Vantage Vehicle International has introduced four new electric vehicles, two utility mini-trucks and two vans. The LSVs have a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 55-65 miles. The vehicles operate on 72-volt systems using either six 12-volt batteries or twelve 6-volt batteries. The vehicle chassis are imported from China and the electrical components are installed in the company’s facility in Corona, CA.
Last month an effort was announced by fourteen U.S. technology companies to develop advanced battery manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. The batteries will be lithium ion and targeted for hybrid and electric vehicles.
Seeing the strategic importance of securing a battery supply and developing technological expertise, the companies are trying to secure $1 billion in federal aid to build a manufacturing plant. Firms involved in the effort include Johnson Controls, Enersys, 3M co., Mobius Power, FMC and ActaCell. While some of the technical know-how behind advanced batteries has been developed in the U.S., the manufacturing has migrated overseas to countries like China where, according to the article, over four dozen advanced battery factories are being built.
In a related story, GM has also identified battery manufacturing as a core competency and is planning to build their own lithium ion battery plant to supply their Volt vehicle production.
While the advanced battery production is clearly aimed at highway speed vehicles, the developments should help efforts to improve the performance of battery powered LSVs. While most of these vehicles use lead-acid type batteries, some are using or exploring the use of more advanced batteries. More production, competition and technological advances will only make these batteries more feasible for use in LSVs and utility vehicles in the future.
Mayor Daley of Chicago is set to introduce an ordinance in the City Council today that will allow residents and city agencies to use LSVs on Chicago streets with speed limits up to 30 mph.
The ordinance is part of the Mayor’s “green Fleet” initiative which already includes the purchase of four GEMs for use inside fleet management facilities. The city expects to add more vehicles for parking enforcement, some refuse collection tasks and crowd control in contained areas.
From our point of view this is a significant development that such a large city is moving towards allowing LSVs. To date, mostly smaller communities have adopted LSV ordinances. This action could set a precedent for other large cities, provides high profile exposure for LSVs and offers a test case for the use of LSVs in urban areas. We will be watching to see if the ordinance passes and how many of Chicago’s residents will choose to use LSVs.
First Army NEVs Delivered (Molly Riley/Reuters)
The Army took delivery of six GEM LSVs, the first step towards eventually acquiring 4,000 LSVs. A total of 800 vehicles will be delivered in 2009, followed by 1,600 in 2010 and 1,600 in 2011.
Not all of the vehicles will necessarily be GEMs which were procured through the GSA. The GSA currently lists GEM, Columbia ParCar, E-SUV and ZENN as LSV vendors. In an interview with bloggers, Paul Bollinger, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Partnerships, remarked that he expected to see more manufacturers to join the GSA list. The GSA posted a request for vendors on Fedbizopps.com today.
He also noted in the interview that the Army had identified 28,000 sedans and light trucks that could potentially be replaced by electric vehicles, either LSVs or higher speed vehicles. Part of the reason they have moved to LSVs is that fueling station infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles has not been able to keep pace with vehicle acquisition. The necessary infrastructure costs would be in the millions of dollars while the installation of three-prong outlets for charging the LSVs will only cost an estimated $200 per vehicle.
The Army estimates an LSV saves them $3,300 compared to a full-size sedan. The LSVs will be leased for six years and maintenance and battery replacement are included in the lease. Bollinger remarked that not only will the Army save on fuel costs but also produce lower emissions and help drive the market for LSVs and battery technology. The Navy has directly expressed interest in “piggybacking” on the Army program and while the Air Force has used back channels to show their interest in joining forces.
One of the reasons golf courses choose gas powered golf cars over electric is the additional power they provide for hilly terrain but the introduction of electric golf cars like E-Z-GO’s RXV may turn the tide in favor of electric golf cars. E-Z-GO’s RXV is driven by an AC motor rather than a DC motor and is designed to provide more power and additional range per charge. According to reviews from The Club at Cordillera in Vail, CO the new golf car delivers on these promises. Management at the course are impressed not only by the vehicle’s power on hilly terrain and additional range of the RXV but the dual braking system which engages automatically on steep slopes and recharges the batteries. Additional options have made the vehicles easier for the club to maintain and easier for patrons to drive.
After a six month trial the US Army has decided not to use GEMs at garrisons across Europe.
GEM on test with US Army
During the trial three vehicles were tested at US Army garrison Grafenwohr in Germany. The vehicles were used for trash site inspection, mail delivery and housing area checks. According to Stars and Stripes,
Last week, Grafenwohr???s director of public works, Tom Hays, said the cars failed to impress.
“They broke down too often and didn???t have enough range,” he said of the cars made in the States by a Chrysler subsidiary.
Other comments by Hays suggest that the primary problem is with the vehicle’s limited range, about 30 miles. The article notes that these test trial results does not preclude the Army from revisiting the use of electric vehicles in the future.
More in Stars and Stripes
CT&T, a Korea based electric vehicle manufacturer, has developed the e-Zone EV low speed vehicle (LSV). 
The vehicle comes with a 72 volt electric motor which can be powered by one of three battery pack options, flooded lead acid with a range of 35 miles or two different lithium ion packs with ranges of 45 and 75 miles. The company is establishing an assembly plant in Fiji which will be able to produce up to 10,000 vehicles annually. For North America, CT&T reports it is building an assembly line in conjunction with Royal Laser Mfg. in Toronto, Canada with an annual capacity of up to 15,000 vehicles and a projected start date in March 2009.
In the US the vehicle will be marketed as the CT Series Micro Car by T3 Motion. The company is targeting the public safety and private security markets and has contracted for 4,000 vehicles from CT&T. The deal is reported to be worth $50 million or about $12,500 per vehicle. The company reports orders for 100 vehicles already.
More from greencar.com
Ontario will allow low speed vehicles on public roads as long as they have certain safety features. According to a press release from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Low-speed electric vehicles can be driven safely on public roads as long as they include a number of additional safety requirements and follow appropriate road restrictions, according to a National Research Council study released today by the Ontario government.
The list of additional safety requirements based on the National Research Council study includes:
The complete report from the National Research Council should be available here (pdf) but the link was not working as of this posting.
Cities across the country continue to both pass or reject ordinance regarding LSVs and golf cars. A number of common issues keep surfacing including:
On the last point, I believe the LSV manufacturers will need to do a better job differentiating themselves from golf cars. You often hear LSVs/NEVs referred to as “glorified golf carts” or a similar moniker. This only creates confusion and blurs the real safety differences between the two different types of vehicles. This melding of vehicle types and their perceived level of safety, often attributing LSVs with a golf cart level of safety, ultimately makes it harder to pass ordinances allowing LSV use on city streets.
Commerce City, CO ??? approved revised ordinance allowing the use of NEVs
Deer Park, WA ??? repealed ordinance allowing golf cars to be operated on city streets
Berthoud, CO ??? passed ordinance allowing NEVs on the road
Loveland, CO ??? considering NEV ordinance
Stuart City, FL ??? failed to pass an ordinance that would allow LSVs and golf cars on designated streets. There were concerns about safety and access because the vehicles cannot cross state highways.
Bismarck, ND ??? passed ordinance allowing use of LSVs on certain streets
Zion, Il ??? ordinance allowing the use of LSVs on hold until the city can resolve questions about insurance for the vehicles
Bainbridge, GA ??? considering ordinance that would allow the use of golf cars on streets
Winter Garden, FL ??? six month trial period allowing the use of golf cars on city streets
Wausau, WI – the state DOT rejected an ordinance for LSVs, needing to examine state highway crossovers more closely
Canyonville, OR and Ocean City, NJ have moved to forbid the use of golf cars on city streets
In a recent press release Electric Mobility Canada responded to recent attacks on the safety of LSVs. The following excerpt provides some data on LSV safety performance in the real world.
Low-speed electric vehicles are statistically amongst the safest classes of vehicles in the world. A single manufacturer Reva, who sell their low speed electric vehicles throughout Asia and Europe and have amassed over 50 million kilometres in mixed use environments, report that there have been no associated fatalities with this particular vehicle. Similarly, with over 10 years of statistical data available from the United States, and a fleet of over 45, 000 low-speed electric vehicles in operation on public roads there have no associated fatalities with this class of vehicle.
Electric Mobility Canada is a national membership-based not-for-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the promotion of electric mobility as a readily available and important solution to Canada’s emerging energy and environmental issues.