After much anticipation, Miles Electric Vehicles introduced its new AC motor technology, low speed, all electric work truck, the MILES ZX40ST, to the fleet market at the 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS 23) held December 2-5 in Anaheim, Calif.

¡°The MILES ZX40ST has generated an overwhelmingly positive response from fleet users, and we anticipate this truck will be our best selling model in 2008,¡± said MILES CEO, Jeff Boyd. ¡°It really fills a product gap in the market for affordable, light duty, zero emissions vehicles that look and perform like real trucks,¡± he said.

The MILES ZX40ST, now for sale in the U.S., combines superior U.S. built motor technology with the most efficient Chinese manufacturing and advanced battery production. The MILES ZX40ST¡¯s brushless, three-phase induction AC motor offers regenerative breaking, 50% more power and 30% more torque than a traditional DC motor. This allows the MILES ZX40ST to carry or tow substantial loads, previously relegated to internal combustion trucks. The combination of regenerative breaking and its advanced 72 volt, maintenance free, absorbed glass mat battery system provides the MILES ZX40ST with a 50-60 mile driving range on a single charge.

Like all MILES models, the two seat ZX40ST is designed with safety in mind; it offers an all steel body, DOT compliant seatbelts and a tempered, safety glass windshield. Other features include a full size truck bed, a cargo area with folding sides that lay flat to accommodate fork lifts and optional air conditioning.

Beyond its notable utility and safety features, the MILES ZX40ST cuts costs while reducing emissions. Because it has substantially fewer moving parts than its gas powered counterparts, the MILES ZX40ST requires minimal maintenance and no periodic oil changes. With the price of gas at $3.50 per gallon and the cost of electricity per mile (according to EPA estimates) at $0.02 - $0.03 per mile, a typical fleet operator will save about $2,500 per year by using the MILES ZX40ST. That¡¯s about $10,000 to $15,000 in lifetime fuel cost savings. Additionally, replacing just one gas powered fleet vehicle with a MILES ZX40ST will prevent 12,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.

MILES has scheduled a production rate of 150 trucks per month beginning January 2008, with many ZX40ST¡¯s already pre-sold to university and municipal fleet users throughout the country. The suggested retail price for the MILES ZX40ST is $18,400.

Miles Electric Vehicles is now successfully marketing a line of low speed, all electric cars and trucks, which combine the best of U.S. electric motor and controller technology with China¡¯s advanced battery and vehicle manufacturing capabilities. All MILES vehicles conform to U.S. NHTSA standards and are manufactured with safety and ease of use as prime considerations. To date the company has built a prestigious fleet customer base that includes the City of Chicago, NASA, UCLA, Cal Sate Polytechnic University, Stanford University, the US Navy, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Building on its low speed production expertise, MILES is proceeding to develop the first safe, affordable, mass produced highway speed all electric vehicle for distribution in the U.S. and EU in 2009.

Founded in 2005 by activist/entrepreneur Miles Rubin, Miles Electric Vehicles is headquartered at the Santa Monica Airport in California.