Tweet

Nov 30, 2012 8:26 AM

Smith Electric Vehicles will open an electric vehicle  manufacturing facility in Chicago, creating hundreds of direct and indirect  jobs and boosting the already rapidly growing battery and electric vehicle  sector in the city.

Smith’s decision to locate a facility in Chicago is  influenced by the Mayor’s innovative voucher system created to accelerate the  conversion from diesel to zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles, the  large number of fleets interested in vehicle electrification, and the  development incentives made available to Smith. 

“I’m proud to welcome another growing company with a  great mission to Chicago.  Soon hundreds of Chicagoans will be able to put  their skills to use providing businesses worldwide with high-quality,  zero-emission, American-made vehicles,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Smith Electric  Vehicles is an innovative company in a forward-looking, essential industry that  is a central part of Chicago’s economic future.”

Smith is a manufacturer of all-electric commercial  vehicles, which are zero-emission and less expensive to own and operate when  compared with traditional diesel trucks. The company produces trucks for  multiple industries, including food & beverage, utility, telecommunications,  retail, grocery, parcel and postal delivery, school transportation, military  and government. Smith’s customers include many of the world’s largest fleet  operators, including PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, FedEx, Staples, TNT,  Sainsbury’s, Coca-Cola, DHL, and the U.S. Military.

Chicago will be Smith’s third  location in the United States, joining their headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.,  and a manufacturing facility in New York City.

Additionally, the Chicago Department of Transportation  (CDOT), under the Mayor’s leadership, has announced a comprehensive, $15  million incentive program that will encourage companies and individuals to  modernize their fleets and convert to electric vehicles.  The first of its  kind in the US, this plan rewards fleets on an increasing scale for replacing  their most diesel-consuming vehicles. 

The program’s initial $15M is funded by resources from the  federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program and will provide  vouchers to assist companies in reducing the costs of converting their vehicles  to electric.

In addition to the announcement of the manufacturing  facility, Smith provided an update on two of its global fleet customers.   FedEx Express has initiated the deployment of 100 Smith vehicles in the U.S.,  adding to the electric vehicles already in service throughout the company’s  global fleet. Coca-Cola’s pilot deployment of Smith Electric Vehicles has  been successful. The company plans to deploy additional electric vehicles in  2013.