All-electric light commercial vehicles from Smith Electric Vehicles (Smith) are now eligible for a new UK Government subsidy.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has approved the Smith Edison™, for its new Plug-In Van Grant. This means that any business purchasing the Smith Edison 3.5t all-electric vehicle can now benefit from £8,000 off the list price.

Geoff Allison, Managing Director of Smith Electric Vehicles Europe Ltd, said: “We are delighted that the Smith Edison has been accepted into the Plug-In Van Grant scheme.

“This grant will help our fleet customers to achieve a faster return on investment, making the economic case for electric vans as compelling as the environmental case.”

Manufactured in Washington, Tyne & Wear, the Smith Edison approved for the Plug-In Van Grant has a gross vehicle weight of 3.5t. It is available as a panel van and as a chassis cab suitable for a diverse range of bodies, including drop side, tipper, box and refrigerated box. The vehicle has a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries, which can be fully recharged in as little as four hours.

Smith is one of seven manufacturers to have its all-electric light commercial vehicles approved for the Plug-In Van Grant. The company last week announced it had signed a letter of intent for a $25 million (£15.7m) investment and a $75m (£47.3m) joint venture with Wanxiang Group, China’s largest auto-parts maker.

Operated by shared user distribution specialist Lenham Storage, the Atego BlueTec Hybrid truck employs a Euro 5/EEV (enhanced environmentally friendly vehicle) diesel engine and an electric motor, which can power the vehicle individually or in tandem.

Depending on the application, Europe’s first series-produced hybrid truck is claimed to offer fuel consumption savings of up to 15% and a similar reduction in CO2 emissions.

Lenham Storage’s new 12-tonner is also equipped with a specially developed version of the Mercedes-Benz MSS (Motor Stop-Start) system, which boosts fuel economy by switching off the engine whenever the vehicle is in neutral and stationary for more than three seconds.

Interestingly, Lenham has also gone beyond green engine technology – specifying, for example, the wind-cheating ‘Freddie’ roof deflector and collar, from specialist Hatcher Components, on the cab. And aerodynamics also extends to the streamlined Bevan Group Bevan21 box body – complete with curved roof, tapered sides and roof-mounted rear diffuser as well as lightweight, recyclable panels.

Returning to the powertrain, the 60bhp (44kW) water-cooled electric motor offers instantly accessible maximum torque of 420Nm. It draws its energy from a high-performance lithium-ion battery that is charged mainly during braking, through the conversion of kinetic energy into electrical energy.

When starting off, the vehicle is driven by the electric motor, thus ensuring quiet, fuel-efficient and low-emission progress. The 218bhp (160kW) 4.8-litre conventional diesel engine acceleration then moves from idling to power output during acceleration, but with assistance from the electric motor.

A dashboard display allows the driver to monitor performance of the electric motor, confirming whether it is assisting the diesel engine during overtaking, and storing energy during braking.

Renault is delighted by today’s news that electric van buyers will be able to receive 20%, up to £8,000, off the cost of their new purchase. Announced earlier by Transport Minister, Norman Baker and Business Minister, Mark Prisk, Renault and the UK’s electric vehicle market as a whole, are set to benefit even further with confirmation that funding for the Plug-In Car Grant, which offers electric car buyers up to £5,000 (25% of vehicle cost), will be funded until 2015.

With its 100% electric Kangoo Van Z.E. – the world’s first electric commercial vehicle produced directly by a mass-market manufacturer – launched just one month ago, set to be joined by three electric cars before the Autumn of 2012, Renault is in a prime position to make the most of this latest boost for low-emission driving.

With the new grant in place, the already keenly priced Kangoo Van Z.E., costing from £21,038 on-the-road, excluding monthly battery hire, would become even more affordable, from just £16,960.40. The French marque has always set out to price its Z.E. models extremely competitively, with the aim of making them available to customers for the same price as the diesel-engine version of the same model, in countries where government tax incentives are in place for electric vehicles. Today’s announcement goes a long way towards making this possible and will undoubtedly aid interest in electric vehicles from business owners of all sizes.

As an ‘ultra-low carbon’ van manufacturer, Renault will be applying to be part of the Plug-In Van Grant before the scheme’s application deadline of 31^st January 2012, after which it is believed further details on the scheme’s extension to vans are likely to be released by the Department for Transport. With strict eligibility criteria covering range, safety and ultra-low tailpipe emissions, the Kangoo Van Z.E. should have no issue in complying, as well as being one of the few electric vans available through the scheme.

Commenting on the news, Andy Heiron, Head of Electric Vehicle Programme, Renault UK, said, “Having actively lobbied for the inclusion of commercial vehicles in the Plug-In Car Grant scheme over the past year, we’re delighted that the Government has acted and made this announcement. This addresses the big question that many customers and industry commentators have been asking us for many months and I think we can expect to see a surge in demand. Allied to the environmental and corporate social responsibility benefits of running an EV, a fully electric van for less than £17,000 on-the-road with significantly lower running costs than a diesel, is a very compelling financial argument in favour of Kangoo Van Z.E.”

The Transport Minister Norman Baker and Business Minister Mark Prisk have announced that van buyers will be able to receive 20% – up to £8000 – off the cost of a plug-in electric van.

This is an extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25% – up to £5000 – to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Ministers have also re-confirmed there is funding secured for this grant until 2015.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Car buyers have had a year to take advantage of our grant and now it’s time for van buyers to get their chance to go electric. This is great news for businesses given the lower running costs of these vehicles – fleet buyers tell us that this is one of the most important factors influencing their decision on what to buy.”

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “Supporting ultra-low carbon technology in vans makes sense. An upfront purchase grant, when combined with lower running costs and tax benefits, can make switching to an ultra-low carbon van an attractive choice for businesses. The technology also fits well with a large portion of the van market that rely on short urban trips to and from base.”

As of now ultra-low carbon van manufacturers will be able to apply to be part of the Plug-In Van Grant – which will help to improve local air quality in cities, reduce carbon emissions and meet Government carbon reduction targets.

To be eligible for the scheme, vans will have to meet performance criteria to ensure safety, range, and ultra-low tailpipe emissions. Consumers, both business and private will receive the discount at the point of purchase.

At last week’s 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Nissan showed off this innovative Nissan e-NV200 electric vehicle Concept. Based on the new Nissan NV200 multi-usage vehicle, the Nissan e-NV200 Concept previewed a near-future production version of a full electric vehicle with a dramatic CO2 footprint reduction.

“With its ‘no gas, no tailpipe, no emissions’ powertrain, the Nissan e-NV200 Concept combines a quiet, comfortable driving experience with a large, highly versatile, functional interior space within a compact overall body length,” said Hideto Murakami, corporate vice president, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.  “The battery capacity will support a driving range similar to the Nissan LEAF, while payload and cargo space will offer the same level as the current NV200.  The production version would be targeted mainly at businesses, but also at private users or families in major regions.”

As a potential mass production vehicle, Nissan e-NV200 Concept would also provide a reduction in operating costs compared to current internal combustion engine vehicles.

“A vehicle like the Nissan e-NV200 Concept would energise the current compact van market in more ways than one – helping improve the quality of urban life and providing a smart financial investment for large and small businesses alike,” Murakami added.

The Nissan e-NV200 Concept shares its major drivetrain components with the innovative Nissan LEAF car. Silent, zero emission power is supplied by a lithium-ion battery composed of 48 compact modules and a high-response 80 kW AC synchronous motor that generates 280 Nm of torque.

Evaluations of the prototype NV200-based electric vehicles are currently underway.  The initial trial was conducted in summer 2011 by the Japan Post Service, while additional testing began in London last month in conjunction with FedEx.