Charging Infrastructure News

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Marc Cesare

EV solar charging station at Brooklyn Bridge Park

A Solar Charging Station Grows In Brooklyn – Brooklyn Bridge Park recently became home to the city’s first solar powered electric vehicle charging station. The station was developed and donated by the Beautiful Earth Group, a renewable energy developer based in Brooklyn, and uses two recycled shipping containers stacked on top of one another and 24 photovoltaic panels. The station will be used by the park’s fleet of four electric vehicles which include two GEM LSVs and two Toro utility vehicles. The charging stations fits with the park’s sustainability efforts and will also be incorporated into educational programs for children. Learn more: Brooklyneagle.com

Plugless Power wireless charging station from Evtran

Google Testing Wireless Charging Station – Google is testing wireless EV charging technology developed by Evtran of Virginia. Called Plugless Power, the recharging station will be used to power up one of Google’s NEVs that are used in the company’s vehicle sharing program for employees. The vehicle had to be retrofitted to work with the charger which works on the principle of induction similar to electric transformers except that the transformer is split between the charger and the vehicle. Evtran is looking for additional corporate or municipal NEV fleets to field test their product. Learn more: Cleantechnica.com

What’s Cooking on the STOV

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Marc Cesare

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

Pheasant Gamekeeper UTV – Park House Pheasantries in the UK uses three Kubota RTV900’s to manage their gamekeeping operation which involves rearing up to 50,000 pheasants a year for small to large shoots. The UTVs are used for a variety of tasks including game crop spraying with a front mounted sprayer, hauling feed, dumping gravel, pulling out stuck vehicles and transporting dogs. Besides the horsepower, ground clearance and power steering the owner purchased the street legal version of the vehicle to provide additional flexibility. Learn more: Constructionnewsportal.com

LSV Police Patrol Vehicles – The Wetumpka Police Department in Alabama recently purchased two GEMs for use at community events and patrolling select neighborhoods. Obtained with grant money, the department likes the smaller size and relatively silent vehicles for nighttime patrols and community events. They also expect to save money on fuel and maintenance costs. Learn more: Blog.al.com

Rural Real Estate Selling – A Wisconsin real estate agent specializing in selling properties for hunting, recreation and rural homes uses a Polaris Ranger to show clients around various properties. The rural and sometimes large size of the tracts require a vehicle with off-road capabilities to provide clients with an up close look at the properties. Learn more: Wisconsin State Journal

Park Maintenance – Wisconsin’s state parks department recently purchased 15 E-Ride electric vehicles from E-Ride Industries for cleaning and maintenance at parks around the state. Some units were customized with full-length aluminum enclosures to protect the payload. Compared to the full-size trucks they replace, the vehicles cost less up front to purchase, have lower fuel costs, lower maintenance costs and a smaller carbon footprint. In addition, the parks department has received positive feedback regarding the vehicles from park visitors. Learn more: WisBusiness.com

Are Electric LSVs Taking Market Share From Gas UTVs?

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Marc Cesare

While I’ve come across many instances of gas and electric STOVs replacing full-size pickup trucks, I’ve seen fewer stories about electric LSVs replacing gas UTVs but in the past few weeks I came across two. In both cases the electric vehicle offered cost advantages and a better set of features for the end use application.

The first is from Albany, GA where the local police department replaced a 12 year old gas powered Kawasaki Mule with a GEM for use in parking enforcement. Learning from the local US Marine base experience and evaluation, the department estimates that they will save about $6,000 a year in gas, oil change and maintenance expense each year. The GEM also has better features for parking enforcement including an enclosed cab, rear and side mirrors, warning lights, a fan for summer use and a heater for winter use. Learn more: Albanyherald.com

In the second instance, River Falls Municipal Utilities in Wisconsin replaced a John Deere Gator with a Polaris NEV. In this case, they tested the vehicle for several weeks by performing tasks around the wastewater treatment plant. The utility also received a $5,009 grant from Wisconsin Electric Power. Management sees the vehicle being used for both off-road and on-road uses such as driving downtown for supplies or town meetings. A cab enclosure will be purchased in the future to enable year round use. Learn more: Riverfallsjournal.com

New GEMs Launched For 2011

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars LLC (GEM) has announced their new product line for 2011. New features for the six model product line include:

An energy monitoring system, which allows drivers to determine the total amount of energy in kilo-watt-hours (kWh) that the GEM vehicle has removed from the grid. By using the trip meter, odometer switch in the vehicle, drivers can view the energy saving information right on the vehicle’s LCD screen. This feature is the first of its kind in the industry and allows drivers to actually see, and quantify, the positive impact that a GEM vehicle makes to the environment.
Also new for 2011 are four vehicle options including:

12” turf tires for off-road applications

Right-hand-drive package that converts the GEM vehicle into the perfect police or security vehicle

Short-bed package that provides a 34” x 48” cargo bed on the GEM e4 four-passenger coupe or the GEM e6 six-passenger shuttle vehicle

Utility tie downs that allow cargo to easily be secured in any of the GEM utility vehicles

Learn more: Chrysler.com (pdf of press release)

Sandia National Labs Wins Award for Solar Powered GEM

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Marc Cesare

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

NEV Demonstration Project Begins In LA County

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Marc Cesare

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

News Briefs

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Wheego On GSA Schedule – Wheego Electric Cars recently announced that the irWheego Whip LSV is now on the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule 23 for LSVs. Learn more: PRWeb.com

Ruff & Tuff Has New COO – Ruff & Tuff Electric Vehicle has named Shane Michelli as their new COO. Learn more: Theoutdoorwire.com

Electrovaya Adds Former GEM CEO – Electrovaya has named Bruce Coventry as Vice President of Operations. Electrovaya is a developer and manufacturer of lithium ion battery systems for the clean transportation, smart grid power, consumer and healthcare markets. Learn more: Marketwire.com

The Peapod Demise Explained

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Marc Cesare

A recent story explains what happened to the Peapod LSV. The vehicle, originally slated for a late 2010 launch, never made it to the launchpad, apparently the victim of Chrysler’s bankruptcy filing and subsequent reorganization. The old GEM business unit was dissolved and a new one created but without the Peapod. The impetus behind the vehicle was Peter Arnell and he was closely tied with the former CEO Robert Nardelli, so when he went out the door the Peapod followed.

What is unfortunate is that the timing of the consumer targeted vehicle would have been perfect. The vehicle would have been eligible for significant tax credits in 2010 and the consumer market for LSVs is primed for growth for a variety of reasons notwithstanding a somewhat slow economic recovery. Learn more: Green Car Advisor

Insurance Institute Wants To Restrict LSVs

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Marc Cesare

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) wants to restrict the use of LSVs on public roads over concerns about crash safety, or have the government review current LSV safety standards. Based on results from recent crash tests, the IIHS believes the mixing of LSVs with larger , full-functioning vehicles is a recipe for more serious injuries and deaths in vehicle accidents.

IIHS crash test simulating a GEM being hit by an SUV

The institute recently conducted a number of crash tests including a GEM e2 simulating a side impact with a SUV traveling at 31 mph, a GEM e2 being impacted by a Smart Fortwo and similar tests with a Changan Tiger Star mini-truck. The institutes’s position is that crashworthy enough to be on the road with larger, faster vehicles. At the same time, the group cannot point to evidence of “…large numbers of people being hurt or dying in such crashes.” Learn more: Wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

Another article on the issue provided some responses from LSV manufacturers.

Chrysler Group responds, “GEM vehicles offer customers an inexpensive, clean solution for low-speed environments and comply with (the NHTSA’s) standards for low-speed vehicles, which limit the maximum speed of the vehicle to 25 mph.”

“It’s a grave generalization to say that all LSVs are simply souped-up golf carts,” says Mike McQuary, CEO of Atlanta-based Wheego Electric Cars, which manufactures the Whip LSV. “The Wheego Whip … is a full-functioning, steel unibody automobile that certainly nobody would ever mistake for a golf cart.”

Learn more: USAToday.com

GEM Receives AFVI Award

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Marc Cesare

The Alternative fuel Vehicle Institute presented GEM with their 2010 EV-angelism Award at the group’s national conference and expo.

AFVI honored GEM for its history and leadership in the low-speed, Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) market, noting the company’s commitment to manufacturing environmentally-friendly vehicles and its long service, which has helped build credibility for the NEV industry as a whole.

At the conference GEM also showcased their right hand drive model which is targeting security, parking enforcement and delivery applications. Learn more: PRWeb.com

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