PG&E, Coca-Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay & AT&T take delivery of EV trucks

Four Fortune 500 companies and two utility companies took delivery of the first in a series of next generation all-electric commercial vehicles in an automotive industry changing event hosted at the Capitol Reflecting Pool on the National Mall by Missouri Senator Kit Bond and attended by Carol M. Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Coca-Cola Enterprises, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T and Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) were presented with the keys to all new Smith Newtons, the world's largest commercially available battery-electric-powered truck. The Newton is the first commercial all-electric truck to achieve new vehicle emissions certification in California.

"The next generation electric vehicles Smith is producing demonstrates exactly the kind of technology we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil," Senator Bond said. "Missouri is a growing leader in exciting new battery technology making it an ideal partner for all-electric vehicle manufacturing."

"AT&T, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Frito-Lay, KCP&L, PG&E and Staples are demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability and green fleet vehicle technologies that will drive the future of the automotive industry," said Bryan Hansel, CEO of Smith. "As more depot-based truck fleet operators come on board and adopt all-electric vehicles, battery technology will advance and manufacturing costs will be driven down, spurring new growth in the commercial electric vehicle industry, creating new high-tech jobs, and reducing fuel emissions and our dependency on foreign oil."

The Smith Newton is fuel-emissions-free, runs without noise or vibration, and actually stores electric energy during stopping through a process called regenerative braking. The Smith Newton has a top speed of 50 mph, a range on one battery charge in excess of 100 miles and a payload of over 16,000 lbs.

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. (Smith), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a privately held company owned by Private Investors Management and The Tanfield Group Plc, based in the United Kingdom. Tanfield is the parent company of Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K., the leading manufacturer of zero-emissions battery-electric commercial vehicles in Europe since the 1920s.

Smith Electric Vehicles has produced the Newton truck in Europe for more than three years and has sold vehicles to major fleet operators in sectors such as mail and parcel delivery, logistics, retail, highway maintenance and airports.

Smith is initially focusing production on all-electric vehicles for depot-based predictable-route delivery and service fleets, and is bringing a proven next generation electric-drive technology to the American marketplace. Smith vehicles will feature the latest in Lithium-ion battery cell technology, power management and direct drivetrains. Smith has licensed the proprietary knowledge from Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K. and has brought it to its new production facility in Kansas City, where for the first time all-electric trucks will be assembled and distributed by American workers.

Smith Newton Truck Specifications:

Motor - 120 kw Induction Motor
Battery - Lithium-Ion Batteries Payload - 7,392 lbs to 16,280 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight - 16,535 lbs, 23,148 lbs or 26,455 lbs
Range - In excess of 100 miles (one battery charge)
Top Speed - 50 mph
On-board Battery Charger
Full Battery Recharge - 6 to 8 hours