A Work Vehicle Stripped to the Basics

1 MIN READ
Electric Transporter Work Vehicle at Las Vegas Convention Center

David Frane

Electric Transporter Work Vehicle at Las Vegas Convention Center

While most tradesmen work out of pickups or vans, some work out of specialized vehicles, such as the electric transporter I saw at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. I’d stepped outside of the convention center to make a phone call and a guy pulled up in this vehicle, grabbed a toolbox off the bed, and went inside to fix something.

The transporter reminded me of a stripped down pickup or flatbed truck—but smaller, with an electric motor, and not street legal. The essential parts, though, were there: a bed, a rack, a cross box, and tow hitch. What the transporter lacked in factory amenities (a windshield and cup holder) had been added on site.

This vehicle would not be at home on most construction sites but is perfectly suited for use at a convention center, hotel, or industrial site; it produces no fumes and can be driven inside, is narrow enough to pass through double doors, and able to negotiate paved surfaces and floors. For an extreme version of what can be done to an electric transporter see “A Strange Motorized Work Station”.

About the Author

David Frane

David Frane is a former foreman with Thoughtforms Corp., a construction company based in West Acton, Mass., and former editor of Tools of the Trade.

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