Smith Electric Cars and Kansas City

Smith Electric Vehicles - KC

The organization chosen for analysis is Smith Electric Vehicles who is based in the U.K. But has an operation in Kansas City, MO. Smith Electric Vehicles manufactures and markets zero-emission commercial electric vehicles that are designed to be a superior-performing alternative to traditional diesel trucks due to higher efficiency and lower total cost of ownership (Smith, 2012). The organizations purpose is to provide the visionary leadership to completely and permanently alter the vehicle electrification supply chain.

Although many organizations are non-profit and subject to different sources of funding, Smith Electric Vehicles is a private company that relies on primarily the private sector to generate their cash flow. The company has partnered with global leaders across multiple industries: food & beverage, utility, telecommunications, retail, grocery, parcel and postal delivery, school transportation, military and government. Our customers include many of the world's largest fleet operators, including PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division, TNT, Sainsbury's, Coca-Cola, DHL, FedEx and the U.S. Military (Smith, 2012). There are also certain tax advantages that apply to both the company's clients as well as to itself that work as an effective subsidy for revenues.

Smith electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions -- in fact, there is no tailpipe (Smith, 2012). Even though the two vehicles that the company produces have zero emission during use, there are emissions that are associated with production as well as the source of electricity that is utilized to power the battery. For example, if the electricity comes from a coal fired power plant then there are definitely emissions that can be attributed to the vehicles use (Colgrass, 2012). However, with increasing utilization of renewable energies, electric powered vehicles could represent a sustainable solution to transportation related environmental issues.

Companies such as this represent a private sector solution to the quest for sustainability. Although a comprehensive industry solution is still many years away from being feasible, it takes companies like Smith Electric Vehicles many years to acquire the capabilities to be able to mass produce their products. Though there are still a plethora of obstacles that must be overcome before this technology can become mainstream, the company is making great strides towards this end.