US army hopes for electric car manufacturer (From The Northern Echo)

US army hopes for electric car manufacturer

10:34am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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AN electric vehicle manufacturer is to trial fuel cell technology that could double its vehicles’ range and potentially sell trucks to the US military.

North-East-based Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV), part of the Tanfield Group, will work with German fuel cell experts Proton Power Systems on installing a hydrogen fuel cell in its trucks.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project, which could see the range of an electric van doubled to 200 miles between charges.

Most vehicle manufacturers, including Nissan, see hydrogen fuel cell technology as the next stage in low-carbon vehicle development.

Under the MoU, a Smith Edison van equipped with a fuel cell that tops up its batteries could be on the market by the autumn.

Kevin Harkin, sales director for SEV, which is beased in Washington, Wearside, said: “Utilising a fuel cell range extender opens up exciting new possibilities for our electric vans and trucks.

“Enhancing the range capabilities provides a wider application for electric vehicles within large fleets.”

Thomas Melczer, chief executive of Proton Power, said: “Fuel cell range extenders are an attractive option for overcoming the current problems of electric vehicles.”

The first prototype will be unveiled at the Hannover Fair trade event in April, with the two companies already in discussions for 20 vans with the German Government- backed hydrogen and electric vehicle organisation NOW.

It also emerged yesterday that the Smith Newton truck, produced by Tanfield’s American division, Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation, has been added to the US General Services Administration (GSA) schedule.

The schedule is a list of products approved for purchase by all Federal agencies, and the US military, which spends a combined $1bn every year on GSAapproved vehicles and automotive services.

President Barack Obama recently ordered all federal agencies to measure their greenhouse gas emissions and set a plan to reduce them.

Bryan Hansel, chief executive of SEV US Corp, which was established a year ago by the Tanfield Group and US investors, said: “Smith’s addition to the GSA schedule will provide a significant new opportunity for federal agencies to reduce fleet vehicle greenhouse gas emissions and open a previously untapped market for commercial electric vehicles.

“An aggressive move into this market by the federal government will allow producers to rapidly scale up production, lowering costs throughout the industry and driving the creation of high-quality manufacturing jobs.”

SEV US Corp is 49 per cent owned by the Tanfield Group and operates a manufacturing base at Kansas City International Airport.