Smith Electric Vehicles US Developments

SEV-US recently announced that it made an offer to buy the Smith Electric Vehicles business from the UK based Tanfield Group.  The company has a four month exclusive window to come to agreement on the offer which is  reported to be $55 million.

In other developments the company is looking to establish a 50,000 square foot production and sales facility on the East Coast.  They are considering locations in New York, Atlanta and Washington D.C. as well as other areas.   The new facility  is part of  an overall plan to eventually open up to ten facilities in large urban markets starting with the East Coast.  Cities in other parts of the country being considered include San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago.

Management reports that their Kansas City facility is producing two vehicles per week and ramping up to four per week in the coming months.  They also expect the price of their Newton model to drop from $149,000 currently to $90,000 by 2011 as production increases. – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Autobloggreen

Learn more:  Washington.bizjournals.com

Flight Systems Industrial Products Acquires Controls Business From GE

Flight Systems Industrial Products (FSIP) recently announced that they were acquiring certain product lines and equity interest related to a joint venture with GE.  The joint venture located in Patillas, Puerto Rico manufactures and distributes controls used in electric vehicles such as forklifts, neighborhood electric vehicles, golf carts, walkies, tuggers, go-carts and personnel carriers.   FSIP remanufactures over 45,000 controls annually for forklifts, aerial lifts, golf carts, scrubbers/sweepers, personnel carriers and mobility controls and has relationships with many OEMs.  Under the twelve year old joint venture arrangement FSIP had provided manufacturing and warranty services for GE.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  MHIA.org

KB Homes To Offer Houses Pre-wired For EVs

KB Homes is offering EV charging infrastructure as an option in their “Built to Order” new home construction package.  The option would provide technology for either EVs or plug-in hybrid vehicles and would get rid of the need for homeowners to retro-fit their new home.  This option fits into KB Homes overall initiative for building homes to an Energy Star standard and appealing to the demand for “greener” homes.  Electric vehicle proponents view the development of charging infrastructure in homes and public places as an important step in allaying range anxiety and demonstrating the permanency of the technology.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Blog.fleetowner.com

Seoul Announces NEV Inititatives

Seoul, Korea announced plans to purchase 35 NEVs for fire departments and city parks this year, including using the vehicles to shuttle world leaders around for the G-20 summit.  Other initiatives to support NEV use includes:

  • Installation of public recharging stations which users can pay for with their public transportation cards
  • Tax benefits
  • Designation of Zero Emission Zones where the vehicles can be used

Learn more:  Koreatimes.co.kr

California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project Starts Today

Funded by the California Air resources Board, the rebate project provides $4.1 million to promote the use and production of zero emission vehicles.  Individuals or business owners of eligible vehicles purchased or leased after March 15, 2010 can receive up to $5,000 per light-duty vehicle until the funding runs out. Certain zero-emission commercial vehicles are eligible for rebates up to $20,000.  The list of specific eligible vehicles has not been released yet but categorically the list will include “…cars, trucks, commercial medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles, neighborhood electric vehicles”.  A related California alternative fuels program had provided funding for NEVs from GEM, ZENN, Miles EV and ZAP in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 per vehicle. – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Avoid-global-warming.com

GEM Recalls 142 Vehicles

GEM is recalling 142 vehicles manufactured in 2009 to fix a problem with the parking brake cable which may have been improperly crimped. The 2009 models affected include the e2, e4, e6, eL,eL XD and eS.

The following is from NHTSA:

GEM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY CRIMPED. THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE ACTUATOR HANDLE WHILE APPLIED.
THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY ON A HILL CREATING A RISK OF CRASH OR INJURY.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GEM AT 866-764-0616.
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

CT&T Inks Deal To Supply Spanish Firm With NEVs

South Korean electric vehicle manufacturer CT&T has signed an agreement with the Ficosa Group of Spain to supply 10,000 NEVs.  No other information was provided regarding when deliveries will start, production rates or the value of the deal.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Blogs.edmunds.com

ElecTruckCity To Distribute Trucks For Smith Electric Vehicles In France

UK based Smith Electric Vehicles has named ElecTruckCity as the exclusive distributor in France of the Smith Newton and Smith Edison electric vehicles.  The latter is an all electric version of the Ford Transit van.  ElecTruckCity plans on building out a network of 17 distributors across France including most of the major cities.  The market for these vehicles will get a boost from the French government which provides subsidies of 5,000 Euros for van-like vehicles and 20,000 Euros for Newton sized trucks.  – Marc Cesare Learn more:  Fleetdirector.co.uk

A Different Kind Of Hybrid

HumanCar NEV

HumanCar NEV uses human generated power to help charge the batteries

The HumanCar Imagine PS NEV uses power generated by the passengers or driver to recharge the vehicle’s batteries. The vehicle uses a rowing mechanism to generate power and can seat four. The battery can also be charged via a standard electrical outlet.

Because steering using the rowing handles would be too difficult to control the vehicle is steered by “Body Steering” (read leaning into turns). According to Chuck Greenwood, HumanCar Inc. CEO and son of Charles Greenwood [the inventor], this is apparently much more intuitive (not to mention more fun) than using a conventional steering wheel.

The company claims to have orders for 200 of the vehicles which currently cost $75,000 to produce. Management expects to start full commercial production when 800 orders are received, at which point the vehicles will sell for $15,500. – Marc Cesare

Learn more: Masalfians.blogspot.com

Gill Industries Supplying Chassis For Club Car UTV

Gill Industries of Trenton, GA recently started up a new production line that is manufacturing the chassis for Club Car’s XRT950 utility vehicles.  At a maximum capacity of 30 chassis a day the company could produce an estimated 7,500 chassis a year.  The steel chassis are robotically welded and weigh 200 lbs.

The XRT950 series is targeting agricultural and recreational trail-riding market segments.  The vehicle features a twin-cylinder 14-horsepower engine, independent suspension, four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, locking rear differential and nine inches of ground clearance. Learn more:  Haoodnla.com