Smith Electric Vehicles signs LOI for Joint Venture in Taiwan; 5,000 vehicles in first 3 years
22 August 2013
Medium-duty electric truck manufacturer Smith Electric Vehicles has signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture with Taikang Technology Corporation in Taiwan. Taikang Technology Corporation, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in Taiwan, has twenty-five years of automotive experience and has expertise in upfitting specialized municipal commercial vehicles.
Smith Electric and Taikang Technology Corporation intend to enter into a definitive licensing agreement, which will cover the assembly and distribution of all-electric vehicles in Taiwan, opening up an important new market for Smith Electric.
The vehicles will be Smith Electric branded and the joint venture will help Smith Electric to strengthen and further build its global manufacturing presence. The JV’s first three years of production is anchored by a 5,000-vehicle commitment, including transformation of a significant portion of the country’s municipal garbage truck fleet.
The initial trucks will be Newton and Edison model vehicles configured for garbage pick-up and transport. Smith Electric will have the sole sourcing and procurement rights for its proprietary Smith Drive, Smith Power and Smith Link components. Taikang Technology Corporation has been working closely with a number of Taiwanese government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on transforming its fleet of refuse trucks to all-electric.
The JV agreement will also cover the creation of a new manufacturing plant in Taiwan.
Smith Electric believes that short haul urban transport is the current greatest market opportunity for fleet electrification, a market in which operator demand, logistical viability, political support and environmental benefit are all aligned.
The growing demand for fleet transformation through electrification is driven by Smith Electric’s customers in recognition of the significant economic and environmental benefits of short haul fleet electrification, according to the company. Medium-duty gas and diesel trucks are expensive to operate and are one of the biggest contributors to urban pollution. These vehicles typically travel on fixed routes of fewer than 100 miles in a single day, and are based in a centralized depot, making them ideal for conversion.
Customers who work with Smith Electric to transform their fleets save an estimated 70% annually on fuel and maintenance during the life of the vehicle and eliminate all vehicle-based emissions, according to Smith.
This is a vast expansion, as Smith only has 700 trucks on the road at the moment:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/06/smith-20130612.html
They should start to get real economies of scale.
Posted by: Davemart | 22 August 2013 at 06:27 AM
This is a common sense JV to promote the use of e-trucks. More should follow?
Posted by: HarveyD | 22 August 2013 at 09:30 AM
More power to 'em. BUT trucks are a bet on a strong consumer economy (deliveries). Where are my wheels? I'd be happy with three if they'd get me 200 miles or so with a modest load in all weather.
Posted by: E-Biker | 22 August 2013 at 10:55 PM
It is coming but you may have to wait another 7-10 years.
Posted by: HarveyD | 23 August 2013 at 09:44 AM
@HarveyD:
The economics of delivery trucks are about the best in the whole field of vehicle electrification, as they tend to have predictable routes and companies can amortise the purchase price as long as fuel and maintenance are cheaper, which they are.
Especially in Europe for runs of less then 100 miles or so the economics are great.
Posted by: Davemart | 23 August 2013 at 10:22 AM