ELECTRIC vehicle maker Tanfield yesterday reported an operating loss of £21.4m for last year, but has enjoyed a better start to this year with a full order book for its vans.

The company, based in Washington, Wearside, blamed a lack of credit for muted sales of the company’s electric trucks, along with a depression in demand for aerial work platforms in its Powered Access division.

Its Smith Electric Vehicles division saw turnover fall from £25m in 2008 to £15m and Tanfield’s revenue for the year of £58.2m was down 60 per cent from £145.7m the year before.

But despite this, the electric vehicles division had grown its UK market share and was making inroads into export markets.

It has also secured a number of contracts, including an order for 51 vans from Sainsbury’s and ten electric vans to Ford of Europe for German trials and is the largest supplier to phase one of the UK Government’s low carbon vehicle procurement programme.

Chairman Jon Pither said: “Towards the end of the year, we began to see signs of improvement in the Zero Emission Vehicles division and I am delighted to report that this business has continued to gain traction.”

The electric vehicle division’s orderbook is now full through to the end of August.