Category Archives: electric vehicles

Tax Credit Update

Posted on by
Reply

Previously I posted a story about GEM stating their vehicles qualified for a federal plug-in electric vehicle tax credit. I have since checked on other manufacturers such as Tomberlin, Columbia ParCar and Wheego and they are also claiming their LSVs qualify for the tax credit as well. Columbia ParCar’s website has some good information on the subject. LSVs are apparently eligible for two tax credits in 2009, the larger EESA or plug-in tax credit and the smaller ARRA LSV tax credit, but taxpayers can only claim one for a given vehicle. The EESA tax credit should provide a significant boost to sales of LSVs for the remainder of 2009.

AMP Control Of Oklohoma To Assemble & Sell Wheego LSVs

Posted on by
Reply

AMP Control of Piedmont, OK has an agreement to assemble and sell Wheego Electric Car’s LSVs. According to Wheego management a significant factor in making this move was the sizable state tax credit for electric vehicles in Oklahoma. Wheego CEO Mike McQuary states that

…the Wheego Whip LSV qualifies for a state tax credit of 50 percent of the purchase price of the vehicle, which is $18,995, as well as a $7,500 federal tax credit.

A news conference on the agreement is scheduled for tomorrow Learn more: kfsm,com (5 News)

DFM-USA Announces Latest Line Of Electric Vehicles

Posted on by
Reply

DFM-USA recently announced their latest line of electric vehicles. The company’s product lines include the Marathon Electric Vehicle, and soon the traditional gas powered industrial transport, and our 4×4 off road UTV. According to management,

First to be released is our Marathon EV line of NEV, LSV Electric Utility Vehicles. We offer a 2 Door Truck, 4 Door Truck, Passenger Van, and Cargo Van. Each model comes standard with our 100% plug in electric Marathon HP drive.

Learn more: prlog

What’s Cooking On The STOV

Posted on by
Reply

Highlighting some of the many applications for small, task-oriented vehicles

Unmanned Military Vehicles: John Deere recently demonstrated its R-Gator standalone, autonomous mule, which is based on its M-Gator model at the Army sponsored Robotic Rodeo.

Applications include reconnaissance, patrol, hauling supplies (up to 1,400 lbs.), casualty evacuation, and the “marsupial” capability–namely the ferrying and remote deployment of smaller, specialized robots.

The Robotics Rodeo is sponsored by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and by the U.S. Army’s III Corps.?? Learn more:?? CNET.com

Campus Maintenance: Shenandoah University recently replaced a gas powered maintenance vehicle with a Vantage electric truck.?? The electric truck meets LSV standards and is powered by a 72 volt battery system.?? The vehicle will be used by the university’s physical plant department for general maintenance and contributes to the goals of reducing the carbon footprint and reaching campus sustainability.?? The university expects to save on fuel and maintenance costs while reducing emissions and noise.?? Learn more:?? Shenandoah University

Columbia ParCar Wins U.S. Army Order For Nearly 800 LSVs

Posted on by
1

Columbia ParCar recently announced that they have won an order to supply 799 LSVs for the US Army.?? The LSVs will be used at 47 US Army installations in the US and Puerto Rico and are part of a three year plan to purchase 4,000 LSVs.?? The plan calls for 800 LSVs to be acquired in 2009, 1,600 in 2010 and another 1,600 in 2011.?? The vehicles will be?? used for passenger transport, security patrol, maintenance and delivery services.?? According to Columbia ParCar’s Scott Breckley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, ???438 vehicles are four-passenger models and the remaining 361 units are utility vehicles capable of transporting two passengers and cargo.??? Learn more:?? Columbia ParCar

Comment: This order is another example of the growing importance of the military segment for LSVs and utility vehicles.?? Kawasaki and Polaris have previously won contracts to supply utility vehicles and the Army’s LSV program represents a significant chunk of the LSV market.?? For utility vehicles, vehicle performance in specific field applications and favorable price points compared to previous vehicle options available is driving demand.?? Polaris, according to their latest presentation to investors, considers the military segment a significant new market development initiative in their global market strategy.?? For the LSVs, the military is replacing more expensive larger vehicles and saving on fuel costs, while still being able to perform the necessary tasks. – Marc Cesare

Zap Announces Military Reorder & Increased Production Schedule

Posted on by
Reply

Electric vehicle maker Zap recently announced that the US military has followed up a June order for their Zaptruck XL with a request for eleven more of the vehicles.?? The military is ordering five 220-volt fast charging stations as well.?? The management also reported that they…

…have been increasing our production and assembly schedules for the past several months and I expect to see even more ramp-up initiatives in the next quarter.

Learn more:?? Earthtimes.org

Global Green Cars Announces Launch Of Electric Truck & New Facility

Posted on by
Reply
Global Green Cars G-3 Electric Truck

Global Green Cars G-3 Electric Truck

Global Green Cars Inc announced that their G-3 electric truck will be available in Spring or Summer of 2010 and cost approximately $25,000.?? The truck features a 1,000 lb payload capacity, a top speed of 85 mph and a range of 100 miles.?? The plug-in electric truck is powered by nickel-based batteries.?? Learn more:?? Trucktrend.com

In conjunction with the vehicle announcement, Global Green Cars also announced that they are moving ahead with building a production facility in Kentucky.?? The state is providing a $15.5 million financial incentive package.?? According to management,

Global Green Cars is planning to produce first stage vehicles in 2010 in a temporary facility and to scale up to mass production in 2011 in a new facility built to meet anticipated demand for its electric vehicles.

Upon completion of the building, assembly lines and logistical peripheral structures, the new facility in Williamsburg will be capable of producing up to 30,000 electric cars and trucks per year.

Learn more:?? Earthtimes.org

Oregon Governor Supports Electric Vehicle Manufacturers

Posted on by
Reply

Oregon’s Governor Ted Kulongoski is using a $100,000 grant from his Strategic Reserve Fund to support Brammo, Inc., a manufacturer of electric motorcycles.

The company plans to invest $51 million over the next five years to produce its all-electric motorcycle called the Enertia. That includes an $18 million headquarters and production facility in Ashland.

The governor also paid a visit to Barefoot Motors a manufacturer of electric off-road utility vehicles.?? The company relocated from California last fall and started production in June at a rate of 10 vehicles per month.?? Learn more:?? Bizjournal.com

DOE Announces Funding Awarded For Clean Cities Programs

Posted on by
Reply

Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.?? Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S.?? Many of the projects include installing recharging stations for electric vehicles and?? purchasing electric vehicles. One such project is The Triangle J Council of Governments’ Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative which is planning to purchase 56 NEVs with some of the funds.?? Learn more:???? DOE

Electric Vehicles International Moving Headquaters To California

Posted on by
Reply

Mexico based Electric Vehicles International is moving their headquarters to Stockton, CA where they will also be building a manufacturing facility for their electric powered light truck.?? The EVILightTruck has a top speed of 45-60 mph, depending on the version, and is available as a class 3,4,5 or 6 truck.?? There is also a hybrid?? option.?? The all electric model has a 100KW motor and is powered by a lithium phosphate battery supplied by Valence.?? EVI also sells drive trains and controllers for electric vehicles.?? Since its founding in 1989 the company reports selling over 1,000 vehicles.?? Production in the new facility will begin in 2010 and will employ up to 100 people when operating at peak production.?? Learn more:?? Centralvalleybusinesstimes.com