus is available in six configurations, covering 13-17 seats and again with options on wheelbase length and roof height.
The Smith Edison was the world’s first electric van with a Gross Vehicle Weight of under 3,500 kg – a critical factor because vehicles over 3,500 kg require a commercial vehicle driving licence. Edison, like any normal van under 3,500 kg, can be driven by anyone with a regular UK licence.
In November 2009, Edison was named in the top five Vans of the Year by the Irish Motoring Writers Association. In December 2009, Edison was named Eco Van of the Year 2010 by What Van magazine.
and Smith are producing an all-electric version of LTI
's TX4
black cab, branded the TX4E.
Smith is building the first 10 TX4E taxis under the UK Government’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme.
There has been some debate over the efficacy of an electric taxi. Bob Oddy, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association was quoted saying that "only about 40 percent of London cabbies will be able to work a full eight-hour shift on a 100-mile charge."
chassis. Smith produced a European prototype in 2008 and a US version the following year, after Smith US signed a deal with Ford Motor Company
in February 2009.
The van was to be assembled for the North American market in the former Trans World Airlines
overhaul hangar at Kansas City International Airport
in Kansas City, Missouri
in the United States and also in the UK for the European market.
However the company terminated this project, by mutual agreement with Ford in November 2009. Smith cited the unexpected early success of its Newton all-electric truck in the US market; Smith US already had an order book for 255 units and therefore decided to focus its resources on the Newton product.
Also in February 2009, Smith US announced it was partnering with Humvee manufacturer AM General
to produce a prototype electric delivery vehicle for the United States Postal Service
.
Ford subsequently partnered with powertrain company Azure Dynamics to produce the electric Transit Connect. Ironically, Azure then selected AM General
to facilitate the vehicle integration work on this project.
However in 2010, but Ford later announced it would partner with Azure Dynamics Corporation instead.
Smith’s parent company, Tanfield
, is part of c consortium based in North East England that has secured £1.4m in matched funding towards the project, from the UK Government’s Ultra Efficient Systems programme.
In February 2010, Smith announced it was working with Proton Power Systems Plc of Germany, to incorporate a hydrogen fuel cell into its Smith Edison vehicle. The small fuel cell will act as a mini-generator, topping up the traction batteries and increasing vehicle range by up to 100%.
announced the formation of Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (Smith US) in February 2009 and the company opened for business later that year. It has since grown to become America’s leading manufacturer of electric trucks.
Being majority-owned by US investors means that Smith US qualifies for the significant funding and incentive opportunities for electric trucks, which are available at both State and Federal level.
Smith US owns the exclusive rights to produce and market Tanfield’s commercial electric vehicles under the Smith brand. Tanfield licencese its electric vehicle technology to Smith, in exchange for a royalty fee per vehicle sold by Smith US.
In July 2009, Smith US delivered its first Smith Newton trucks, at a ceremony on Capitol Hill, presided over by Missouri
Senator Kit Bond
. The first six customers were Coca-Cola
, Frito-Lay
, AT&T
, Staples, Pacific Gas & Electric and Kansas City Power & Light.
These initial six vehicles were produced at Smith UK’s facility in Washington,Tyne & Wear and shipped to Missouri
in kit form, for final assembly. However, by October, Smith US had recruited and trained the nucleus of its own workforce; Newton trucks started rolling off the production line in Kansas City
.
awarded $10m to Smith US, to facilitate a fleet of trial vehicles for major US corporations . Commerce Secretary Gary Locke
made the grant award announcement in Kansas City
, while on a visit to Smith US customer Kansas City Power & Light.
In January 2010, the Smith Newton became the first ever all-electric truck on the US General Services Administration
(GSA) schedule. The schedule is a list of products approved for purchase by all Federal agencies and the US military. These agencies spend a combined $1 billion every year on GSA
-approved vehicles and automotive services.
Right at the end of March 2010, Smith US received further validation from the Obama administration. US Senator Claire McCaskill
announced that the DOE
was awarding an additional $22m, allowing Smith US to increase its build programme to in excess of 500 Smith Newton trucks.
, issouri].
As part of its growth strategy, Smith US announced in February 2010 that it was adopting a devolved production model. Rather than growing one giant central automotive factory, Smith intends to open approximately 10 regional production facilities, which will also function as showrooms, sales and service centres, ensuring the company is always close to its customers.
CEO Bryan Hansel identified a West Coast and East Coast centre as priorities, with more to follow in line with demand – and dependant on local grant aid and incentive support for electric trucks. Cities in the running include Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington DC.
.
Smith US made a £37m conditional offer, equating to 50p per Tanfield
share, plus a “free” share in Smith US if it subsequently undergoes an IPO and joins the stock market
in the near future. Tanfield
granted Smith US a four-month period of exclusivity, giving the American company until July to raise the requisite funding and table a firm offer. Following Obama's visit to the Kansas City plant on July 8, the exclusivity was extended another 60 days to September 2010.
Commercial vehicle
A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for...
s; battery-powered vans, and trucks Smith Electric Vehicles has always focused on the commercial vehicle market – it does not produce electric cars and has never done so.
In 2011 after its United States subsidiary bought its European parent for $15 million it is based in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Founded in 1920 in North East England, it now produces the largest range of commercial electric vehicles in the world, with Gross Vehicle Weights (GVWs) from 3,500 kg – 12,000 kg.
It was formerly based in Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
, Smith produces vehicles for the UK and exports to South-East Asia, Europe and Scandinavia. It was formerly part of The Tanfield Group Plc, which trades on the AIM market
Alternative Investment Market
AIM is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing smaller companies to float shares with a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main market....
of the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
.
Tanfield established a separate company, Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (SEV US Corp) in 2009 to penetrate the North American market. Its headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The United States company in March 2010 indicated it wanted to buy out the UK company.
The early years
The company was founded in 1920 as Northern Coachbuilders in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. After making a name as a producer of electric trams and trolley buses, it moved into road-going electric delivery vehicles. Smith Electric Vehicles was born.The name comes from the Smith family that founded the business and ran it until 2004. The family remains in North East England and it still owns Ringtons Tea
Ringtons Tea
Ringtons is a tea manufacturing business based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East of England. It was founded in 1907 by Samuel Smith and delivered tea across the nation through a door to door service which still continues today. Although famous for tea, Ringtons soon sold other groceries and...
, engaged in the importation, blending and distribution of tea.
The Smith Electric Vehicles business blossomed in the 1950s and 60s thanks to Britain’s affection for the milk float
Milk float
A milk float is a battery electric vehicle , specifically designed for the delivery of fresh milk. They were once common in many European countries, particularly the United Kingdom, and were operated by local dairies...
, a vehicle solely engaged in the doorstep delivery of milk and other dairy products. As the dairies phased out delivery by horse and cart, they opted for near-silent electric vehicles for their early morning deliveries, instead of the noisier ICE-powered vans and trucks.
In the mid-1960s, Smith revolutionized the milk float with the launch of the Smith Cabac, the first float to have a rear entry cab so the milkman could exit the vehicle on either side. Smith produced four series of the Cabac; the 65, 75, Jubilee 77 and 85.
Into North America
The company also took its first steps into North America in 1962. Smith Delivery Vehicles Ltd, by then based in GatesheadGateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, signed a partnership with coachbuilder Boyertown and the Exide Division of the Electric Storage Battery of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in order to produce an electric-powered route delivery truck.
The Boyertown-Smith connection had been made in the late 1950s, when the British firm’s managing director was in the United States exploring a partnership with William and James Conway, the owners of Mister Softee
Mister Softee
Mister Softee is a United States-based ice cream truck franchisor popular in the Northeast. It was founded by William and James Conway in 1956 in Philadelphia. It is one of the largest franchisors of soft ice cream in the United States. It has about 350 franchisees operating 600 trucks in 15...
, whose mobile ice-cream trucks were built by Boyertown.
Smith eventually secured the United Kingdom rights to the Mister Softee brand from the Conways and started producing Mister Softee electric ice cream floats in 1959, in partnership with a J. Lyons & Co. subsidiary named Glacier Foods Ltd.
The Smith family had been impressed with Boyertown’s quality and approached the firm with the Battronic proposal in 1962. At that time, Smith was the world's leader in electric vehicles, with over 14,000 Smith Electrics in service across the United Kingdom and Western Europe.
The new company was organized as the Battronic Truck Corporation. Exide’s parent company was a pioneer in motor vehicle traction batteries and Smith was a world leader in the production of electric delivery vehicles. Boyertown’s contribution was its high-strength, lightweight Multalloy body.
Early Battronics had a top speed of 25 mph and could carry a 2,500 lb (5,500 kg) payload up to 62 miles (99 km) on a single charge. The Potomac Edison Company of Hagerstown, Maryland, took delivery of the very first production Battronic in March 1964.
Smith withdrew from the partnership in 1966, a prescient move as ultimately Battronic produced and sold less than 200 vehicles in its entire 20 year life (1963–1983).
Diversification and the death of the milk float
Back in the UK, the rise of the supermarket had a huge impact on the doorstep delivery industry – it put paid to around half of all milk rounds during the 1990s. Faced with a downturn in orders for its Cabac, Smith diversified into niche vehicles. The Smith ST range of 7.5t low-speed electric trucks were marketed at low-speed municipal operations and interior applications that mandated heavy duty vehicles with zero exhaust emissions. Smith ST vehicles can be found working in nuclear power stations, large factories and even former salt mines converted into records storage facilities.The company rebranded itself as SEV Group Ltd and diversified into fleet management, mobile vehicle repair and the sale, hire and maintenance of fork lift trucks and materials handling equipment.
The Tanfield Group Plc, an engineering company also based in North East England, acquired SEV Group Ltd in October 2004, for £2.2m and 1 million new ordinary shares. Tanfield immediately restored the historic Smith Electric Vehicles brand name and initiated R&D work to develop a new generation of better electric delivery vehicles.
2005: Faraday
The Smith Faraday proof of concept vehicle was launched in October 2005, with a top speed of 50 mph, a range of up to 60 miles in urban operations and payload capabilities of up to 2,000 kg.Built on Smith’s own all-steel chassis, Faraday had a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW
Gross vehicle weight rating
A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo....
) in excess of 5,000 kg. Early adopters such as TNT N.V.
TNT N.V.
TNT N.V., more commonly known as TNT, is an international express and mail delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. In the Netherlands, TNT operates the national postal service under the name TNT Post. The group also offers postal services in eight other European...
and Sainsbury’s liked Faraday’s efficiency and its operational capabilities, but wanted an electric vehicle that better matched UK driving licence restrictions. In the UK, anyone with a valid licence can drive a light commercial vehicle up to 3,500 kg GVW
Gross vehicle weight rating
A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo....
. For vehicles between 3,500 kg and 12,000 kg, the driver requires a C1 commercial vehicle licence.
2006: Newton
Based on this feedback, Smith launched the Newton 7.5t truck in 2006, which housed the electric drive line technology in an established truck chassis from AviaAvia
Avia is a Czech aircraft and automotive company notable for producing biplane fighter aircraft, especially the B-534, and trucks.- History :...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
Leading express and mail operator TNT N.V.
TNT N.V.
TNT N.V., more commonly known as TNT, is an international express and mail delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. In the Netherlands, TNT operates the national postal service under the name TNT Post. The group also offers postal services in eight other European...
took the first Newton, for assessment in its London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
fleet.
2007: Edison and first fleet orders
A few months later, in February 2007, Prime Minister Tony Blair officially opened the new Smith Electric Vehicles production facility in Washington, Tyne & Wear. He said: “This will be a company that will really make its presence felt not just in the North East, but actually throughout the world.”In April the same year, Smith Electric Vehicles unveiled the Smith Edison. Based on the Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
, this was the first electric light commercial vehicle to have a GVW
Gross vehicle weight rating
A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo....
of less than 3,500 kg – meeting the “everyman” driving licence requirement of UK fleet operators. First movers to deploy Edison included the retailer Sainsbury’s and utility company Scottish & Southern Energy .
Also in April, TNT N.V.
TNT N.V.
TNT N.V., more commonly known as TNT, is an international express and mail delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. In the Netherlands, TNT operates the national postal service under the name TNT Post. The group also offers postal services in eight other European...
ordered a fleet of 50 Smith Newton trucks, following its successful trial of the first Smith Newton
Recognising the company’s key role in this emerging sector, Smith was one of several electric commercial vehicle companies invited to the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
(DfT) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, for discussions on how the UK Government could help stimulate the market for commercial electric vehicles. This led to the announcement of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, in the Government’s Energy White Paper of May 2007.
During the summer, Smith produced its first vehicles for export, which were delivered to TNT.NV
TNT N.V.
TNT N.V., more commonly known as TNT, is an international express and mail delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. In the Netherlands, TNT operates the national postal service under the name TNT Post. The group also offers postal services in eight other European...
in the Netherlands.
In December, the company also showcased its Newton truck in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and announced ambitious plans to establish a US production facility .
2008: The recession bites
2008 began brightly, with Smith appointing its first full-service distributor, Electric Vehicles Ireland. And in April, Smith and Ford of Europe announced an “official collaboration” on the future development of commercial electric vehicles, starting with the Smith Ampere, a pure electric version of the Ford Transit ConnectFord Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and designed by Peter Horbury, introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort and Fiesta-based Courier van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year....
.
However, by the end of June 2008 the recession had started to bite; Smith’s parent company, Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
, reported the cancellation and postponement of customer orders.
In November, Smith Electric was shortlisted for the DfT
DFT
DFT may stand for:*Discrete Fourier transform*Decision field theory*Density functional theory*Demand Flow Technology*The United Kingdom's Department for Transport*Design For Test*Deareating Feed Tank*Digital Film Technology maker of the Spirit DataCine...
’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme , a subsidy scheme that offered select public sector bodies the opportunity to buy electric and low carbon vans for the same price as the equivalent diesel vehicle.
The economic downturn interrupted the company’s fast growth; electric vehicle sales for 2008 were relatively flat at £25.1m (2007: £26.1m), reflecting a positive start to the year followed by a difficult second half. Smith’s parent company, Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
, cited a combination of supply chain constrains and fleet operators reducing spend in line with their own decline in sales, plus the lack of available credit facilities for those who did want to purchase . Furthermore, the recession also impacted on the company’s plans to open a production facility in the USA.
2009: Recession, expansion and transformation
After restructuring its operations in line with the downturn in demand, the company once more set its sights on North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
In February 2009, Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
announced the formation of Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (Smith US), a joint venture that is 49% owned by Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
, with the 51% majority share owned by private investors and Smith US management . A full description of Smith US is given below.
Along with establishing an associate company in the USA, Smith adopted a policy of appointing full-service distributors in all foreign markets that were offering attractive incentives for EVs. The company defines a “full-service distributor” as one who can sell products and also has the technical expertise to provide the right level of after-sales service and spare parts.
In March 2009, Smith delivered its first Newton electric truck to Electric Vehicles Ireland, its official distributor for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The 10,000 kg vehicle was purchased by building materials retailer Grange Builders Providers, of Dublin.
This was followed by the appointment of AllGreenVehicles in The Netherlands as the full-service distributor for the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
region.
Meanwhile, the relationship with Ford of Europe blossomed. At the Geneva Motor Show, Ford unveiled a concept pure electric people-carrier version of the Ford Transit Connect
Ford Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and designed by Peter Horbury, introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort and Fiesta-based Courier van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year....
. This prototype was produced by Smith Electric Vehicles.
2009 was also the year that the UK Government finally came good on its promise of funding for electric vehicles.
In June, Smith announced that it was one of the successful bidders into the Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme (ULCVDP), administered by the Technology Strategy Board
Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is a UK public body operating at arm's length from the Government reporting to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills .- History :...
(TSB). This programme provided match funding for the development of demonstrator electric passenger vehicles. Smith announced it would produce a seven-seat, executive minibus; 10 London taxis based on LTI
Manganese Bronze Holdings
Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC is an engineering company based in Coventry, England. Since the sale of its components division in 2003 the company has only one operating division—LTI Limited, trading as The London Taxi Company—which manufactures and retails London Black Taxis.The London...
’s TX4
TX4
The TX4 is a purpose built taxicab manufactured by Manganese Bronze Holdings / LTC The London Taxi Company, formerly LTI London Taxis International. It is the latest in a long line of purpose-built taxis manufactured by LTC...
chassis; and five people carriers, similar to the concept Ford Tourneo Connect
Ford Tourneo Connect
The Ford Tourneo Connect is a leisure activity vehicle produced by Ford, which was first put into production in 2002 to the British market. The Transit Connect is a panel van version of the Tourneo Connect. Principally termed a commercial vehicle, Ford predicted relatively low sales of between...
that Ford exhibited in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
The same month, the UK Government confirmed that Smith had made the final shortlist of suppliers into the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. Smith was one of three electric van manufacturers to make the shortlist .
However, in November, Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
announced it was terminating its involvement in the electric Ford Transit Connect
Ford Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and designed by Peter Horbury, introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort and Fiesta-based Courier van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year....
project in both North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, by mutual consent with Ford. Smith cited the unexpected early success of its Newton all-electric truck in the US market; Smith US already had an order book for 255 units and therefore decided to focus its resources on the Newton product. In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
felt the market for smaller vans was becoming too competitive.
Meanwhile, Smith UK appointed Sime Darby Motors as its distributor for Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
.
The year ended on a high, with Smith UK securing repeat business from Sainsbury’s, which ordered an additional 50 Smith Edison electric vans. When added to Sainsbury’s existing 20 electric vans, this created the largest fleet of new technology electric commercial vehicles in the world .
Both the Smith Edison and Smith Newton vehicles took part in a parade of low carbon vehicles as part of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as the Copenhagen Summit, was held at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 December and 18 December. The conference included the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
And the company celebrated on December 10 when its three-year campaign for tax breaks on electric vans finally succeeded - the UK Government announced Enhanced Capital Allowances for electric vans.
The ongoing recession saw sales of electric vehicles decline in 2009 to £15.1m (2008: £25.1m). However, Smith Electric Vehicles grew its customer base over the year and significantly increased export sales, from less than 1% of sales in 2008 to more than 15% of sales in 2009.
2010: The promise of a bright future
2010 saw the company continue the upward curve that began in late 2009. Smith enjoyed early success, supplying 10 Smith Edison vans to Ford of Europe for the colognE-mobil project in Cologne, Germany. The first phase of the project will examine the potential benefits of electric commercial vehicles in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, then forecast how they could impact on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's plans to deploy 1million zero emission vehicles by 2020.
In March, the company made further inroads into Europe, appointing ElecTruckCity as its distributor in France .
In the UK, April saw the intiation of Phase One of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. Smith won 67% of the orders for electric vans; more than double the combined number of orders won by the other two electric van suppliers in the programme, (Modec
Modec
Modec was a Coventry, UK electric vehicle manufacturer, specialising in Commercial vehicles in the N2 category. It unveiled its first model in April 2006 and announced its intention to commence series production in March 2007, with the first production vehicles destined for Tesco...
and Allied Electric).
At the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show in the UK, Smith celebrated its 90th anniversary. The company also unveiled Smith Telemetry , the first ever telematics
Telematics
Telematics typically is any integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known as ICT...
system dedicated to electric commercial vehicles using software supplied by StormMQ
StormMQ
In computing, StormMQ is a message queuing service , using the standard Advanced Message Queuing Protocol . StormMQ is a hosted, On-Premise or Cloud solution for Machine-to-Machine Message Queuing using AMQP...
. Along with providing customers with real-time data on battery state-of-charge and vehicle location, the system accommodates the extensive data-monitoring required for government-funded projects such as the DOE
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
programme in the USA and the DfT
DFT
DFT may stand for:*Discrete Fourier transform*Decision field theory*Density functional theory*Demand Flow Technology*The United Kingdom's Department for Transport*Design For Test*Deareating Feed Tank*Digital Film Technology maker of the Spirit DataCine...
programme in the UK.
The CV Operator Show, held in Birmingham NEC, also heralded the launch of the UK’s first all-electric, 17-seat minibus. The Smith Edison minibus is based on the Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
minibus chassis.
2011: New ownership move to the United States
In 2011 its subsidiary in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
acquired its parent for $15 million and moved its headquarters to Kansas City International Airport. The new, united company is exploring the potential for an Initial Public Offering IPO. Tanfield maintains 49% ownership in the new company. Bryan Hansel is the CEO.
In November 2011, the company filed with the SEC to raise up to $125 million in an initial public offering trading on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
exchange under the ticker symbol SMTH.
Newton
Launched in 2006, the Newton electric truckElectric truck
An electric truck is a truck powered by electricity.For information on trucks using a combination of internal combustion engines and electric propulsion, see Hybrid electric truck.-Semi-trailer trucks:...
was the first fully productionised, new technology, electric commercial vehicle from Smith. Smith offers Newton in three GVW
Gross vehicle weight rating
A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo....
configurations: 7,500 lb, 10,000 lb and 12,000 lb. Each is available in short, medium or long wheelbase.
The truck is currently powered by a 120 kilowatt electric induction motor from Enova Systems, driven by Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate batteries supplied by Valence Technology
Valence Technology
Valence Technology, Inc. develops and manufactures advanced lithium iron phosphate cathode materials as well as programmable battery modules and trays. Valence's products are used in electric vehicle and Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles such as cars, scooters, motorbikes, commercial vehicles such...
. Smith offers the battery pack in either 80kWh or 120kWh configurations.
Customers include TNT Express
TNT Express
TNT Express N.V. is an international express and cargo delivery services company with headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. The firm has fully owned operations in 65 countries and delivers documents, parcels and pieces of freight to over 200 countries...
, TK Maxx, DHL
DHL
DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
, Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty plc is a British construction, engineering, military housing, rail and investment services company. It is one of the largest construction companies in the UK, and the 15th largest in the world...
, Bunzl
Bunzl
Bunzl plc is a multinational distribution and outsourcing company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company is primarily a distributor of a diverse range of non-food consumable products including food packaging, cleaning and hygiene supplies, personal protective equipment and carrier...
, AG Barr, the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
in Ireland and Celtic Linen in Dublin.
Newton was named Green Commercial of the Year in the electric vehicle section of Fleet Transport magazine’s Irish Truck of the Year Awards 2010, sponsored by Castrol
Castrol
Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oils, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications...
.
In November 2011, the company announced that the Newton would be built at Hunt's Point in the Bronx in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in a $5 million 90,000 square foot warehouse. New York offered incentives of $3.4 million from the Empire State Development Corporation
Empire State Development Corporation
The Urban Development Corporation, doing business as Empire State Development Corporation is a public authority of the state of New York in the United States that has financed and operated several ambitious state projects by issuing tax exempt bonds....
, $1.5 million from the state Energy Research and Development Authority and $1.7 million from the city Industrial Development Agency.
Edison
The Smith Edison is based on the Ford TransitFord Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
chassis. It is available as a panel van and minibus, as well as a chassis cab that can accommodate most body types, such as box, refrigerated, tipper, cage, flat bed and beaver tail. Edison is currently powered by a 90 kW induction motor from Enova Systems and a 40kWh or 51kWh Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate battery pack from Valence Technology
Valence Technology
Valence Technology, Inc. develops and manufactures advanced lithium iron phosphate cathode materials as well as programmable battery modules and trays. Valence's products are used in electric vehicle and Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles such as cars, scooters, motorbikes, commercial vehicles such...
.
The Edison chassis cab is available in six configurations, in GVWs of 3,500 kg – 4,600 kg. The Edison panel van is available in 12 configurations, in GVWs of 3,500 kg – 4,600 kg and a range of options on roof height and wheelbase length. The Edison minibus is available in six configurations, covering 13-17 seats and again with options on wheelbase length and roof height.
The Smith Edison was the world’s first electric van with a Gross Vehicle Weight of under 3,500 kg – a critical factor because vehicles over 3,500 kg require a commercial vehicle driving licence. Edison, like any normal van under 3,500 kg, can be driven by anyone with a regular UK licence.
In November 2009, Edison was named in the top five Vans of the Year by the Irish Motoring Writers Association. In December 2009, Edison was named Eco Van of the Year 2010 by What Van magazine.
London Taxi
LTIManganese Bronze Holdings
Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC is an engineering company based in Coventry, England. Since the sale of its components division in 2003 the company has only one operating division—LTI Limited, trading as The London Taxi Company—which manufactures and retails London Black Taxis.The London...
and Smith are producing an all-electric version of LTI
Manganese Bronze Holdings
Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC is an engineering company based in Coventry, England. Since the sale of its components division in 2003 the company has only one operating division—LTI Limited, trading as The London Taxi Company—which manufactures and retails London Black Taxis.The London...
's TX4
TX4
The TX4 is a purpose built taxicab manufactured by Manganese Bronze Holdings / LTC The London Taxi Company, formerly LTI London Taxis International. It is the latest in a long line of purpose-built taxis manufactured by LTC...
black cab, branded the TX4E.
Smith is building the first 10 TX4E taxis under the UK Government’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme.
There has been some debate over the efficacy of an electric taxi. Bob Oddy, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association was quoted saying that "only about 40 percent of London cabbies will be able to work a full eight-hour shift on a 100-mile charge."
Other vehicle development projects
The Smith Ampere was based on the Ford Transit ConnectFord Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and designed by Peter Horbury, introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort and Fiesta-based Courier van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year....
chassis. Smith produced a European prototype in 2008 and a US version the following year, after Smith US signed a deal with Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in February 2009.
The van was to be assembled for the North American market in the former Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines
Trans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
overhaul hangar at Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport , originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is a public airport located 15 miles northwest of the central business district of Kansas City, in Platte County, Missouri, United States. In 2008, 10,469,892 passengers used the airport...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in the United States and also in the UK for the European market.
However the company terminated this project, by mutual agreement with Ford in November 2009. Smith cited the unexpected early success of its Newton all-electric truck in the US market; Smith US already had an order book for 255 units and therefore decided to focus its resources on the Newton product.
Also in February 2009, Smith US announced it was partnering with Humvee manufacturer AM General
AM General
AM General is an American heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. It is best known for the civilian Hummer and the military Humvee, that is assembled in Mishawaka, Indiana...
to produce a prototype electric delivery vehicle for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
.
Ford subsequently partnered with powertrain company Azure Dynamics to produce the electric Transit Connect. Ironically, Azure then selected AM General
AM General
AM General is an American heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. It is best known for the civilian Hummer and the military Humvee, that is assembled in Mishawaka, Indiana...
to facilitate the vehicle integration work on this project.
However in 2010, but Ford later announced it would partner with Azure Dynamics Corporation instead.
Further research and development
Smith Electric Vehicles is developing new drive line enhancements and ancillary systems for commercial electric vehicles, including heating and air conditioning. The company estimates the new technology could increase electric vehicle range by up to 20%.Smith’s parent company, Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
, is part of c consortium based in North East England that has secured £1.4m in matched funding towards the project, from the UK Government’s Ultra Efficient Systems programme.
In February 2010, Smith announced it was working with Proton Power Systems Plc of Germany, to incorporate a hydrogen fuel cell into its Smith Edison vehicle. The small fuel cell will act as a mini-generator, topping up the traction batteries and increasing vehicle range by up to 100%.
Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp
TanfieldTanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
announced the formation of Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (Smith US) in February 2009 and the company opened for business later that year. It has since grown to become America’s leading manufacturer of electric trucks.
Corporate structure
Tanfied owns 49% of Smith US. The remaining 51% is in the hands of private investors.Being majority-owned by US investors means that Smith US qualifies for the significant funding and incentive opportunities for electric trucks, which are available at both State and Federal level.
Smith US owns the exclusive rights to produce and market Tanfield’s commercial electric vehicles under the Smith brand. Tanfield licencese its electric vehicle technology to Smith, in exchange for a royalty fee per vehicle sold by Smith US.
Vehicles
Smith US produces the Smith Newton all-electric truck, in Classes 3 - 7. The Newton has a top speed of 55 mph, a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge and is powered by lithium-ion batteries.In July 2009, Smith US delivered its first Smith Newton trucks, at a ceremony on Capitol Hill, presided over by Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Senator Kit Bond
Kit Bond
Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
. The first six customers were Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Frito-Lay
Frito-Lay
Frito-Lay North America is the division of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets and sells corn chips, potato chips and other snack foods. The primary snack food brands produced under the Frito-Lay name include Fritos corn chips, Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips,...
, AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Staples, Pacific Gas & Electric and Kansas City Power & Light.
These initial six vehicles were produced at Smith UK’s facility in Washington,Tyne & Wear and shipped to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in kit form, for final assembly. However, by October, Smith US had recruited and trained the nucleus of its own workforce; Newton trucks started rolling off the production line in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Government support
In July 2009, the Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
awarded $10m to Smith US, to facilitate a fleet of trial vehicles for major US corporations . Commerce Secretary Gary Locke
Gary Locke
Gary Locke may refer to:*Gary Locke , Chinese American politician; U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former Governor of Washington*Gary Locke *Gary Locke...
made the grant award announcement in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, while on a visit to Smith US customer Kansas City Power & Light.
In January 2010, the Smith Newton became the first ever all-electric truck on the US General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
(GSA) schedule. The schedule is a list of products approved for purchase by all Federal agencies and the US military. These agencies spend a combined $1 billion every year on GSA
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
-approved vehicles and automotive services.
Right at the end of March 2010, Smith US received further validation from the Obama administration. US Senator Claire McCaskill
Claire McCaskill
Claire Conner McCaskill is the senior United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Democratic Party. She defeated Republican incumbent Jim Talent in the 2006 U.S. Senate election, by a margin of 49.6% to 47.3%. She is the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Missouri in her own...
announced that the DOE
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
was awarding an additional $22m, allowing Smith US to increase its build programme to in excess of 500 Smith Newton trucks.
Locations
Smith US has its corporate headquarters in Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, issouri].
As part of its growth strategy, Smith US announced in February 2010 that it was adopting a devolved production model. Rather than growing one giant central automotive factory, Smith intends to open approximately 10 regional production facilities, which will also function as showrooms, sales and service centres, ensuring the company is always close to its customers.
CEO Bryan Hansel identified a West Coast and East Coast centre as priorities, with more to follow in line with demand – and dependant on local grant aid and incentive support for electric trucks. Cities in the running include Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington DC.
March 2010: Smith US bids for independence
Smith US launched a bid to buy out the Smith UK operation, in order to create a totally separate company to TanfieldTanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
.
Smith US made a £37m conditional offer, equating to 50p per Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
share, plus a “free” share in Smith US if it subsequently undergoes an IPO and joins the stock market
Stock market
A stock market or equity market is a public entity for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion...
in the near future. Tanfield
Tanfield Group
The Tanfield Group, formerly Comeleon, has changed its main focus from automotive components and imaging equipment to electric vehicle manufacturing and specialist engineering. As Comeleon, the company made 3D images for mobile phones and other devices, but saw the bottom drop out of its key...
granted Smith US a four-month period of exclusivity, giving the American company until July to raise the requisite funding and table a firm offer. Following Obama's visit to the Kansas City plant on July 8, the exclusivity was extended another 60 days to September 2010.
In Europe
- Aixam-Mega (France)
- AlkèAlkèAlkè is an Italian truck, electric vehicles, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Padua, Italy. The company was created in 1992.- Electric vehicles :...
(Italy) - Allied Electric (UK)
- Avid Vehicles (UK)
- IvecoIvecoIveco, an acronym for Industrial Vehicle Corporation, originally an alliance of European commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Fiat , Unic and Magirus. Iveco is now an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin...
(Italy) - Liberty Electric CarsLiberty Electric CarsLiberty Electric Cars Ltd. is an automobile startup company focusing on producing high-end, luxury battery electric vehicles. The company was formed in 2007 by entrepreneur Barry Shrier....
(UK) - Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
(Germany) - ModecModecModec was a Coventry, UK electric vehicle manufacturer, specialising in Commercial vehicles in the N2 category. It unveiled its first model in April 2006 and announced its intention to commence series production in March 2007, with the first production vehicles destined for Tesco...
(UK) - RenaultRenaultRenault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
(France) - Stevens VehiclesStevens VehiclesThe ZeCar is a 5-door hatchback with a twin AC induction brushless and maintenance free electric engine, giving the car 140 lb ft of torque. There is a maintenance-free toothed belt drive to the rear wheels...
(UK) - Wales & EdwardsWales & EdwardsWales & Edwards was a large manufacturer of milk floats in Britain. They were particularly well known for their three wheelers. It was one of the oldest milk float manufacturers lasting from the early 1940s to the early 1990s. They sold mainly to United Dairies and in the early years to Express...
(UK)
In North America
- Azure DynamicsAzure DynamicsAzure Dynamics Corporation is incorporated under the laws of Alberta, Canada having been spun out of BC Research Inc. Azure now is headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit...
(Canada) - Enova Systems (US)
- EVI
- Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
(US)