Stan Wellaway

Detroit's Been in Trouble Before - Why This Time Is Different

For those who (like me) do actually look forward to an all-electric transport future, and who want to take a stake in it, there is a company listed on the UK stockmarket, called Tanfield Group (LSE:TAN). Easily overlooked because it's main product is aerial work platforms. But they also own Smith Electric Vehicles - the world's biggest and oldest producer of roadgoing EVs.

Over a period of 80 years, Smith have quietly sold an estimated 70 thousand electric vehicles worldwide (!). And in the past year they have delivered more than 400 electric trucks and vans in England alone. Mostly the 7.5ton Smith Newton and the 3.5ton Smith Edison. Plus a few 9ton and 12ton versions. Check out the Case Studies page on their website www.smithelectricvehic...

Their newest (and smallest) product is the Smith Ampere - developed jointly with Ford, and displayed on Ford's own stand at the CV-2008 show last April, in Birmingham, UK. I don't know if this is the 2010 van which Ford intend releasing details of at the Detroit show next month - but if it is, the (currently depressed) Tanfield share price could fly.

Smith buy components from US companies, Valence and Enova. And are about to open van production facilities on US soil.