Smith electrics could benefit from cash boost
November 30, 2008 Posted by: Paul Lucas
Only an elite group of manufacturers will benefit from the UK’s £50 million Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Program, but one of them may be Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV).
The scheme, which aims to jump-start sales of low-carbon vehicles for use in public sector fleets, and is funded by the Department for Transport, has shortlisted the group among its second stage list. The company is a division of the Tanfield Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of road-using electric vans and trucks.
Under the Government plans, the majority of the funding will be put towards the procurement of lower-carbon vans. It will also conduct a smaller procurement of all-electric vans as well as a low-carbon minibus and potentially a fleet of plug-in hybrid passenger cars.
According to official figures, vans make up around 15 per cent of road transport emissions in the UK with their emissions rising more than any other form of road transport. That is why the Government has expressed a commitment to developing lower carbon options to meet public sector demand.
The program will see an initial £20million paid out for the difference between a conventional diesel van and a low carbon equivalent. Funding will begin in 2009 and will run until 2011 with a further £30 million available if the scheme proves to be a success.
The successful list of suppliers will be unveiled within the next few months.
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Filed under: Electric cars, Green cars, Latest news | Tags: Electric cars, Green cars, Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Program, Smith Electric Vehicles |
