Category Archives: electric vehicles

Sandia National Labs Wins Award for Solar Powered GEM

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Sandia National Laboratories has won a 2010 GreenGov Presidential award for modifying a GEM LSV to operate on solar power.?? The awards honor federal agencies and employees who work to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, meet a number of energy, water and waste reduction targets and leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally responsible products and techniques.

PV-powered GEM carts would reduce the number of needed charging stations, resulting in fewer repairs and decreased maintenance costs. Converting to solar powered carts also translates to significant environmental savings. Because no power is purchased for the PV-powered cart, no coal is burned, and no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere to power them.

According to management Sandia will be expanding the program by modifying five Club Car LSVs. Learn more:?? Photonicsonline.com

Madison, WI To Expand Charging Infrastructure

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Madison Gas & Electric Co. and Coulomb Technologies announced plans to expand Madison’s current number of EV charging stations from 3 to 24.?? Originally, plans called for six charging stations, but now an additional eighteen are planned.?? The stations are part of a demonstration project to understand study charging patterns and their impact on the power grid. MG&E is looking for owners of plug-in electric hybrids and neighborhood electric vehicles to volunteer for the project.?? All charging locations will be free and available to the public.

The project is funded by a portion of a $5.5 million smart grid investment grant from the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.?? The charging stations will be two-tiered charging stations that feature both a standard and a faster charging option.?? The stations can charge two vehicles at a time and will be located in high traffic areas.?? Learn more:?? Carbondayautomotive.com

 

Sam’s Club Feature Stealth UTV/LSV

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Tom Colangelo, a local LSV dealer in Florida’s The Villages (a master planned community), has teamed up with Stealth Corporation and Sam’s Club to offer Stealth’s electric powered utility vehicles at several Florida Sam’s Clubs.?? The vehicles are also part of the store’s auto buying program which can be accessed online.?? The Stealths meet LSV requirements so residents of The Villages can use them within the community and venture out onto public roads.

Comment: The combination off-road UTV/LSV is a recent trend, and as the story notes, provides a more versatile alternative to golf cars in these communities.?? These combination vehicles will likely start taking increasing market share from golf cars within the master planned community market segment.?? While golf cars have traditionally had a cost advantage, as more municipalities open up public roads to LSVs, versatility will start trumping price differences.?? Learn more:?? PRLog.org

Cruise Car Launches All American Line

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This week Cruise Car of Sarasota, FL introduced their new All American line of 15 solar electric LSVs.?? The vehicles are produced in the US and feature up to 50% recycled or certified re-manufactured parts and materials.?? The All American Line is GSA Schedule approved and Cruise Car recently shipped 30 All American LSV???s to the U.S. Navy base in San Diego, CA.?? The LSVs, built on an aluminum chassis, can be purchased with or without solar and can accommodate from 2 to 14 passengers. The vehicles are also eligible for solar tax credits.?? Learn more:?? PRweb.com

Company News Briefs

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Carrus BV buys golf cars and parts – Carrus BV of the Netherlands signed an agreement with a European supplier to purchase 3,300 used golf cars as well as thousands of parts and accessories.?? Carrus is a brand-independent supplier of top brand cars, parts and accessories, and serves various European markets, including the leisure sector, golf courses and industry.?? Learn more:?? Golfcarnews.com

ZAP truck & van qualify for tax credit – ZAP recently announced that their electric truck and van have qualified for a ten percent federal tax credit, up to a maximum of $2,500, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.?? Vehicles purchased through 2011 will be eligible for the tax credit.?? Learn more:?? Autorevolution.com

Kawasaki announces new consumer credit program – This month, Kawasaki, in partnership with GE Money, is rolling out a new consumer credit program for purchasing Kawasaki’s motorcycles, ATVs, utility vehicles and watercrafts.?? Learn more:?? Marketwatch.com

RMD Technologies selects seat supplier for electric vehicles – RMD Technologies of San Marcos, CA has chosen PRP Seats of Murrieta, CA to provide seats for their small electric vehicles.?? RMDT’s core business is providing electronics recycling services to businesses, state and federal agencies.?? However in 2007 they decided to branch out into developing an?? alternative energy vehicle using a large percentage of materials recycled from electronic waste.?? Their electric utility vehicle is expected to hit the market at the end of 2010 or beginning of 2011. Learn more:?? Cleanenergynews.blogspot.com

NEV Demonstration Project Begins In LA County

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The Local Use Vehicle Project to demonstrate the efficacy of NEVs recently began in Los Angeles County.?? The eighteen month project features six NEVs ??? two GEMs, two Wheego Whips, a Columbia Summit and a Vantage NEV ??? will be used in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.?? Drivers chosen for the project will use a vehicle for six months, keep a journal about their experience and take a user survey at the end.?? The project is being supported by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Learn more:?? Hybridmile.com

EV Infrastructure News

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Eaton & Murphy Oil USA start EV charging demonstration project. Eaton will provide their DC Quick Chargers and Murphy Oil USA brings over 1,000 gas stations in 22 states to the project.?? An initial test deployment will begin in Tennessee before the partners decide how to expand distribution.?? Learn more:?? Greencarcongress.com

Santa Cruz, CA to add more charging stations. The Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance recently secured more funding for installing more charging stations around the county.?? While existing stations initially targeted NEVs, the new stations will??also??offer enough voltage for charging highway electric cars.?? Learn more:?? Kionrightnow.com

LSV Shuttle/Taxi Services Sprouting Up

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A number of shuttle and taxi services using LSVs have been appearing in various parts of the US over the past two years and it looks like this usage is developing into a niche market for LSVs.?? The latest service is in Tuscaloosa, AL where Sylvester Morgan, owner of Druid City Shuttle, has purchased four LSVs to shuttle people to and from Alabama football games.?? Morgan expects the Tomberlin e-Merge LSVs will be easier to maneuver in and around gameday crowds.?? The vehicles can take up to five people and Morgan plans to charge between five and ten dollars a person.?? Learn more:?? Tuscaloosanews.com

In Woodland near Houston, TX Go Green Taxi, operated by Sara and Jimmy Bissig use a five passenger and a ten passenger Sky Car NEV for their shuttle service.?? Passengers are charged three dollars for the service.?? Learn more:?? Green.autoblog.com

Green Tech Automotive To Offer MyCar NEVs At A Discount

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GreenTech Automotive (GTA), announced at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) that the company will be offering the first 100,000 MyCar NEVs to consumers at a discounted price of $10,000.?? Production of the MyCar is expected to begin in the US in mid-2011, and eventually plans on employing up to 5,000 workers and produce five different models.?? The discounted price is aimed at overcoming the affordability hurdle for electric vehicles.?? Learn more:?? Finance.yahoo.com

CARB Increases Rebate For Zero Emission Agricultural UTVs

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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently increased the rebates for zero emission utility vehicles used for agricultural operations from 15% to 25% of MSRP.?? CARB funds the Zero-Emission Agricultural Utility Terrain Vehicle (Agricultural UTV) Rebate Program which is administered statewide by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD).?? Vehicles that are eligible for the rebates include electric powered models from Bad Boy Enterprises, Barefoot Motors, John Deere, Polaris and ZAP.?? According to the program’s website, rebates are given on a first come, first serve basis.?? A total of $990,000 has been allocated for the program of which only about $20,000 for 12 vehicles has been distributed to date.?? Learn more:?? Valleyair.org