Smith Electric Vehicles this week introduced two new products at the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show 2010 in Kent, U.K.: an electric minibus and an EV-mounted boom lift.
Minibus. The UK’s first 17-seat, electric minibus is now in production. Based on the Ford Transit chassis, the Smith Edison minibus has a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a range of up to 80 miles (129 km). A full recharge takes 6-8 hours, or 3-4 hours with Smith’s new fast charging technology.
Smith utilizes an underslung battery design, so that the 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack does not impinge on the passenger area of the vehicle.
Boom lift. Smith Electric Vehicles is also showcasing the UK’s first fully electric vehicle-mounted van-mounted aerial work platform. Vehicle-mounted aerial lifts are widely used in the utility sector, to safely lift up workers for maintenance work at height.
This type of vehicle typically services a small geographic territory, which is ideal for limited range vehicles. And because van-mounted vehicle-mounted lifts often operate in urban areas, a zero emission vehicle with a silent motor is more considerate towards residents.
The 4,600 kg GVW vehicle utilizes the Smith Edison long wheelbase electric van chassis cab, with a lift mechanism from Versalift. Both the lifting mechanism and the vehicle are powered by Edison’s 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The van Versalift vehicle has a range of up to 80 miles on a full charge, which is impacted by around 10% when the lift is operated. Due to Versalift’s lightweight yet strong boom design, the platform has a safe working load of 200 kg—the same lifting capacity as the equivalent diesel-powered vehicle.
In another news related to Smith, the UK’s Department of Transport has confirmed Smith Electric Vehicles as the largest supplier of electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) to a major UK Government program.
Smith is supplying 47 of its Smith Edison vans into Phase One of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP). Smith is one of three companies that are supplying a total of 70 electric LCVs in Phase One.
Based on the Ford Transit, the Smith Edison is the world’s best-selling electric light commercial vehicle. Powered by a 90 kilowatt electric motor and leading edge lithium-ion battery pack, Edison can typically achieve 80 miles on a full charge – and can be fully recharged in as little as three hours. The LCVPP vehicles are all panel vans, but Smith also offers Edison as a minibus and a chassis cab – suitable for tipper, dropside, caged, box and refrigerated bodies.
In the UK Smith Electric Vehicles already supply such prestigious customers as Sainsbury’s, TNT, DHL, TK Maxx and Scottish & Southern Energy, fulfilling these organizations urban transport requirements and proclaiming their green credentials.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
