Who Needs Ford? Emerald Automotive Debuts Test Van That Will Bring More Than 500 Jobs to Hazelwood

Hazelwood was the stage for the debut of the very first Emerald Automotive van to hit the road in the United States.

One of two prototype test fans, the t-001 was unveiled during a special ceremony that was held Tuesday for local dignitaries and business leaders. The debut was held at the Knobbe House in the Brookes Park in Hazelwood, where Emerald’s liaison office is located.

Several guest speakers helped to commemorate the event, including Thomas R. Voss, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Ameren Missouri, Jason Hall, Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Mayor Matthew Robinson of Hazelwood, and Emerald CEO Andy Tempest. 

After the initial unveiling, guests were invited to take a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art alternative energy delivery van.

“We have worked extremely hard over the past three years to develop an all-new, light weight, advanced technology vehicle to serve global fleet operators,” said Emerald’s CEO Andy Tempest. “The t-001 will reduce fuel use, cut emissions and save our customers money, without compromising performance.”

The Emerald vehicle was shipped from the United Kingdom, where it was primarily designed, assembled and tested, to Chicago, Ill., and then transported to Hazelwood by semi-truck, the city said in a press release. 

Hazelwood will become the North American manufacturing hub for the company, so it was given the honor of being the first stop of its U.S. tour.

A Whirlwind Tour

The vehicle will spend a few days in and around Hazelwood being introduced to potential customers and local private investors, it will travel to Charlotte, NC, where it will be introduced at the 2012 Hybrid, Electric and Advanced Truck Users Forum conference. After that, it’ll be sent to Chicago for another trade show.

 “We announced several months ago that two prototypes had been built and now we are eager to share these vehicles with the public,” Tempest said.

About the Van

“Emerald’s t-001 is the world’s first all new extended-range electric fleet vehicle with zero compromise on performance,” said Tim Davidson, communications coordinator for the City of Hazelwood.

The city offered the following description of the new van in a press release.

“As Emerald’s flagship vehicle, the t-001 is an all-new lightweight, extended-range hybrid electric delivery van.  Designed to go 66 miles on a fully-charged battery, then shift to a combustion engine which powers the battery, the Emerald fleet van can go up to 475 miles (764.44 km) on a single tank of gas.  It also reduces emissions by 80% with a payload of 3,000 lbs., all without compromise on performance.”

How This Affects You

Emerald plans to build its Hazelwood facility and begin production around the fourth quarter of 2014, and the goal is to start making 10,000 vehicles per year with a workforce of about 550 skilled workers.

“Hopefully the building of Emerald’s North American manufacturing hub in Hazelwood will help stimulate the local economy and bring in new businesses throughout the North St. Louis County region,” Davidson said.

Three different sites are being considered in Hazelwood. Tempest said he will announce the selected site within two or three months. The company is in the process of raising the capital it needs to build the assembly plant.

Get a Job With Emerald Automotive

If you’d like to work for Emerald Automotive when it moves to Hazelwood, you can submit your resume online at EmeraldAutomotive.com by clicking the “Career” tab in the top navigation bar.

Read More About Emerald in Hazelwood

What do you think of the new Emerald test van?  How do you feel about the company moving to Hazelwood? Share your thoughts in the comments section, below!