Electric vans have very much come into the mainstream fleet arena in the last year – and if Smith electric Vehicles has its way, that focus will increase this year with the launch of the new Ampere.

Last year’s show saw a new tie-up between Smith and Ford, in which Ford provided transit shells for electric motors to be added by Smith.

This vehicle was named the edison.

This year, on the Smith electric Vehicles stand, managing direction Darren Kell took the wraps off the Ampere, which is based on the transit connect.

Mr Kell said: “Last year we revealed the edison, the first mainstream high performance electric van which now comes with a completely flat loadfloor.

This van has been extremely successful for us and now we are going one better with the Ampere.

Obviously we can’t cater for fleets that go up and down the M6 every day as our vans are restricted in how many miles they can do before needing a charge but there are enough private firms and local authorities out there who are interested in what we have to offer.”

The Ampere boasts a payload of 800kg, a top speed of 70mph and a range of 100 miles.

It will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2008.