Sunday, January 24 2010
Smith Electric Vehicles will have an important part in UK government programme to put 100 electric vans on the United Kingdom’s roadways. If the initial trials prove to be successful, it could result in far-reaching subsidies for the obtaining of battery-powered vans for the public sector.
Van insurance from The Van Insurer
Smith Electric Vehicles will be the supplier of the United Kingdom’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme that is being put into action by the Department of Transport. The Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme gives subsidies to certain sections of the public sector for the obtaining of electric vans and low carbon vans.
Smith Electric Vans is one of the only three electric and low carbon van suppliers that are a part of the programme and they will bring to the project the Smith Edison, a van that is designed according to the Ford Transit panel van. The Smith Edison has been available for purchase for over two years; some of their customers are the Royal Mail, the Government Car and Despatch Agency, and the Environment Agency. The Smith Edison can travel up to 100 miles on a fully charged battery and can go up to 50mph.
The Department of Transport will give grant funding towards the purchase of the electric vans covering the incremental price of a low carbon van compared to a conventional van. The initial phase of the programme will be the three suppliers providing a maximum of 150 electric vehicles to 12 different public sector entities.