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

RNS Number : 1674O
Tanfield Group PLC
03 March 2009



March 3rd 2009

The Tanfield Group Plc

'Tanfield', 'the Group' or 'the Company'

Geneva Debut of Concept BEV Passenger Vehicle with Ford of Europe


Unveiling of new Ford Tourneo Connect people carrier at Geneva Auto Show

First Tanfield BEV concept aimed at the passenger car market

Developed in collaboration with Ford Motor Company

Demonstrates potential for technology transfer from Tanfield's commercial electric vehicles


The Tanfield Group Plc, the leading manufacturer of aerial work platforms and commercial electric vehicles, today unveils a conceptual passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV), developed in collaboration with Ford of Europe.

The zero emission Ford Tourneo Connect BEV Concept people carrier, unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, has a projected range of 100 miles (160km) on a full battery charge and a top speed of 70mph (113km/h). It is Tanfield's first BEV aimed at the passenger car market and demonstrates that Tanfield's electric vehicle technology for vans and trucks could readily translate into passenger vehicles.

Darren Kell, CEO of The Tanfield Group Plc, said: 'The pure electric new Tourneo Connect exists as a proof of concept, but it demonstrates how seamlessly our world-leading technology can integrate into passenger vehicles.

'If the Tourneo Connect BEV Concept generates high levels of interest, we can work with Ford on production potential and develop the vehicle relatively quickly.'

The unique concept vehicle displayed at Geneva is driven by a 50 kilowatt permanent magnet motor, powered by 21 kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries. The Ford Tourneo Connect BEV Concept adapts technology that Tanfield has developed for the Transit Connect BEV light van, which is available to order in Europe as the Smith Ampere. Tanfield has worked with Ford of Europe since 2007 and already produces a Ford Transit BEV, marketed as the Smith Edison.

In North America, Tanfield and Ford will launch a Transit Connect BEV van in 2010 - the first vehicle to deliver on Ford Motor Company's aggressive electrification strategy announced at this year's Detroit Auto Show.

'The Tourneo Connect BEV concept shows how Ford's collaboration with Tanfield is extending the company's global electric vehicle plan to Europe,' said John Fleming, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, 'The technology is already available for commercial vehicle applications, and at the 2009 Chicago Show we confirmed that we will launch, with Tanfield as our partner, the Transit Connect van as a full BEV in North America in 2010.

'Although conceptual for now, if there is sufficient interest, this silent, zero emission technology could be applied to the Tourneo Connect quite quickly. We think it would be an ideal solution for taxi use, as a hotel shuttle vehicle or similar inner city application.'

ENDS

For further information:


The Tanfield Group Plc
+44 (0)845 1557 755
Darren Kell, CEO

Charles Brooks, FD



Arbuthnot Securities
+44(0)20 7012 2000
Nomad and Broker

James Steel/ Katie Shelton


That's one small step for a van, one giant leap for vankind. Or something like that! (with apologies to Neil Armstrong!)

Another push towards electric cars:-

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=11331

More publicity; well there's more of it about these days!? TAN, I feel, have been guilty of not 'putting themselves about' enough in the past.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Bev-puts-the-rev-in.5036069.jp

SANTA BARBARA, Calif, March 4 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co expects electric vehicles will represent a 'major portion' of its lineup a decade from now as the automaker breaks away from a recent reliance on pickup trucks and SUVs, Chief Executive Alan Mulally said on Wednesday.


'In 10 years, 12 years, you are going to see a major portion of our portfolio move to electric vehicles,' Mulally said at the Wall Street Journal ECO:nomics conference in Santa Barbara, California.


A futuristic look at the Ford Motor Co.!
The rest of the article is here, it may take a few seconds to get past the load page:-

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/03/05/afx6128120.html

Looks promising for Snorkel, a bit of a sales push:-

http://www.tanfieldgroup.co.uk/Newsletter_Upright_Issue134.html

SEV are getting a lot of media coverage now, this is one article out of many:-

http://www.hybridmile.com/news/smith-electric-vehicles/

Whilst it is too early for most to make any sort of informed decision, I keep adding snippets to remind people that a once star of the markets who got things wrong may now be on the road (no pun intended) to a remarkable recovery. EV's are the future whether we like it or not, substantial purchases of the vehicles will lead to an eventual drop in cost: new battery technology, which is imminent, will further reduce costs and also increase the number of road miles between charge.

I will continue to add to my holding when I am able to, purely because I am now confident that TAN will become a major player in the future of the world's transport. I do not advise anyone else to follow my instinct but I suggest you keep an eye on TAN, it might just become a star again!

Kim, I now know what your job is, your not an investor, your a RNS writer for RKH, full of promises but don't know when, just to keep Cynic and MM amused. lol

Darn, I've been sussed. All I'm trying to do is invoke a comment from cynic! ;o)

Smith Electric Vehicles (now in the U.S.!) took advantage of their appearance at The Work Truck Show to allow some industry professionals a chance to try out their all-electric Newton.

Luckily for us, several of them agreed to stand up in front of a camera and give their views about the vehicle.

The candid three included award-winning trucking industry journalist Paul Abelson, Larry Polas from the American Fleet Managers Buyers Guide and Ken Kalen, a fleet management consultant.

All seemed impressed with the vehicle's power as well as the way it handled and thought it could perfectly fulfill its depot-based delivery mission.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/13/video-smith-electric-trucks-get-pro-reviews-at-work-truck-show/

The chart, over the last 8 months, looks a little like an ECG print. I hope the heart doesn't pack in: if TAN still have cash in the bank there should be no problems (unless the bank itself goes under!)

ko
i think you have a good investment here. just my opinion.
regards
jkd
declaration
i have a vested interest(long) in this share.

Debt free - 13 million in bank at end of Jan '09.
Annual results due end of this month when they could also release location of new sev-us factory in usa and perhaps some us orders. Good times ahead me thinks.
imho

I would prefer the 13million in my bank. It might be safer.

I'd prefer it too Fred but in my matress.

why the air car will make electric virtually obsolete http://www.theaircar.com

If they could make a really efficient non-polluting air car Maestro, it may stand a chance but the majority will be using petrol as well as compressed air. There are safety concerns with air cars and maintenance costs will be substantial compared with EVs. All in all I don't think air cars will ever outdo the EV.

WHAT MAINTENANCE COSTS? please expand

All the movings parts!

"The Prince of Darkness to visit Tanfield tomorrow"

Well, it's not the actual headline but here is the real one:-

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Mandelson-to-visit-Nissan.5088443.jp

It may well produce another cog to the wheels of green motion (hmm, no don't think too hard about it!), hopefully not a spanner in the works though!

sp picking up a bit - mandelson visiting tanfield in northeast this afternoon.