Monthly Archives: April 2010

Hoboken LSV Purchase Revisited

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Earlier in a What’s Cooking On The STOV post I had covered the city of Hoboken’s purchase of LSV utility vehicles for their parking department. The city manager behind the purchase has recently blogged about the process and the reasoning behind it. Some of the key factors influencing the decision to switch from pick-up trucks to LSVs included:

  • Limited use criteria: restricted operating area in terms of miles driven, flat terrain, low payload requirements, no emergency response requirements
  • High mileage pick-ups with increasing maintenance costs
  • High fuel costs for pick-ups driven by idling
  • Narrow LSVs don’t block traffic
  • LSVs have significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs

As an added bonus the vehicles attracted press coverage which highlighted the department’s cost effective and forward thinking purchase. Learn more: Ian Sac’s blog

Golf Car Manufacturers Targeting LSV Market

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A local newspaper story in Georgia, home state of the leading golf car manufacturers, recently ran a story about their move into the LSV market.  The story focuses mainly on the leaders in the golf car market, Club Car and E-Z-Go. Club Car introduced their passenger version of the Villager 2+2 late last year and E-Z-Go will be introducing their LSV later this year.

Club Car was able to take advantage of market demand driven by federal tax credits, especially in Oklahoma.  E-Z-Go chose not to rush the development schedule of their LSV to take advantage of the tax credit.  Instead, they are looking to enter the market with a vehicle with distinctive features.  One feature we have learned about for the vehicle is four wheel hydraulic brakes.
Not mentioned in the story is entry of smaller golf car manufacturers into LSV market such as Fairplay.

The move into the LSV market is driven by a number of factors:

  • Golf cars are already being sold into the gated community market where LSVs are also sold
  • There is growing market opportunity as an increasing number of LSVs are sold outside of gated communities
  • The decline in the golf course driven segment of the market is forcing golf car companies to look for new areas of growth

Learn more:  Augusta Chronicle

Boulder Electric Vehicle To Begin Production

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Boulder Electric Vehicle's Electric Truck

The aerodynamic electric truck from Boulder Electric Vehicle

With 25 orders of intent in hand Boulder Electric Vehicles is setting up a 60,000 square foot facility to produce their electric truck.  The all electric truck is targeted for the delivery market and can travel 120 miles before requiring an 8 hour recharge.  The vehicle currently costs $100,000.  Learn more:  Detnews.com

Dealer News

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Arnell Auto Group A New GEM Dealer – Arnell Auto Group in Burns Harbor, IN recently became the only dealer for Global Electric Motorcars in Indiana.  The GEM line includes six vehicle models that operate on a chargeable 72-volt battery and can seat between two and six passengers.  David Arnell is the president of the Arnell Auto Group, which sells new and used vehicles, also sells Chevrolet, Chevrolet Commercial, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram brands. Learn more:  NWItimes.com

North Shore Auto Group Provides Solar Charged Vehicles – North Shore Auto Group of Highland Park, IL has partnered with The Solar Electric Vehicle Company (SEVC) to provide solar-charged Cruise Car NEVs. The vehicles travel up to 60 miles on a single charge using a solar panel system that provides constant supplemental charging throughout the day.  The line-up of vehicles includes 4 and 6 passenger NEVs and multi-passenger shuttles, security and utility NEVs as well as solar-canopied golf carts.  Learn more:  EVworld.com

5 Star Mini Trucks To Market Chinese Brand – 5 Star Mini Trucks of Yukon, OK recently announced an exclusive contract with Shandong Liangzi Power Co. Ltd. of China to market their trucks and set up dealerships around the U.S.  The vehicles are street legal in Oklahoma except on highways and can travel 40 miles on a gallon of gasoline. Owner Rick Opitz said “...the partnership could also lead to an Oklahoma assembly plant or parts warehouse for the mini trucks.”  Learn more:  OKNews.com

Battery News

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Worldwide Battery Joins Trojan Battery Network – WorldWide Battery Company recently joined its superior network of master distributors to oversee distribution of Trojan Battery products in the states of Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. WorldWide Battery. WorldWide Battery currently owns and operates six distribution centers spanning a total of over 75,000 square feet of space.  Learn more:  Trojanbattery.com

Fairplay To Use Fullriver AGM Batteries – Fairplay Electric Cars will offer its new EVE LSV Deluxe Limited model exclusively with AGM batteries manufactured by Fullriver Batteries.  The vehicle features an AC motor.  The Fullriver AGM batteries will also be offered as an upgrade in all models of Fairplay cars, including the HOSS for commercial industrial use, the Legacy Golf products and the popular EVE low speed vehicles for street use.  Learn more:  Fullriverdcbattery.com

Smith Electric Vehicles US Wins $22M Grant

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It was recently announced that Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp won a $22 million grant from the US Department of Energy.  The grant will be used to produce more than 500 of the Smith Newton all-electric commercial trucks as part of a demonstration program.  Earlier the company was awarded a $10 million grant.  Learn more:  Reuters.com

Wisconsin Launches UTV Trail Program

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Wisconsin recently enacted a two year pilot program for use of utility vehicles on ATV trails that will run through June 30, 2012.  The legislation requires counties to pass resolutions to opt into the program so many trails are probably not open to utility vehicles as of yet.  Towns within counties may opt out of the program.  Key differences compared to the previous pilot program which ended in 2009 include:

  • Different vehicle specifications, including requirements for factory equipped seatbelts and a roll bar, type device.
  • ATV trails on state and national forest lands may not be participating.
  • UTVs participating in the program will require Public Use – ATV registration, including for non-residents.
  • All ATV laws will apply, except that operators age 16 and born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 must complete a DNR ATV Safety Education Course. Operators under age 16 are not allowed to operate a UTV.
  • Driver’s licenses are not required

The program is being administered by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Learn more:  DNR.wi.gov