Smith Electric Vehicles was famous for the painfully slow but much loved British milk delivery truck - a pure electric vehicle. The British comedian Benny Hill not only persuaded tough New York policemen to copy his funny salute, he wowed the world with his ironic song, "The fastest milk float in the West."
Source: BBC
Having made electric on-road vehicles for decades, Smith Electric Vehicles has now successfully expanded into the USA as an all-electric zero-emissions commercial truck manufacturer. The company licenses its proprietary technology from the Smith Electric Vehicles business in the U.K., claimed to be the world's largest manufacturer and industry leader of commercial electric vehicles. Smith U.S. produces the Smith Newton - the world's largest battery-electric-powered truck. Today, Smith vehicles feature the latest in Lithium-ion battery cell technology, power management and direct drive trains.
Smith began production of the Smith Newton at its Kansas City assembly plant in October 2009. The Smith Newton is the world's largest battery-electric-powered truck and runs without noise or vibration. It has a top speed of up to 50 mph, a range on one battery charge in excess of 100 miles and a payload of over 16,000 pounds. It is the first all-electric commercial truck to achieve new vehicle emissions certification in California.
Source: Smith Electric Vehicles
In March 31, 2010, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation (Smith) to receive $32 million in grant funding toward the production of all-electric, zero emissions commercial trucks.
Senator McCaskill stated that Smith's original DOE grant of $10 million announced on August 5, 2009 was increased by $22 million; bringing the total DOE grant funding that Smith has been selected to receive to $32 million for a nationwide vehicle electrification program.
The DOE grant will be used to help offset the company's future vehicle development costs and to incentivise Smith's customers to participate in a commercial electric vehicle demonstration program. The demonstration program will gather data on vehicles placed in service in different regions of the country and in a broad range of applications. Participating customers will receive a subsidy from the program for allowing their vehicles to be part of the demonstration fleet.
Senator McCaskill made the announcement during a press conference at Smith's assembly plant in Kansas City, Mo. "This award recognizes Smith's leadership role in building the foundation for an all-electric commercial truck industry in this country," said Senator McCaskill. "Their leadership is creating next-generation jobs and developing new green technologies that will benefit our state and nation, and I'm proud to say they're doing it right here in Missouri."
"We are very gratified and honoured to be selected for this DOE grant and want to thank our customers and employees for helping to get us where we are today," said Bryan Hansel, CEO of Smith. "Our selection to receive these additional grant funds from the DOE demonstrates their affirmation of our overall growth strategy. This grant will help us accelerate the continued development of an all-electric commercial truck industry, creating more jobs here in the U.S."
Smith's Kansas City assembly plant and corporate office currently employ approximately 50 people. The company anticipates employment to reach more than 100 by the end of the year.
In February, Smith announced plans to expand production to up to 20 regional assembly plants across the country. This de-centralized assembly strategy will provide Smith's customers with comprehensive local factory-based service and support. Smith will continue expansion in Kansas City at the company's corporate headquarters staff, through its research and development group and the assembly plant team.
"Almost one year ago today, we announced that Kansas City would be the site of our first assembly plant. Thanks to the support of our customers, our employees and policy makers, we now have the opportunity to make Smith and Kansas City a global player in the commercial electric vehicle industry," said Hansel.
Smith U.S., headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a privately held company owned by private investors, senior management and Tanfield Group PLC. Tanfield is the British parent company of the Smith U.K. division, a leading manufacturer of zero-emissions battery-electric commercial vehicles in Europe since the 1920s. Smith U.S. has tendered an offer to buy the Smith U.K. division from Tanfield. With the purchase of Smith U.K., the combined company "will create a global leader in commercial electric vehicles".
So there you have it. The US President is calling on the fastest milk float in the West to rescue America. Somewhere high above us, the ghost of Benny Hill is having another chuckle.
Also attend Future of Electric Vehicles a global event on the whole electric vehicle market, covering all forms of EVs.
