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


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.
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.
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.

The company’s expanded EPEQ ecosystem includes flexible solar panels, lithium batteries, hydraulic power systems, and a portable fast charger for electric trucks.
Read More →
Listen as Mike Roeth of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency shares insights into battery-electric trucks, natural gas, biofuels, and clean diesel on this episode of HDT Talks Trucking.
Read More →
NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.
Read More →
Mike Kucharski, vice president of refrigerated carrier JKC Trucking, says diesel price jumps tied to global instability are squeezing carriers already struggling with weak freight rates.
Read More →
In today’s cost-conscious market, fleets are finding new ways to get more value from every truck on the road. See how smarter maintenance strategies can boost uptime, control costs and drive stronger long-term returns.
Read More →
Purdue researchers demonstrated a high-power wireless charging system capable of delivering energy to electric heavy-duty trucks at highway speeds, advancing the concept of electrified roadways for freight transportation.
Read More →
The Environmental Protection Agency is asking diesel engine makers to provide information about diesel exhaust fluid system failures as it considers changes to emissions regulations.
Read More →6 intelligent dashcam tactics to improve safety and boost ROI
Read More →
The Environmental Protection Agency said California can’t enforce its Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Regulation, known as Clean Truck Check, on vehicles registered outside the state. But California said it will keep enforcing the rule.
Read More →
The Trump administration has announced it will no longer criminally prosecute “diesel delete” cases of truck owners altering emissions systems in violation of EPA regulations. What does that mean for heavy-duty fleets?
Read More →