The world’s leading commercial electric vehicle manufacturer has secured an order for 100 zero emission vans and trucks for the Republic of Ireland. Smith Electric Vehicles will deliver 100 of its Newton and Edison vehicles, in its largest fleet order to date. Replacing 100 diesel powered commercial vehicles with these battery powered vans and trucks will save an estimated 760,000kg in carbon dioxide exhaust emissions each year.

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, Ray Keeley and David Mullen of Smith Electric Vehicles Ireland, with the Smith Newton zero emission truck.

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, said: “We chose to establish our first partnership with an independent distributor in Ireland purely on a commercial basis, because of the demand we are seeing from Irish-based fleet operators.

“There are tens of thousands of vans and trucks in Ireland that spend their entire working lives in congested urban areas. This stop-start environment is when the diesel engine is at its least efficient and most polluting, making a compelling argument for replacing these vehicles with our zero emission products.”

Smith Electric Vehicles, based in North East England, manufactures a range of new technology electric vans and trucks. These commercial electric vehicles are capable of speeds of up to 80km/hr (50mph) and a range on one battery charge of up to 240km (150 miles). They are designed for intra-city applications, such as retail and distribution, post and parcel delivery, logistics and utilities work.

The Irish order, destined for private and public sector fleet operators, will be sold and supported through a new independent distributor, Smith Electric Vehicles Ireland. The distributor has already taken delivery of the first vehicles and the rest will be supplied in a staged build programme during 2008.

The Irish distributor is a partnership between green vehicle retailer Ray Keeley and commercial vehicle importer David Mullen.

Ray Keeley said: “I have been working with Kevin Harkin and Smith Electric Vehicles for over two years now and know that the potential market for zero emission commercial vehicles in Ireland and Northern Ireland is huge.

“Typically we see opportunities to replace between 10 per cent and 40 per cent of a fleet operator’s vehicles – those vans and trucks that work in relatively low mileage, urban applications.

“We are already in talks with a range of major fleet operators, from large companies to public sector organisations, and we expect to fill sales orders for the first 100 vehicles very quickly.”

The Edison is based on the iconic Ford Transit body shell - but is one hundred per cent battery powered. It has a 90 kilowatt motor, providing fast acceleration and a top speed of 50mph. Leading edge batteries produce a range of up to 120 miles on one charge. It is the only high performance electric vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of under 3,500kg. This is crucial as it means that anyone with a regular driving licence can operate the vehicle.

The Smith Newton is based on the Avia truck chassis and is the world's largest high performance electric truck, weighing in with a GVW of between 7,500kg and 12,000kg. The high performance batteries and a 120 kilowatt motor quickly propel the vehicle up to its top speed of 50mph. In fact, Newton can accelerate from 0-30mph faster than the equivalent diesel-powered truck.

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