Proton Power Systems plc and Smith Electric Vehicles have signed
a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop, build and market an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell to extend driving range. The combination is expected to double the range of Smith’s current Edison EVs to 186 miles.
The new extended-range models will be fitted with Proton’s latest PM200 fuel cell stack, which is designed for use in fuel cell systems ranging from 3 kW to 50 kW.
The companies plan to unveil a prototype vehicle at the Hannover Fair in April. Commercial applications targeted at German municipality fleets are due to begin in the fourth quarter. Customers in the U.K. and North America also are being targeted.
Proton Power is the parent company of Germany’s Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, which previously was funded by Volvo Technology Transfer AB and other German institutional and private investors. Smith is the commercial electric vehicle division of The Tanfield Group plc.