Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV U.S.) of Kansas City, USA, has announced that it has teamed up with Altec Industries to offer America’s first all-electric utility truck with an aerial device.
The aerial lift was unveiled today at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. The truck is an all-electric battery powered Smith Newton produced by SEV U.S. in partnership with Tanfield’s SEV U.K. while the vehicle mounted boom is integrated by Altec.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest combined natural
gas and electric utilities in the United States, will play a critical role in the
development of the vehicle. The first test unit will be added to PG&E’s fleet to
conduct routine and emergency overhead line work in PG&E’s northern and
central California service area.
PG&E will provide test data to SEV U.S. and Altec for the creation of a production model. This unit is the first all-electric aerial utility truck to be put into operation by a major utility company before being brought to the market.
Bryan Hansel, chief executive officer SEV U.S. said: “We are excited to be working with PG&E and Altec on this effort to help the utility industry accelerate the reduction of fuel emissions with the introduction of electric-drive fleet vehicles.”