New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Eire goes green with Smith Electric
Irish Republic electricity company, ESB Networks, has taken delivery of 10 zero emission vans and trucks from Smith Electric Vehicles. They are the first batch of what is the single largest order of EVs ever placed in Ireland. ESB currently has around 50 electric vehicles in its 2,700 vehicle fleet and these latest additions will be used in Dublin, Cork, Dundalk, Waterford and Portlaoise.Supplied by Electric Vehicles Ireland, Eire's sole importer of Smith Electric Vehicles, they are the first batch of what is the single largest order of EVs ever placed in Ireland. ESB currently has about 50 electric vehicles in its 2,700 vehicle fleet and these latest additions will be used in Dublin, Cork, Dundalk, Waterford and Portlaoise.
The order consists of a mixture of Edison 3.5 tonne vans — based on the Ford Transit — and Newton 10-tonners. Smith Electric's Edison is driven by a 90kw electric motor which gets its power from the latest generation lithium-ion batteries from specialised manufacturer Valence. Top speed is limited to 50mph (85 km/h) for urban use and with a deft right foot a range of up to 100 miles (160km) is achievable on a single charge.
“These vans are doing the exact same work that their diesel equivalents can do in urban areas,” said John Seale, investment manager of ESB Networks Fleet & Equipment.
