Reduced prices and better performance from smith electric trucks 12 April 2011

Smith Electric Vehicles Europe has launched a new sales strategy, enhanced pricing and improved vehicle performance at the CV Show today.

The firm, which was acquired by Smith Electric Vehicles US on January 1, is shifting the focus of its electric vehicle manufacturing and sales to a select group of UK commercial fleet operators.

Geoff Allison, managing director of Smith Electric, explains that, as a result of its combination with Smith US, Smith Electric has been able to leverage a stronger supply chain and so improve vehicle quality while also cutting the cost of key vehicle components.

"Fleet managers already recognise that commercial EVs are much cheaper to run and maintain than diesel vehicles," comments Allison. "However, the higher capital cost of EVs currently defers the fleet managers' ability to realise these benefits and, in some cases, can be a barrier to EV adoption."

Allison says that the firm is now able to offer electric trucks, vans and minibuses that "combine lower up-front capital costs with our vehicles' existing low operating costs".

Smith Electric also has improved the payload capabilities of its Edison range, which are built on the Ford Transit chassis. Gross payloads have increased by an average of 150kg on chassis cabs and in excess of 250kg on panel vans. Newton chassis cabs already provide payloads of 2,753—7,508kg.

"These increases provide up to 15% extra payload on a chassis cab on average and 35% more carrying capacity in a panel van," comments Allison.

"These are significant increases which we know fleet operators will appreciate," he adds.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Smith Technologies Ltd

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