KANSAS CITY, MO -The United States Marine Corps was the first military organization to order two all-electric Smith Newton Electric trucks off the Government Services Administration (GSA) schedule, according to a release from Smith Electric Vehicles. The trucks will be delivered to Camp Pendleton, Calif., the Corps' largest West Coast training facility, and home of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, in February 2011.

A September report by the Center for a New American Security recommended in the interest of 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 Marine Corps has already set out to reduce its energy use 30 percent by 2015 and increase its reliance on renewable electrical energy to 25 percent by 2025.

Smith Electric produces the Newton, the only medium-duty (Class 4-7) all-electric commercial truck on the GSA schedule, according to the company. The trucks will be built in Smith Electric's Kansas City, Mo., plant.

The Newton delivers a top speed of 55 mph and offers end users battery ranges from 50 to 120 miles on a single charge, ideal for base deliveries and personnel transport applications. Smith vehicles offer a payload of over 16,000 pounds and are powered by the latest in Lithium-ion battery cell technology, power management, and direct drive trains. They produce zero emissions and are nearly silent, according to the company.