Despite only launching our Edison and Newton vehicles earlier this year in Europe, we are already receiving an average of 25 enquiries per week from major fleet operators in the USA. We intend to capitalise on this enormous latent interest by establishing an initial facility that can build in excess of 1,000 vehicles per year, followed by a purpose built facility for 2009 with installed capcity of up to 5000 units pa. for North America.

We are confident that this will replicate the success enjoyed by our new technology electric vehicles in Europe. The USA will almost undoubtedly be the single biggest market in the world for urban electric vans and trucks, representing our largest sales opportunity.

Smith Electric Vehicles has adopted a successful assembly model for the UK and Europe, where it sources well established vehicle shells and chassis’ from major automotive manufacturers.

In the UK, Edison is a sub-3,500kg GVW (7,716lbs) van, based on the Ford Transit shell. Newton is a larger truck, which comes in configurations from 7,500kg to 12,000kg GVW (16,535lbs to 26,455lbs).

All of our products are world firsts – no one else can produce a 7.5t, 9t or 12t all-electric commercial vehicle that can achieve top speeds of up to 50mph (80km/hr) and a range on one battery charge of up to 150 miles (240km).

We are in advanced negotiations for a turnkey facility. The first US vehicles will roll off the production lines - and onto the roads of American cities - in early 2008.