Club Car has extended their partnership with professional golf’s European Tour through 2014 including the 2014 Ryder Cup. As part of the deal Club Car provides 70 or more golf cars and utility vehicles at each of 26 tournaments during the year. At the Ryder Cup upwards of 300 vehicles are provided for promoters anda variety of support staff. Club Car has worked with the tour since 1999. Learn more: Thesportscampus.com
NEV from AD Motors of Korea will be imported by AVRC for the US market
The Advance Vehicle Research Center (AVRC) of Danville, NC will be the importer and sales agent for a NEV produced by Korea-based AD Motors. The NEV is called the “Change” in Korea and has a top speed of 45 mph and a range of 70 miles. The US version will have be restricted to a 25 mph top speed. A 9 kw lithium-ion battery pack powers the vehicle. Other features include a steel-cage passenger compartment, front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, air conditioning, heated seats, power windows, AM/FM stereo with MP3, CD player and USB connection. The vehicle is expected to be available before the end of the year.
Comment: The vehicle continues the trend of NEVs with a more car-like design as opposed to a more golf-car design. Learn more: GoDanRiver.com
Update: I contacted AVRC and the CEO Dick Dell said the vehicle’s MSRP is $24,450 and that is fully loaded with air conditioning, power windows, heated seats, a stereo system and a lithium-ion battery pack.
Renault Twizy Z.E. Electric Vehicle
Renault has announced the pricing for their Twizy Z.E. urban electric vehicle. Targeting the European and possibly Japanese markets, the Twizy has a starting price of $10,350 with a monthly battery rental of $61. The Twizy is a NEV with a stated range of 60 miles and a driver’s airbag. There is no mention of whether or not the vehicle will ever be offered in the US. Learn more: Greencarreports.com
ePower Trucks of Oldham, Greater Manchester in the UK has been named the exclusive distributor for GEM vehicles in the country. The company already sells a wide range of electric vehicles for commercial utility and transportation applications. Learn more: Fleetnews.co.uk
R-Gator A3 ACS developed jointly by Boeing UK and John Deere
Boeing UK and John Deere recently introduced the R-Gator A3 Assisted Carriage System (ACS) robotic utility vehicle for military applications. In development for two years, the vehicle has a 635 kg payload to help carry some of the gear modern soldiers require in the field. The vehicle can operate autonomously or manually under daylight or night conditions. John Deere borrowed from their M-Gator platform as well as their navigation, guidance and obstacle avoidance technology and expertise developed for the agriculture sector. The vehicle also features “…multiple tie-down points for sling loading, underbody skid plates, a front cargo rack and a rifle mount system to carry military specific loads.” Learn more: Defense-update.com
Rendering of GreenTech Autmomotive's MyCar
GreenTech Automotive plans to build their two seat electric MyCar in Mississippi and export them to Europe where the market for urban NEVs is likely to be more robust. They are expected to be available there later this year. A number of industry commentators expressed reservations about the plan’s chances of success. Learn more: Wheels.blogs.nytimes.com
Garia introduces 4-passenger Garia 2+2
Last month luxury golf car manufacturer Garia introduced the Garia 2+2 a four passenger golf car. With an additional rear-facing seat, the company points to increased versatility beyond golf course use and into the areas of personal transportation and commercial use at hotels and resorts. The Garia 2+2 includes features such as:
• Spacious carpeted 15 U.S. gals. / 58 liter storage room under the seat
• Seat belts on rear seat
• Non-slip floor foot rest • Additional storage space between the seats • Gas damper to keep seat bench in upright position when accessing the storage space under the seat
The Garia 2+2 is available in street-legal and non-street-legal versions.
The Jordanian government is working with a consortium of companies to develop a pilot project demonstrating the use of solar powered charging stations. The consortium includes AllCell (USA), Nissan (Japan), DBT (France), MATRA (France), Sun Phocus (USA), Nissan Jordan and NETenergy, a Jordanian start-up company. The Ministry of Environment has signed a memorandum of understanding and is planning on procuring 300 Nissan Leafs as well as other “light electric” vehicles such as e-bikes, e-scooters and NEVs. Learn more: Zawya.com
Group Promotes LSVs in Augusta, GA – A newly formed group, the Augusta Greenway Alliance, has been formed to help increase awareness and support of LSVs. One vision includes linking the medical and downtown districts with LSV lanes. Learn more: Chronicle.augusta.com
Polaris Chooses Agency for GEM – Polaris Industries has chosen Nelson Schmidt Inc as the new agency to provide marketing and sales support for the recently acquired GEM business. Learn more: Wisbusiness.com
GM’s EN-V for China’s Eco-City – GM’s trio of two-wheeled neighborhood electric vehicles are being incorporated into plans for Tianjin, China’s futuristic eco-city. Being developed in conjunction with partners from Singapore, Tianjin will be
“…a large-scale prototype for the sort of sustainable, high-density communities we’re expected to see in the coming decades. Key features include a focus on renewable energy, mass transit (in the form of a light rail system) and – you guessed it – a development of GM’s EN-V.”
In August Polaris introduced a broad selection of their off-road vehicles (ORVs) to the Indian market. The company expects to have twenty-five “sales touch points” in the country by the end of the year. Management has a goal of $100 million in ORV sales by 2016. They are also studying the feasibility of selling LSVs, leveraging their recently acquired GEM product line. Mahindra Reva is currently selling similar vehicles with a sales target of 3,000 vehicles per year. The government provides some incentives but infrastructure issues are an obstacle as well. Learn more: Business-standard.com