SPRINGFIELD, MO - Electric Car Co., which specializes in electric vehicle conversions for fleets, said it plans to team with Liberty Electric Cars USA LLC to produce all-electric vehicles. 

U.K.-based Liberty Electric Cars has U.S. operations in Chicago. 

"By signing a letter of intent with Liberty Electric Cars, we are able to utilize the most innovative electric vehicle technologies available for sophisticated, luxury 4x4 vehicles in the so-called light-duty truck sector," said Electric Car Co. CEO Gary Spaniak. 

The proposed joint venture is still "subject to the execution of a definitive agreement." But plans call for an initial focus on the conversion of large luxury 4x4 vehicles, such as the Range Rover, using Liberty's electric power train technology. Plans also call for the manufacture of new electric vehicles such as the "Bug e" project. 

The joint venture is expected to be initially based at the Electric Car Co. conversion center in Springfield, Mo. Later, plans call for more conversion centers to open across the U.S. on a franchise or company-owned basis. 

Liberty Electric conversion technology works by replacing the entire internal combustion engine drive train with a proprietary electric power system using four on-board motors (one for each wheel) and incorporating an energy storage system. This provides a performance of 0-60 mph in less than six seconds with a top speed of 110 mph and range ability of 200 miles on a six-hour charge, the company said. 

"With the world's first pure-electric luxury 4x4, the Liberty E-Range, about to launch in the U.K., the development of a fun, 100-percent-electric beach buggy-style vehicle (Bug e) for the U.S. market, and the announcement of the ECC partnership, we are at a very exciting stage in the company's growth and we are all looking forward to what the future holds," said Liberty Managing Director Ian Hobday.