Smith's first electric trucks include boom-lifts

On 28 July the first Smith Newton electric trucks were delivered to four major US corporations and two utility companies. These included the truck-mounted boom lift for Pacific Gas & Electric, with an Altec boom and another similar truck for utility company Kansas Power & Light, plus conventional trucks for Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, AT&T and Staples.

The trucks, developed by Smith Electric Vehicles in North East England, were handed over at an official ceremony at Capitol Hill USA.

Powered by the latest Lithium-Ion batteries and a 120kw electric motor, the Smith Newton has a top speed of 50 mph (80 km) and a range in excess of 100 miles (160 km) on a full charge. It can be recharged in six hours.

Newton was launched in the UK by Smith Electric Vehicles in 2006. It is produced in North America under license by Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp, based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Smith Newton is emissions-free, runs without noise or vibration, and actually reclaims electric energy during stop-start urban operations, through regenerative braking.

Darren Kell, CEO of The Tanfield Group Plc, which owns Smith Electric Vehicles, said, "The electric vehicle technology delivered to these customers today can readily be delivered to fleets in every major town and city in North America.

"The Smith Newton provides depot-based truck fleets with a realistic, zero emissions transport solution that both lowers greenhouse gas emissions and helps improve air quality in our urban centres."