And there’s the key:
After a multi-state competition for the “new” business, Smith chose Kit Bond’s state; Missouri for its first American Smith Electric Vehicles plant; an 80,000 square foot plant in Kansas City, MO.
(The company is only “new” in America – - it has been building electric vehicles in the U.K. since the 1920′s, and supplies electric delivery trucks to grocery store chains and delivery companies. The Tanfield Group is the parent company.)
The Economic Development Corps of Kansas City, Missouri had more inquiries about the Smith Electric Vehicles than any company in 4 years.
“First of all, they represent a market opportunity that just hasn’t presented itself here before,”according to its director. “And No. 2, we’re in a recession. Companies are desperate for business.”
Perhaps it is no accident that Smith chose two Southern states to collaborate with in producing its electric vehicles here? We need Republican votes to pass legislation needed to grow the electric vehicle infrastructure that supports EV development, just like previous generations built the railroads and the highway systems.
“Washington is making many decisions on the future—emissions, climate change—and this is where the story needs to be told. What better place to showcase the future of transportation?” said a spokesman for the event, Sean McCabe.
So Missouri will build EVs, and Alabama is to put the extras on:
Alabama-based Altec Industries Inc is to partner with Smith to build America’s first all-electric utility truck with an aerial device. Altec is a leading provider of products and services to the electric utility and contractor markets; in this case it integrated the aerial bucket.
PG&E came all the way from Northern California to take possession of this gorgeous new blue electric line worker truck for fixing downed lines. This first test unit will be added to PG&E’s fleet, playing a critical role in the commercial development of this vehicle; the first all-electric aerial utility truck.
The Altec component is a telescopic articulating device used for electric utility line maintenance and installation with a maximum height of 37 feet and reach of 28 feet.
The Smith Newton is the world’s largest battery-electric-powered truck with a 120 kW induction motor and a lithium-ion battery. It uses regenerative braking to store energy during stopping. It is fuel emissions-free, runs without noise or vibration, and can manage a payload of up to 16,280 lbs.
Its maximum speed is 50 miles per hour, making this truck ideal for neighborhood utility routes. The 100-mile range of the Smith Newton will be put to the test by PG&E.
The battery can be recharged to full capacity within eight hours, which is perfect “for trucks that spend all night in company depots.”
But gas vehicles need to go out dancing all night, as you know, while you sleep. That’s why electric vehicles are so impractical and will just never work in this country. (Except for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Kansas City Power & Light, Coca-Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay and AT&T.)
Via PRS Newswire
Image from Vi Photography
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About Susan Kraemer
“I am particularly proud of the role my home state of Missouri is playing in this vision for a clean energy future.” Yes sure an lets forget about the Republican role of voting against Ev’s and Solar and so on !
EV RULES ! DOWN WITH THE OIL LOBBY ! EV + SOLAR = FREEDOM !
“I am particularly proud of the role my home state of Missouri is playing in this vision for a clean energy future.” Yes sure an lets forget about the Republican role of voting against Ev’s and Solar and so on !
EV RULES ! DOWN WITH THE OIL LOBBY ! EV + SOLAR = FREEDOM !
I opened this article to read about the Smith electric vehicle … it’s unfortunate that I also had to read through your ridiculous partisan ranting in order to get to the details.
Republicans are not against environmental stewardship. What they are against is taxing U.S. businesses into bankruptcy in order to fund government handouts to every “green” start-up that comes begging. Or paying for half of the installation cost to everyone who wants to plop a solar array on their roof. Republicans believe in the ability of the consumer and the free market to determine which companies and technologies will succeed and which will fail. They believe that the consumer is the best person to spend his or her hard-earned dollar … not the government.
I opened this article to read about the Smith electric vehicle … it’s unfortunate that I also had to read through your ridiculous partisan ranting in order to get to the details.
Republicans are not against environmental stewardship. What they are against is taxing U.S. businesses into bankruptcy in order to fund government handouts to every “green” start-up that comes begging. Or paying for half of the installation cost to everyone who wants to plop a solar array on their roof. Republicans believe in the ability of the consumer and the free market to determine which companies and technologies will succeed and which will fail. They believe that the consumer is the best person to spend his or her hard-earned dollar … not the government.
I opened this article to read about the Smith electric vehicle … it’s unfortunate that I also had to read through your ridiculous partisan ranting in order to get to the details.
Republicans are not against environmental stewardship. What they are against is taxing U.S. businesses into bankruptcy in order to fund government handouts to every “green” start-up that comes begging. Or paying for half of the installation cost to everyone who wants to plop a solar array on their roof. Republicans believe in the ability of the consumer and the free market to determine which companies and technologies will succeed and which will fail. They believe that the consumer is the best person to spend his or her hard-earned dollar … not the government.
@ mr sinister: Sadly, Republicans in the Senate do have a consistent history of votes against the environment, so you need to let your Senator know if you are a pro-environment Republican – that they need to change.
All 50 roll call votes on environment and renewable energy back to 1983 are linked to the roll call votes, so you can check my claim yourself:
http://www.matternetwork.com/2008/9/mccains-50-votes-against-clean.cfm
Hope you enjoy driving home today on the highway system that government built by seeing the future need for it. Do I understand your great grandfather paid for the road you drive on singlehandedly with his hard earned dollars? Of course not.
In the same way, we now need to agree on some collective spending on our future common good – by switching to new energy sources – so your great great grandchildren can enjoy their hard earned dollars as you do now.
Otherwise, things look very grim for them.
@ mr sinister: Sadly, Republicans in the Senate do have a consistent history of votes against the environment, so you need to let your Senator know if you are a pro-environment Republican – that they need to change.
All 50 roll call votes on environment and renewable energy back to 1983 are linked to the roll call votes, so you can check my claim yourself:
http://www.matternetwork.com/2008/9/mccains-50-votes-against-clean.cfm
Hope you enjoy driving home today on the highway system that government built by seeing the future need for it. Do I understand your great grandfather paid for the road you drive on singlehandedly with his hard earned dollars? Of course not.
In the same way, we now need to agree on some collective spending on our future common good – by switching to new energy sources – so your great great grandchildren can enjoy their hard earned dollars as you do now.
Otherwise, things look very grim for them.