Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Smith Electric Vehicles Suspends Production

The commercial electric truck maker Smith Electric Vehicles has suspended production for an unspecified period of time. The DOE awarded the company $32 million in grants during 2009 and 2010 to produce more than 500 vehicles to be placed in various fleets across the U.S., however, only 439 have reportedly been produced.

by Staff
April 7, 2014
Smith Electric Vehicles Suspends Production

 

2 min to read


The commercial electric truck maker Smith Electric Vehicles has suspended production for an unspecified period of time.

The Kansas City Star reports production was suspended at the end of last year, according to documents the company filed with the U.S. Energy Department, due to tight cash flow.

Ad Loading...

The DOE awarded the company $32 million in grants during 2009 and 2010 to produce more than 500 vehicles to be placed in various fleets across the U.S., however, only 439 have reportedly been produced. The Energy Department says it is working with the company to produce the remaining vehicles.

Smith Electric Vehicles has placed its products in fleets such as Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay and Staples, among others, since arriving in Kansas City, Mo. in 2009, but has had other problems since then.

In 2012 it pulled back on plans for an initial public offering of stock and scaled back production, according to the newspaper, while plans to begin production of trucks in both New York City and Chicago never came to fruition.

Ad Loading...

Last summer, Smith announced that with 700 vehicles and 5 million miles of operation it was "transitioning into the commercial manufacturing phase."

Critics say they aren’t surprised, saying it was already “a failed company” based in the United Kingdom. Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. in 2010 bought the UK-based parent company.

Read more about it from the Kansas City Star and the National Legal and Policy Center.

HDT editors attempted to reach Smith Electric Vehicle officials but were not immediately successful.

More Fuel Smarts

Video still of Volvo's Duane Tegels explaining the Volvo D13 diesel engine for EPA 2027 emissions
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 16, 2026

How Volvo Updated Its D13 for EPA 2027 [Watch]

Volvo’s updated D13 promises lower emissions without sacrificing performance or fuel economy. Take a closer look at what changed inside the engine in this HDT Spotlight video.

Read More →
Collage of fuel options for trucks - renewable diesel, renewable natural gas, diesel, and electric
Fuel Smartsby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

Diesel Price Spike Shortens Payback for Natural Gas Trucks, Report Says

Energy Vision estimates fleets could recover the higher purchase price of an RNG-fueled Class 8 tractor in 1.3 to 2.8 years under current fuel-price scenarios.

Read More →
Illustration showing the Calstart, Forth, and Catalyst Mobility logos
Fuel Smartsby StaffSeptember 14, 2026

Calstart Becomes Catalyst Mobility, Reflecting Broader Focus

Calstart is now Catalyst Mobility, reflecting the nonprofit’s growing national role in clean transportation, including zero-emission trucks, infrastructure and incentive programs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration with oil wells, dollar bills, and a diesel fuel pump
Fuel SmartsSeptember 9, 2026

Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Trucking Fleets

Average U.S. diesel prices have climbed to nearly $6 a gallon, surpassing the 2022 record as tight refinery capacity and Middle East disruptions keep fuel costs elevated.

Read More →
A red engine part
SponsoredSeptember 9, 2026

How Fuel Delivery Shapes Engine Performance

Fuel delivery depends on more than what happens at the injector. For fleet, maintenance and technical professionals, looking at the full path from pump to injector can provide useful context for understanding engine performance.

Read More →
Port of Newark EV truck charging station.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 8, 2026

East Coast Port Launches $45M Electric Truck Push

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced millions in incentives for zero-emission drayage trucks, yard tractors, and new charging hubs near the port.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fuel Smartsby StaffAugust 31, 2026

California Bill Could Shed Light on Electric Truck Prices

Why do battery-electric Class 8 trucks remain so expensive? A California bill headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom would give fleets and state agencies more visibility into what manufacturers charge.

Read More →
Illustration of Freightliner Cascadia on highway with engine cutaway
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 27, 2026

Detroit Opens Orders for EPA 2027 Engines

Detroit isn’t starting from scratch to meet EPA 2027 diesel emissions standards. Its Gen 6 DD13 and DD15 engines keep much of today’s platform while updating the fuel and aftertreatment systems.

Read More →
Group of people and zero-emission trucks during ceremony announcing a West Coast ZEV corridor.
Fuel Smartsby News/Media ReleaseAugust 26, 2026

Zero-Emission Truck Corridor Planned for West Coast

California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Baja California are coordinating plans for truck charging and hydrogen fueling from Canada to Mexico.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
YouTube thumbnail showing Kenworth T880e electric truck and KW marketing director Kyle Kimball.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 25, 2026

A Closer Look at Kenworth’s Electric T880E Vocational Truck [Video]

Learn more about Kenworth's T880E battery-electric vocational truck at the Paccar Technical Center, including its range, applications, upfitting considerations, and PTO options, in this HDT Spotlight video.

Read More →