does tanfield have 2 good businesses ( smith electrics and upright)which are good value for the medium to long term hold ?

Yes Halifax - as a member of various green campaign groups for over 40 years I know all about electricity generation. I campaign for progress at both ends of the chain - I don't use delays at one end as an excuse to ask for delays at the other end ;o)

On any well-to-wheel comparison, switching to EVs is environmentally beneficial even when allowing for coal-fired electricity generation. Progressively moving towards renewables makes the benefits greater still ;o)




And where do you get the idea that "the electricity required to power evs has to be generated mainly by burning fossil fuels.." ?

No it doesn't. It can come from at least ten sources. Coal is dominant in some countries - renewables are already dominant in others - and the tide is moving one way.



You can scowl and throw up as many obstructive excuses as you like - but stand in the way and you might get run over by an almost silent truck someday soon ;o)
There are lessons to be learned from the story of King Canute!

juzzle
sorry - thanks for correction - electric vehicles ARE the future and tanfield is the world leader in evs (not cars yet)

but how far into the future, and does one really need to tie up funds here for the next decade? ...... oh OK then the next 3/5 years

Smith's US website at sev-us.com has a Press Room page which features numerous videos. Several have been added in the past few days. All are available at youtube.com including this one which is well worth watching. It runs for 6:49 minutes and involves input from Ford www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTBOtAeKYow

juzzle
excellent find - video well worth watching - indicates progress sevus is making stateside and confirms link up with ford and future fleet deal prospects.

Another step closer to all ev's for the future?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/16/green-cars-transport-incentives-emissions

Delivery firm DHL already had 3 Smith Newtons, and have recently ordered ten more. That's a nice endorsement.

It would be nice if TAN would bring out a "people carrier" since many of these are owned by large families with disposable incomes. Recent attacks on fuel-guzzlers includes these vehicles, due to their large engines/gross weight. Many are used for "school-runs" and whilst there are safety issues ("silence"), with EV's there are plenty of so-called "Environmental benefits" which means we will have to accept EV's in the next 10-years.
A major issue is the replacement battery-cost and lack of both Motorway//in-town charging points and the long-time it takes presently means that buyers need to be "encouraged".
I agree with others here, that the source of Electric Energy has to be put aside to get the EV into main-stream, and only "Volume" will reduce the price and put pressure on Councils to provide Town-centre charging points.
Persionally, I suspect we'll see supermarkets entering this Market, so you can charge your Battery, if you buy 100+ worth of goods. A 1-hour charge will restore the charge-level with care.

if Sweetheart really is going to promote electric cars, as i saw in the papers the other day, then there may be ba further fillip for TAN, though they are certainly not the only kid on the block

Hangon, they have what is described as a "people mover", though it is still concept Ford say that the Tourneo Connect BEV will be mass produced if enough interest is shown in it; a lot of interest has been shown so I would imagine it is now on Ford's list of production BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles).

Tan now 17.25 - 16.75 - up over 3 pence
Budget tomorrow could be benefitial to tan ?

Who knows ! but yep, it's looking good !

If the Budget has motivation for either or both of the construction and 'green' motor (especially commercial vehicles) industries then it will be good for TAN. The sp won't hang around much, not that it's doing much hanging around at the moment!

(Not in) but the the sp is doing fine..could be the buy on the rumour sell on the fact effect ....so a drop tomorrow ?.

Someones pulled the plug out, going down again....

Just a bit of profit taking before the Budget. I'm still waiting for sales info from the US, that is where I believe the momentum will come from: next year should be a big one for TAN with a few fillips along the way in the meantime, though I am not sure if Darling will have much to help today.

More progress in the USA.

California Energy Commission Adopts $176M Green Transportation Plan
23 April 2009
The California Energy Commission has adopted the states first transportation Investment Plan. The Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Programs Investment Plan allocates $176 million over the next two years to stimulate green transportation projects and encourage innovation to help meet the states aggressive climate change policies.

In its newly adopted Investment Plan, the Energy Commission proposes to expand the use of low carbon fuels and cleaner vehicles that are available today and open up the market for the more exotic technologies that are required in the future. Over the next two years, the Energy Commission will invest:

$46 million for electric vehicles, public charging stations, and manufacturing plants;
$40 million for hydrogen fueling stations;
$12 million for advanced ethanol fuel production facilities and E-85 fueling stations;
$43 million for natural gas vehicles, fueling stations and biomethane production facilities;
$6 million for advanced renewable diesel and biodiesel facilities; and
$2 million for propane vehicles.

The complete article is here:-
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/04/cec-green-20090423.html

Also reported today:-

$300 Million for US Clean Cities Fleet Programs
23 April 2009
The US Department of Energy will award $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to state and local governments, and transit authorities to expand the US fleet of clean, sustainable vehicles and the fueling infrastructure necessary to support them.

This funding adds to the $11 billion already announced by the Department of Energy to bolster state and local government energy efficiency programs and weatherize low-income homes.

These funds will give local and state governments the tools to expand the use of advanced technology vehicles in their fleets while at the same time building the infrastructure needed for tomorrows clean economy.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu
The $300 million will support at least 30 alternative fuels or advanced vehicles projects and requires a 50% participant cost share.

Complete article at:-
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/04/clean-cities-20090423.html

like this a lot

From Friday's Kansas City Business Journal:-

Canteen Vending Services will have to sell a lot of snacks to cover its planned purchase of some of the first battery-powered delivery trucks produced at Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp.s new assembly plant at Kansas City International Airport.

The Smith Newton trucks, expected to start rolling off the line in the third quarter, will cost about $140,000 each, said Tim Goff, a senior vice president of Canteens Charlotte, N.C., parent, Compass Group North America.

A typical truck we would buy costs about $40,000, Goff said, so thats about a $100,000 increment.

Nevertheless, Compass Group plans to buy about 30 Smith Newtons during the next year and could convert is entire 10,000-truck fleet to battery power if the pilot test proves successful.

Sounds like a really sensible business decsion buy one for the price of three, pull the other one!