Dear Reader

Smith Electric Vehicles is enjoying a very strong start to 2010, as interest in our market-leading vans and trucks reaches new levels.

And we are winning accolades from industry experts - I am proud to say our Smith Edison was named What Van? Magazine's 2010 Eco Van of the Year.

Our customer base continues to grow and this month we highlight the good work of utility company Western Power & Distribution, which is using Edison vans in Plymouth and Cardiff. And Leeds City Council has ordered four Edison vans, for use in its municipal fleet across the city.

World leaders gathered just before Christmas in Copenhagen for the COP15 climate change conference. As the world's leading manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles, Smith had a strong presence - we took part in a special exhibition of low carbon vehicles and a civic parade through the city. Smith vehicles taking part included an Edison fitted with a powered access platform, another world-first for our electric van!

Remember, if you are thinking about converting your fleet to electric you can find out more at our website at www.smithelectricvehicles.com.

Best regards

Kevin Harkin,
Sales Director,
Smith Electric Vehicles

SMITH EDISON NAMED ECO VAN OF THE YEAR

Here is what the judges said: "…the Edison is based on Ford's Transit; a tried and tested product familiar to hundreds of thousands of van drivers and a point very much in Edison's favour."

"With no internal combustion engine, Edison produces no exhaust emissions at all. It runs quietly, which makes it ideal for early morning or late night deliveries and it's extraordinarily cheap to operate. The fuel cost is measured in coppers rather than pounds. The batteries are sealed, the lack of a diesel engine means that there's no need to change the oil and filter every so often."

"Set off in an Edison and you'll quickly discover that there's no lack of acceleration and that the ride and handling are pretty much the same as that of an ordinary Transit. So is the cab interior."

"Smith…has established a UK-wide network of 15 depots and 130 mobile engineers. While the technology it employs is basically reliable, it is not something that local garages deal with regularly; so it's reassuring to see this level of support in place."

These are highly regarded awards in the commercial vehicle industry, so we are delighted that the Smith Edison is now recognised as the UK's leading green van!

You can read more about it in What Van? magazine or online at www.whatvan.co.uk.

WESTERN POWER GREENS ITS FLEET WITH SMITH EDISON

The award-winning Smith Edison at work for WPD

Electricity company Western Power Distribution (WPD) is greening its fleet, after switching some of its service and maintenance vans to battery power.

The electricity distribution network operator has deployed electric vans in Plymouth and Cardiff. If trials of the first two vehicles are successful, WPD will look at introducing more battery-powered vans into its fleet.

John Brooks, WPD's Transport Manager said: "We take our environmental responsibility very seriously.

WPD has purchased Smith Edison vans for trials in Plymouth and Cardiff

"We are constantly looking for innovative technology that can reduce our carbon footprint and electric vehicles are one solution. The first two vans have settled in well and we continue to evaluate their performance. If they meet all our expectations, we will look at rolling out more electric vans across our fleet."

The Smith Edison panel van is a pure electric version of the Ford Transit that is driven by an electric motor and powered by leading edge lithium-ion batteries. Designed and built in the UK by Smith Electric Vehicles, Edison has a top speed of 50mph and a range of up to 80 miles on a single battery charge. A full recharge takes six to eight hours.

John added: "Electric vans are ideal for our fleet, as a large proportion of our service and maintenance vehicles travel well under 100 miles a day.

"The Edison is easy to drive, costs just pennies per mile to run and compared to a typical diesel van, every Edison will save us hundreds of kilos in carbon emissions each year."

SMITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON SHOW AT CLIMATE CONFERENCE

Battery-powered vans and trucks from Smith Electric Vehicles were on display at the world's major climate change conference.

Another world first: the Smith Edison as a pure electric van-mounted boom lift

Smith exhibited both its Edison electric van and Newton electric truck in Copenhagen, as part of the COP15 Climate Conference.

A Smith Edison and a Smith Newton, the world's largest road-going electric truck, took part in a special low emission vehicle showcase and parade in Copenhagen city centre. A second Edison van was on display at the main entrance to the Bright Green fair in Copenhagen.

The Smith Edison went to Copenhagen for the COP15 Climate Change Conference

Among the Smith vehicles is the world's first fully electric van-mounted aerial work platform. Van-mounted aerial lifts are widely used in the utility sector, to safely lift up workers for maintenance work at height.

The vehicle utilises the Smith Edison electric van chassis, with a lift mechanism from Danish company Time. It is the first van in Europe where both the lifting mechanism and the vehicle are electrically powered, with both running off Edison's 40kwh lithium-ion battery pack. The van has a 100 mile (160km) range on a full charge, which is impacted by around 10% when the lift is operated.

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, said: "Van and truck-mounted lifts are ideal electric vehicles.

"They are largely used by utility companies and municipal authorities and typically service a small geographic area, so the range of 160km is more than sufficient.

"And because they often operate in urban areas, a zero emission vehicle with a near-silent motor is a big advantage."

The first two electric van-mounts are already sold, to utility companies in the UK.

FOUR NEW EDISON VANS FOR LEEDS COUNCIL

Leeds Council have placed an order for four award-winning Smith Edison vans

Leeds City Council has ordered four Smith Edison electric vans for its municipal fleet.

The council has placed its first order as part of the city's commitment to the Lower Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement Programme (LCVPP). Leeds is one of the six local authorities involved in the Department for Transport's national programme, which aims to introduce low carbon vehicles into public sector fleets.

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, said: "Leeds is a progressive, forward-thinking council that fully understands the benefits electric commercial vehicles can deliver.

"The medium-duty truck market is the real sweet spot for electric commercial vehicles and extending the class of vehicles we offer is an aggressive move to increase the addressable market with a proven vehicle platform."

"We are delighted to be supplying the authority's first electric vans and look forward to working closely with the council in the future."

Councillor Richard Brett, leader of the council and executive board member responsible for commercial transport said: "We're really pleased to be involved in this pilot scheme, which gives us the opportunity to investigate new vehicle technology without the financial risks.

"The council made a commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by signing the Nottingham Declaration in 2006, and since then measures to reduce carbon emissions in transport have been integral to a number of council plans and policies. This project will help to promote more sustainable modes of travel, and hopefully lead to better availability of alternative fuelled vehicles for the general market."