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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

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