Smith Electric Vehicles Collaborates with Ford Motor Company to Build Electric Vans
Smith Electric
Smith Electric Vehicles, the leading manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles, recently announced an electric vehicle development collaboration with Ford Motor Company. Smith Electric Vehicles, a trading division of The Tanfield Group Plc, will work with Ford to introduce a battery-electric light van, the first vehicle in the company’s broad electrification strategy for the North American market which was announced at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. This vehicle will be based on the European-designed Ford Transit Connect which goes on sale in North America this year.
The vehicle, which Smith will assemble in North America, will have a range of up to 100 miles on a full charge, without compromising the Transit Connect’s superior driving experience. It will operate very similarly to a conventional light van, but with smoother acceleration, less noise and zero emissions. The vehicle will be fully branded as a Ford product and will go on sale through selected Ford dealerships in North America in 2010.
Darren Kell, CEO of The Tanfield Group Plc, said:
”We are proud to be delivering the first vehicle in Ford’s new electrification strategy, with the battery-electric Ford Transit Connect.
“This enhances the Ford commercial vehicle portfolio with a zero-emission light van that is cost-effective, gets the job done and does not compromise Ford’s high standards for exceptional driving experience. It offers fleet owners the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, improve city air quality and make a positive step towards our national energy security.
“The partnership with Ford and development of the battery-electric Ford Transit Connect demonstrates that Smith Electric Vehicles is the industry leader in commercial electric vehicles.”
Tanfield will be wholly responsible for supplying and integrating the power train, battery pack and control systems into the existing vehicle chassis envelope, with engineering support from Ford.
Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president, Product Development, said:
Our collaboration with Smith will result in the first battery-electric vehicle in Ford’s electrification strategy and positions Ford at the vanguard of the commercial electric vehicle industry.The collaborative approach adopted for delivering the battery-electric Ford Transit Connect ensures the most efficient route to market, through shared investment and expertise.
Smith already works with Ford in Europe to produce commercial electric vehicles on the Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect chassis.
Short URL: https://greencarmagazine.net/?p=22
Posted by admin on Jun 18 2009. Filed under Electric, Ford, Smith Electric Vehicles, Tech Sector. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
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