I’ve just retuned from a few days in sunny California, where I attended the 23rd International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS23). I thought I’d share some of the other weird and occasionally wonderful exhibits with you.
Smith took the opportunity to launch its Newton in the USA, and announced plans to build 10,000 zero emission commercial vehicles in North America by 2010. Kevin Harkin, sales director for Smith Electric Vehicles, is confident that the US electric market will eventually climb to 200,000 units per annum. To find out more about Smith’s ambitious plans for the US you can read my news story.
Click below to see the full report
It’s incredible how you can go to truck shows in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Italy and see bugger-all UK vehicle makers. Yet travel half way around the world and you find two of them! What’s more, Smith and Modec, were in my opinion, showing by far the most interesting and competent commercial vehicles.
Modec had a pair of vans at the ride ‘n’ drive event – and everyone we spoke to were incredibly impressed by their performance. Not only is the Coventry-based company planning to sell its electric vans Stateside, but like Smith, it has announced plans to build them there too.
This is the Phoenix – which in my humble opinion, was the most exciting American-built truck at the show. Although when I say American built, I’m actually talking about the fitting of the batteries. The vehicle itself is a Korean-built SsangYong.
Under the bonnet you’ll find the very latest lithium ion batteries – which are guaranteed to get any milkman hot and bothered. They’ll take the Phoenix up to 95mph, and have a range of 135 miles.
Could this be the crappest electric commercial vehicle ever?
OK, I know it’s not a truck, but I reckon this Mustang deserves a place in this report anyway. This is the Ronaele, a true electric muscle car which produces an incredible 600hp. That’s right, an electric vehicle that’s capable of getting you out of the dairy in 3.2 seconds! It apparently has a range of 160 miles, but presumably not if you drive it with your foot to the floor.
Meet the Ridon – which fortunately is only a prototype at the moment. If you ask me, this is just the excuse Americans need to keep hold of their conventional gas-guzzling, CO2-emitting SUVs.
It looks so much prettier from this angle!
And now for something completely different – a hybrid school bus. According to USA Today it’s already in use in South Carolina.
Chrysler brought along the Gem, and I found these two in the ride ‘n’ drive section of the show.
Walking around the test area was an unusual experience to say the least, resembling the set of a really bad futuristic sci-fi movie. Weird looking cars, bikes, trucks and buggies of all shapes and sizes, were speeding around in eerie silence.
This Dodge or Freightliner Sprinter is a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Unlike a regular hybrid you plug it in at night, so it gets the bulk of its power from the national grid. It’s on sale already – although presumably in the latest Sprinter body shape? I believe it was converted by the Electric Power Research Institute.
I can imagine this on the set of Police Academy 32. Would any policeman seriously consider riding one of these as an alternative to walking?
This is the Miles ZX40ST which appears to be built on some sort of Chinese van chassis. It can do 25mph and drive for just over 50 miles. As for the payload, I reckon it can’t be too dissimilar to the wheeled bag in the corner of the photo!
Jeremy Clarkson once asked how many volts of electricity would have to pass through a man’s testicles before he would drive a Toyota Yaris – and I reckon the same question applies to the Columbia.
