| abstract | - The Company is a manufacturer of zero emission electric cars and vans designed by the father and son team of Tony Stevens and Peter Stevens. The vehicles were conceived, designed and developed in Kent, England and are manufactured at Port Talbot, Wales. The brand, comprising two vehicle types, was launched on 1 March 2008, comprising the ZeCar and ZeVan. The designer is Professor Tony Stevens, who has spent over 50 years in the motor industry and who has long experience in the engineering, design and marketing of vehicles. Tony Stevens designed the Hillman Hunter and Sunbeam Rapier. Peter Stevens is an international banker, involved in the financial and sales side of the business. The design of the vehicles has been described as being “deliciously weird....a bit dippy, yet great fun and strangely stylish” The strong visual statement derives from their distinctive height, which results from the higher than normal driving position. This is based on the belief, of Tony Stevens, that the driver should be positioned as if sitting at a table. This position gives the driver good access and visibility, but the design also provides plenty of headroom. Both types of vehicle are designed to maximise internal space relative to external dimensions so that, although they are shorter and narrower than most compact vehicles they are also taller, thus creating the equivalent space of a much larger vehicle. The Ze in Zecar and ZeVan stands for zero environmental emissions. On-road carbon dioxide emissions are zero. However, the lead-acid batteries require recharging which may produce carbon dioxide, depending on the energy supply source. Stevens Vehicles is being supported by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Accelerate Clusters programme which plans to strengthen the automobile sector in Wales by developing emerging technologies and identifying and exploiting niche markets. The factory is based at the ECM2 business site within the Port Talbot Steel Works.
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