A battery powered, all electric utility truck with an aerial device has been produced by Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation in association with Altec Industries Inc.
The partners, who introduced the prototype at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg Virginia, will send the first test unit to the fleet of the Pacific Gas and Electricity Company to conduct routine and emergency overhead line work in the northern and central California service area. The company will provide test data to Smith Electric and Altec for the creation of the production model.
This is the first time that an all-electric aerial utility truck has been put into operation by a major utility provider and speaks volumes about the success of the Smith Newton – which is the world’s largest battery powered electric truck.
It comes with a 120kW induction motor and a lithium-ion battery pack capable of a range in excess of 100 miles and a payload up to 16,280lbs. The full battery recharge takes six-eight hours. It has a top speed of 50mph and the Altec AT37-G allows for electric utility line maintenance and installation with a maximum height of 37.8ft.
Smith Electric is focused on production of battery electric powered vehicles for depot based predictable route delivery and service fleets. The trucks will be assembled at the company’s 80,000sq ft Kansas City plant.
