AN electric-powered Ford Transit has been officially launched in the UK, aimed at the growing number of fleets who want to reduce their carbon footprint and save money at the same time.

Smith Electric Vehicles gave the new van – called the Edison – its premiere at the CV Show at the NEC in Birmingham last week and the firm estimates it will sell 1,500 of the vehicles next year.

Smith chief executive Darren Kell said: ‘We realised we needed a van which drivers were comfortable using and looked at using different base vehicles for our new model. The Transit come out as the best for us.’

The Edison, which goes on sale in July, will be available as a rear wheel drive 3.5 tonne gvw model and will cost about double the price of an equivalent Transit.

But Mr Kell pointed out the van was cheaper to run – about half that of a diesel in fuel costs alone –there was no road fund licence to pay and insurance was cheaper.