A boost for light-duty electric trucks

Submitted by orville on February 4, 2010
in

Smith Electric Vehicles and Proton Power Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop long-range electric service trucks.

The partnership will allow Smith Electric to install Proton Power's fuel cell range extenders into its light-duty range of electric vans and trucks. The change is estimated to increase a Smith Electric truck's average range between charges from its current 160 km (100 miles) to up to 300 km (186 miles) with the fuel cell extender.

The first prototype is expected to be unveiled in April 2010 at the Hannover Messe trade conference, with a roll-out in Germany by the end of 2010. Smith Electric and the Germany-based Proton Power have also announced plans to offer the trucks in the near future to markets in the U.K. and North America, but no time line has yet been set for those releases.

For further information: CNET