Dear Reader

LCV2009 was the best exhibition we have attended this year and of course Smith had the biggest presence of any vehicle manufacturer.

We exhibited seven vehicles in total, representing the entire range from the Smith Ampere to the Newton and including a couple of new passenger vehicles. You can find full report with photos below.

This month we also bring you details of how the UK Government can help pay for your EV charging points!

More good news is that we now have a new product overview video available on our website - you can access it at www.SmithElectricVehicles.com/video.asp.

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

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director, Smith Electric Vehicles

SMITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES UNVEILS NEW PRODUCTS AT LCV2009

Visitors to LCV2009 had the first opportunity to test drive our new seven-seat electric people carriers. We also unveiled a new electric executive minibus.

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, said: "These two vehicles demonstrate how easily we can translate our EV technology for moving goods into EVs that move people."

The zero emission Smith Ampere people carrier is an eight seat passenger vehicle with a projected range of 100 miles (160km) on a full battery charge and a top speed of 70mph (113km/h).

The Smith Ampere people carrier and Smith Edison on display at LCV2009

Smith Electric Vehicles has produced commercial EVs for over 80 years and is Ford's official collaborator on commercial EVs in Europe and North America. The two companies launched the people carrier as a concept vehicle at this year's Geneva Motor Show. However, LCV2009 was the first opportunity for potential customers to experience the vehicle in motion, on the test track at Millbrook Proving Grounds.

The new all electric 8-seater executive minibus for Green Urban Transport - the first prototype will be used for trials in London, including a premium door-to-door shuttle service for a major retailer

Smith also unveiled a new eight-seat battery electric minibus that will go into service with a major London retailer. It has a top speed of 50mph and a range of up to 80 miles on a full charge.

Working with new company Green Urban Transport, Smith has developed the unique executive minibus based on its Smith Edison electric van, which uses the Ford Transit chassis. Green Urban Transport will deploy the first prototype vehicle on trials with a number of companies, including offering a premium door-to-door shuttle service for customers of a major retailer in West London.

Green Urban Transport will offer a luxurious executive shuttle service across London

Andy MacLachlan, CEO of Green Urban Transport said: "This is a world-first for electric vehicles, in an area where we see substantial growth opportunities.

"Our passenger transport model offers clean, environmentally friendly travel solutions that will suit a broad spectrum of applications and companies."

The two new vehicles were on display alongside the full range of Smith's electric vans and trucks, which is the largest range of commercial electric vehicles in the world.

The Smith Ampere is a light van based on the Ford Transit Connect chassis and the Smith Edison is based on the Ford Transit chassis. Both are produced in collaboration with Ford of Europe. The Smith Newton is the world's largest road-going electric truck, with kerb weights of 7,500kg, 10,000kg and 12,000kg. Edison and Newton have a proven range in urban operations of 100 miles and a top speed of 50mph. Ampere has a top speed of 70mph and a range of 100 miles on a full charge.

FUNDING FOR EV CHARGING POINTS NOW AVAILABLE

UK fleet operators can now access funding towards the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme (IGP) offers companies cash towards refueling infrastructure for all low carbon vehicles, including your EV charging. The deadline for applications for the funding window is December 9^th.

IGP is administered by Cenex, the centre of excellence for low carbon technologies. The IGP team at Cenex is happy to take email or phone enquiries about the programme and will be running Information Days in October and November - check the Cenex website for dates and venues: www.cenex.co.uk/igp.

Alternatively, please contact Jay Mistry, Projects Support Officer, on 01509 635750 or email jay.mistry@cenex.co.uk.

SMITH LEADS CHARGE TO BETTER ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The investment will be used to develop the popular Smith Edison initially, but there is potential for a crossover into other electric cars and trucks

World-first technology that will increase electric vehicle range by up to 20% is to be developed in North East England.

Smith Electric Vehicles is working on a new ultra-efficient electric drive line, along with smarter, more energy efficient ancillary systems, such as heating and air conditioning. Combining all these elements together, Smith's engineers believe they can improve the range of its electric vans by up to 20 miles on a full battery charge. Current maximum range is around 100 miles for urban operations.

Darren Kell, CEO of The Tanfield Group Plc, which owns Smith Electric Vehicles, said: "This is the first time any company has taken on the development of better auxiliary systems for electric vehicles. We are undertaking pioneering work that we expect will deliver range-extending capabilities suited to all electric cars and commercial vehicles."

Tanfield is part of a consortium that has secured £1.4m in matched funding towards the project, under the UK Government's Ultra Efficient Systems programme, administered by the Technology Strategy Board.

The £2.8m investment will fund the development of three sub-systems and integrate them all into the Smith Edison, a pure electric version of the Ford Transit van produced in collaboration with Ford of Europe. However Tanfield believes there is substantial crossover potential for the auxiliary systems, into other electric cars, vans and trucks.

The primary objectives are to optimise drive train efficiency while also reducing parasitic losses and taking out weight. The core of the project is a new high efficiency motor, coupled with smart two-speed transmission and managed by a central vehicle systems controller.

The second phase will involve engineers developing the world's first auxiliary systems designed specifically for electric vehicles - until now, EV manufacturers have adopted solutions from internal combustion engine vehicles, which are less energy efficient, heavier and poorly packaged. Smith's new high voltage systems for air conditioning, power steering and heating will reduce drain on the traction batteries, thereby extending the vehicle's range on a single charge.

The third element of the programme is to develop a smart central controller that co-ordinates all the vehicle's systems.

Market research indicates that the Smith Edison in its current form could replace up to 15% of the UK's current van parc - an estimated 450,000 vehicles. An increase in range of 20% will increase the addressable market by 10%, or a further 3-5,000 vehicles per year.

Darren Kell said: "This development will maintain our position as a world leader in electric vehicle technology - and the translatable nature of the systems also offers us a substantial export opportunity."