Marines call in Smith Newtons

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. has announced that the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) has purchased two all-electric Smith Newton trucks. The sale makes the USMC the first military organization to order Smith Newtons off the federal Government Services Administration (GSA) schedule. The trucks will be delivered to Camp Pendleton, CA, the Corps’ largest West Coast training facility, and home of the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

“We’re proud to be part of the Marine Corps’ efforts to create a cleaner environment and improve energy efficiency at Camp Pendleton," said Bryan Hansel, president & CEO of Smith Electric. “The Marines are setting a strong example for the other branches of our armed services as we all work together to address America’s energy and efficiency concerns.”

Smith Electric Vehicles noted that a recent report by the Center for a New American Security recommended in the interest of both financial and security concerns that America’s armed forces set a goal of operating all of its systems on non-petroleum fuels by 2040. The truck maker noted that the USMC has already set out to reduce its energy use 30% by 2015 and increase its reliance on renewable electrical energy to 25% by 2025.

Smith Electric produces the Newton, a Class 4-7 all-electric commercial truck. The Marines’ trucks will be built in the firm’s Kansas City, MO, plant, and are scheduled for delivery to Camp Pendleton in February.