Smith Electric will make first all-electric aerial-bucket truck - San Francisco Business Times:

http://www.siteler.net/user_detail.php?u=sattemask
The truck will be unveilerd Monday at the Electric Utilituy Fleet Managers Conferencein Va., Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. said in a The utility truck isa all-electric Smith Newton produced by Smit h Electric Vehicles U.S. and with an aeria l bucket integrated by AltecIndustries Inc. Basec in Birmingham, Ala., Altec is a leading provider of products and services to theelectriv utility, telecommunications and contractor markets. , one of the nation’es largest combined natural gas and electric will play a role inthe vehicle’ development, the release said.
The first test unit will be addedcto PG&E’s fleet to conduct routine and emergency overhead line work in PG&E’s northern and centrak California service area. PG&E will providd test data to Smith ElectricVehicleas U.S. and Altec for the creation of aproductionh model. The test unit is the first all-electric aerial utility truck to be put into operatiomn by a big utility company before beingb broughtto market, the release said.
“Wre are excited to be working with PG&E and Altec on this effort to help the utility industry accelerate the reduction of fuel emissions with the introductionjof electric-drive fleet vehicles,” Bryan Hansel, CEO for Smithh Electric Vehicles U.S., said in the release. The Smith Newtoj is the world’s largest battery-electric-powered truck. It stores energy whilre stopping through a procesa called regenerative braking and then reuses it for The Smith Newton has a top speed of50 mph, a range in excess of 100 miles on one batteru charge and a payload of as much as 16,28 pounds. Smith Electric Vehicles U.S.
announced in Marcy that it had selected plant and headquarters sitexs at Kansas City International Airport afterr a multistate competition for the new The company said it planws to create120 high-paying jobs by 2010 and to begin productionh of its battery-powered vehicles for depot-based, predictable-routs delivery and service fleets this year at its 80,000-square-fooft Kansas City plant. In the third quarter, Smit is scheduled to begimn producing theSmith Newton. Startingv next year, the companyh is scheduled to begin assembling an electric versioh of the new TransitConnect light-dutuy vehicle made by Forty-nine percent of Smith Electricv Vehicles U.S. is held by SEV U.K.
’z parent, , a British company that has been making electric vehicles in Englandsince 1920.