ELECTRIC trucks created in Washington, by Tyne & Wear are today on the roads of Washington DC.

Four major US corporations and two utility companies took delivery of the Smith Newton, the largest road-going electric truck in North America. Coca-Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) are the first Newton customers in the USA. 

• Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• Coca-Cola
• Staples
• Frito-Lay
• AT&T
• Kansas City Power & Light

The trucks, conceived by Smith Electric Vehicles in North East England, were handed over at an official ceremony at the seat of power in the USA, Capitol Hill.

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.”

Powered by the latest Lithium-Ion batteries and a 120kw electric motor, the Smith Newton has a top speed of 50mph (80km) and a range in excess of 100 miles (160km) 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 by Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation, based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Missouri Senator Kit Bond, who hosted the launch event, said: “These next generation electric vehicles Smith is producing demonstrate exactly the kind of technology we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil. 

“Missouri is a growing leader in exciting new battery technology, making it an ideal partner for all-electric vehicle manufacturing.” 

The Smith Newton is emissions-free, runs without noise or vibration, and actually reclaims electric energy during stop-start urban operations, through regenerative braking. 

The Smith Newton has a top speed of 50 mph, a range on one battery charge in excess of 100 miles. Three models are produced with gross vehicle weights of 7,500kg, 10,000kg and 12,000kg, providing a payload of up to 7,300kg.

Smith Newton Fact Sheet

Motor:                 120 kw Induction Motor
Batteries:             80-120kwh Lithium-Ion Iron Phosphate Battery Pack
Payload:              (7,392-16,280 lbs)
Gross Weight:      7,500kg, 10,000kg or 12,000kg (16,535 lbs, 23,148 lbs or 26,455 lbs)
Range:                In excess of 100 miles
Top Speed:          50mph
Battery Charger: On-board battery charger - can be recharged at any commercial or industrial premises
Full Battery Recharge: 6-8 hours

About Tanfield Group Plc:

The Tanfield Group Plc is the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of road-going commercial electric vehicles and aerial work platforms. Tanfield is headquartered in Washington, Tyne & Wear, with operations in Europe, Scandinavia, North America, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa. It has two main divisions:

Smith Electric Vehicles was founded in 1920 and acquired by Tanfield in October 2004. Following its acquisition, Smith has developed into a world leader in new technology electric vans and trucks with greatly enhanced performance, speed and range capabilities. This makes them attractive for all fleet operators in large towns, cities and closed industrial environments. For the first time, these fleet operators have economically viable, zero emission alternatives to using diesel vans and trucks. Smith has an unrivalled UK-wide service and support network, which already maintains over 5,000 vehicles for major fleet operators. www.smithelectricvehicles.com

Powered Access contains two of the world’s most established aerial work platform brands, UpRight Powered Access and Snorkel International. UpRight is the UK’s biggest manufacturer of self-propelled aerial work platforms (also known as “cherrypickers”, “mobile elevating work platforms”, “aerial lifts”, etc). UpRight has assembly facilities in the UK and USA, with products sold through a strong network of over 200 independent, full-service distributors across Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. Snorkel, acquired in August 2007, has significant manufacturing capabilities along with strong sales and distribution, in North America and Australia.

Tanfield has successfully extended its powered access product range and is now one of only three “full line” aerial lift manufacturers to have a significant global footprint in both the North America and EMEA regions, in what is a $7bn market.