Smith Electric Vehicles Appoints Distributor for Hong Kong & Macau

Submitted by orville on October 22, 2009
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Electric vans, trucks and people carriers will soon be on the streets in Hong Kong and Macau.

Wallace Harper & Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Hong Kong Ltd, has signed a distribution agreement with Smith Electric Vehicles in the UK. The contract appoints Wallace Harper as the exclusive distributor for Smith's world-leading electric commercial vehicles in Hong Kong and Macau.

Peter Goh, Managing Director of Sime Darby HK Ltd, said: "These pure electric vehicles are zero emission at the point of use, helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve urban air quality.

"Electric commercial vehicles provide a low carbon, zero emission, alternative to conventional vans and trucks, without compromising on performance. We envisage these electric vehicles replacing substantial numbers of traditional diesel vehicles in major towns and cities."

Designed for urban operations, the Smith vehicles have a top speed of 50mph and a range on a single battery charge of up to 100 miles. The Smith Edison van and minibus are based on the Ford Transit chassis and are produced in collaboration with Ford of Europe. The Smith Newton is the world's largest road-going electric truck, available in 7,500kg, 10,000kg and 12,000kg models. Both Edison and Newton have been on sale in the UK and Europe for over two years, with customers including DHL, TNT and the Royal Mail.

Wallace Harper, which is also the exclusive Ford distributor for Hong Kong, has already ordered its first fleet of vehicles from Smith, including electric trucks, vans and minibuses. The vehicles, due for delivery early next year, are destined for major fleet operators across the public and private sectors in Hong Kong and Macau.

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, said: "Hong Kong is driving forward a strategy to be a leader in the adoption of electric vehicles, as a measure to improve urban air quality and reduce carbon emissions from road transport.

"It is a key market for Smith, so we are delighted to have found the strongest possible partner in Wallace Harper and the Sime Darby Group."

Source: Smith Electric