According to reports, Mitsubishi Motors is currently developing a small electric truck for the farm and contractor market. Technical specifications on the vehicle are limited, but it is expected to be a light weight, rear drive truck. It is not known if it will operate at LSV speeds or higher. The truck will be the third electric vehicle model produced by Mitsubishi. Learn more: Rushlane.com
Federal budget battles have led to the expiration of a number of electric vehicle related tax credits. The most important tax credit for the STOV market was the tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles which applied to LSVs. The credit was worth 10% of the cost of the vehicle up to $2,500. A tax credit for installing electric vehicle recharging stations also expired. While these type of tax credits are frequently renewed with an added provision to the budget bill, the disputes over the budget that went down to the deadline altered the usual process. There is a possibility that some of the tax credits could be re-instated at a later date, which has occurred with other credits in the past, but there has been no reports of that happening. Learn more: Torquenews.com
Evergreen Electric Vehicles, an authorized ZAP dealer, has chosen Solar Drive as their provider for roof top solar panels for their vehicles. The system from Denmark based Solar Drive includes two 100 watt panels and a proprietary controller. Press release follows.
PRESS RELEASE
EVERGREEN Electric Vehicles endorses Solar Drive
Evergreen Electric Vehicles, LLC endorses the Solar Drive system as the preferred Solar Top for all of its vehicles. “We are very impressed with the quality and performance of the Solar Drive products,” says Keith Andrews, President of Evergreen Electric Vehicles. “The robust design and attention to detail are qualities that drew us to the product. The management and support staff are highly professional and forward thinking. We wanted to give our customers some direction on which of Solar top to consider.”
The Solar Drive top fits a wide range of vehicles. The hardware to install the top uses top quality stainless steel fasteners and the solar panels are surrounded by an attractive extruded aluminum frame with a Scandinavian flare. Solar Drive’s home office is located in Denmark.
The Solar Drive top converts solar energy from two one hundred watt PV modules through a proprietary Maximum Power Point Tracking charge controller to maximize the amps and volts to the battery pack.
“The use of the latest state of the art solar panels along with a superior management system is what differentiates the Solar Drive system from the others.” says Erik Andersen, General Manager of Global Sales for Solar Drive. “This free power from the sun can extend the vehicles range five to ten miles per day, depending on a variety of conditions. By keeping the batteries constantly charged, the rate and level of discharge is improved, which over time will improve the battery life,” adds Andersen.
To learn more about the Solar Drive system or to locate a Solar Drive distributor near you , go to www.solardrive.com . To find our more about the full line of Evergreen Electric Vehicles go to www.evergreenev.com
The University of Chicago recently added three e-Ride electric utility vehicles to their fleet. The LSVs are replacing two gas powered trucks and a van and are the University’s first foray into all electric vehicles. The vehicles will be used mostly by the facilities department in their carpentry or painting shops during a pilot phase to understand how to best use the vehicles. In the future more of these type of vehicles are expected to be purchased as part of a sustainability program. Learn more: Blogs.uchicago.edu/dirt
Update: In a related story, Missouri State University students purchased a Vantage EVX1000 electric utility truck for student workers who collect recyclables on campus. The student sustainability fund was used to finance the $24,000 purchase. The recycling program is expected to now be more efficient with a dedicated vehicle that expands access to off-campus university buildings downtown. Learn more: News-leader.com
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with E-Z-GO today announced a voluntary recall of nearly 22,000 vehicles which were sold in the first half of 2011 under a number of brands including TXT golf cars, Cushman shuttle vehicles and Bad Boy off-road utility vehicles. The cause is a defective rack rod ball joint in which “…the threaded end of the rack rod ball joint can break and the ball joint can become displaced, causing the driver to lose steering control.” According to the CPSC consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed and contact E-Z-GO or an authorized dealer for a free repair. E-Z-GO and E-Z-GO dealers are contacting known owners. E-Z-GO can be contacted at (800) 774-3946 or visit www.ezgo.com. For specific vehicle models and serial numbers involved in the recall visit the CPSC website. Learn more: CPSC.gov
Viridian Motors of Virginia expects to enter the small, electric utility truck market early next year. Similar in design to a mini-truck, the Work Ready truck comes in two models, the WR100 and WR200, has a top speed of 25 mph and is priced at $13,500. Target markets include farms, golf courses and apartment complexes. The vehicle is a mix of US and China sourced parts with the assembly being performed in Norfolk, VA.
According to the company president Terry Langhorne the chassis and cabin are made in China and Chinese sourced parts constitute 15-20% of the sales price. Parts sourced from the US include electric AC motor, controller, contactor, wiring harness, seats, transaxle rear end, fuse links, tires, brake lines, interior sheet metal components, steel chassis modifications, 12v battery system, throttle plates, gauges and dashboard switch assemblies. Learn more: Hamptonroads.com
Garia has developed a special edition golf car, the Garia Mansory Edition. The vehicle is a collaboration between Garia and Mansory, a high-end customizer of cars from luxury brands such as Rolls Royce, Austin Martina and Bentley.
Carbon fiber – an ultra-light yet exceptionally strong material normally used in the motor sports and aircraft industries – has been used on body panels on the front, side steps and tail. The cabin floor is lined with teak tree, while the specially designed headlights, air scoop and fender gills complete this unique and complex transformation.
The Garia Mansory Edition comes in street legal and non-street legal versions and will be on display at the Top Marques Macau 2011 which takes place from November 24-27 2011 at The Venetian Macau.
In other Garia developments, the company has partnered with Hank Haney a leading golf instructor for a number of professional golfers and host of “The Haney Project.” on the Golf Channel.
After several years of legal battles and legislative efforts Electric Cab of Austin will soon be able to operate legally in downtown Austin. The City Council recently approved the first writing of an ordinance that will allow electric LSVs to be used in the downtown area. Rides are provided for free and the company generates revenue from advertising on the vehicles. Learn more: Dailytexanonline.com
Comment: This business model of using LSVs for center city taxi services has emerged in a number of cities. Given the number of cities that could potentially implement a service such as this, it represents a potential growth area for LSVs that was not apparent several years ago. The concept is another example of how STOVs can perform well in specific applications. In this case regular taxis are too expensive for such short trips and electric LSVs provide a greener alternative while taking up less space on the road.
The original Fargo, ND GEM factory will be liquidated starting December 6th. After acquiring GEM, Polaris Industries moved GEM production to their plant in Spirit Lake, IA. Items available for sale include “…excess Global Electric Motorcars vehicles, tools, equipment, office furniture, pallet racking, and a state of the art production line installed in 2003.” Liquid Asset Partners will be conducting the liquidation. Learn more: PRWeb.com
Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:
State Level Regulations
Pennsylvania – State House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that
“…authorizes travel in NEVs on roadways with a posted speed limit of no more than 25 mph and allows NEVs to cross roadways posted with a higher maximum speed. They can only be operated during daylight hours. NEVs will be required to be equipped with most basic safety equipment, such as brakes, mirrors, seatbelts, windshield and wipers, speedometer, odometer, headlamps, stop lamps, turn signals and reflectors, and a slow-moving vehicle emblem. In addition, NEV drivers must possess a valid license certificate of title, registration and insurance.”
The state is one of only a few that have not passed a LSV law yet.
Nebraska – The governor signed a law allowing NEVs/LSVs on low speed roads. LSV owners will be required to have a valid operator’s license and liability insurance coverage. The vehicles will be subject to titling requirements, a registration fee of $15 and a new alternative fuel fee of $75 for vehicles using a source of energy not taxed under the motor fuel laws. The alternative fuel fee will replace the alternative fuel tax.
Louisiana – State legislature is debating allowing mini-trucks on public roads.
Wapello, IA – City council is discussing allowing golf cars and utility vehicles on city streets and receiving a mixed reaction from residents.
Sunman, IN – City council will allow golf cars on city streets. Vehicles need to be inspected and have safety features like turn signals, safety belts, reflectors and slow moving vehicle emblems.
Marathon, FL – City allows modified golf cars on low speed streets. Under the auspicies of the state statue, any golf car meeting the safety and speed requirements will be able to use streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. A city ordinance with different requirements would of required the city to do their own licensing and other onerous administrative duties regarding the vehicles.
Dundee, IL – Village Trustee is pushing the town to revisit the idea of allowing NEVs and LSVs on low speed village roads.
Lauderdale-by-the-sea, FL – The town is creating four parking spaces in their commercial area specifically for use by NEVs.
Augusta County, VA – Supervisors passed an ordinance allowing golf cars and utility vehicles on country roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less.
Bryan City, OH – Initiated ordinance that allows “neighborhood electric vehicles, urban electric vehicles and golf cars/carts” which have been modified to meet certain criteria to use roads with speed limits up to 25 mph. Driving hours on public roads for the vehicles is limited to daylight hours.
Findlay, OH – City is considering allowing modified golf cars on low speed city streets.
Tecumseh, NE – Town council allows the use of ATVs and UTVs on city streets. The ordinance allows ATVs and utility vehicles during daylight hours for licensed drivers with liability insurance. Vehicles must be equipped with a bicycle safety flag and not exceed 30 mph.
Riverside County, CA – The governor of California signed legislation that lets Riverside County open up more low speed roads for low speed vehicles.
Mankato, MN – City passed an ordinance that allowed UTVs and mini-trucks on city streets. Lower speed golf cars were removed from the ordinance.
Canyon Lake, CA – LSVs/NEVs will not be allowed to use Railroad Canyon Road because of safety concerns related to the vehicles mixing with faster traffic.
Polk County, MN – County commissioners passed an ordinance that authorizes the use of four-wheel ATVs, mini trucks and golf carts on county roads.
Morris, MN – City council is considering an ordinance that allows ATVs, UTVs, mini-trucks and golf cars on city streets.
Reedsburg, WI – City council amended an ordinance to now allow gas as well as electric LSVs on public roads.