Category Archives: globalization

Battery News

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Worldwide Battery Joins Trojan Battery Network – WorldWide Battery Company recently joined its superior network of master distributors to oversee distribution of Trojan Battery products in the states of Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. WorldWide Battery. WorldWide Battery currently owns and operates six distribution centers spanning a total of over 75,000 square feet of space.  Learn more:  Trojanbattery.com

Fairplay To Use Fullriver AGM Batteries – Fairplay Electric Cars will offer its new EVE LSV Deluxe Limited model exclusively with AGM batteries manufactured by Fullriver Batteries.  The vehicle features an AC motor.  The Fullriver AGM batteries will also be offered as an upgrade in all models of Fairplay cars, including the HOSS for commercial industrial use, the Legacy Golf products and the popular EVE low speed vehicles for street use.  Learn more:  Fullriverdcbattery.com

GatorMoto Fills Large International Order

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GoatorMoto Utility Vehicles reports selling 50 Electro Transport Buddy 15 Passenger LE’s to the Al-Azzouni Group in Saudi Arabia.  The electric powered shuttle vehicles were used in the recent Mecca Festival.

Learn more:  Gatormotoutilityvehicles.com

Smith Electric Vehicles US Developments

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SEV-US recently announced that it made an offer to buy the Smith Electric Vehicles business from the UK based Tanfield Group.  The company has a four month exclusive window to come to agreement on the offer which is  reported to be $55 million.

In other developments the company is looking to establish a 50,000 square foot production and sales facility on the East Coast.  They are considering locations in New York, Atlanta and Washington D.C. as well as other areas.   The new facility  is part of  an overall plan to eventually open up to ten facilities in large urban markets starting with the East Coast.  Cities in other parts of the country being considered include San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago.

Management reports that their Kansas City facility is producing two vehicles per week and ramping up to four per week in the coming months.  They also expect the price of their Newton model to drop from $149,000 currently to $90,000 by 2011 as production increases. – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Autobloggreen

Learn more:  Washington.bizjournals.com

CT&T Inks Deal To Supply Spanish Firm With NEVs

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South Korean electric vehicle manufacturer CT&T has signed an agreement with the Ficosa Group of Spain to supply 10,000 NEVs.  No other information was provided regarding when deliveries will start, production rates or the value of the deal.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Blogs.edmunds.com

ElecTruckCity To Distribute Trucks For Smith Electric Vehicles In France

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UK based Smith Electric Vehicles has named ElecTruckCity as the exclusive distributor in France of the Smith Newton and Smith Edison electric vehicles.  The latter is an all electric version of the Ford Transit van.  ElecTruckCity plans on building out a network of 17 distributors across France including most of the major cities.  The market for these vehicles will get a boost from the French government which provides subsidies of 5,000 Euros for van-like vehicles and 20,000 Euros for Newton sized trucks.  – Marc Cesare Learn more:  Fleetdirector.co.uk

ZAP Lands Order For Electric SUVs

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Zap to make electric SUVs for Korean market

Zap to make electric SUVs for Korean market

Zap announced last week that they received an order from Samyang Optics Co. Ltd. for 100 electric SUVs. the vehicles wil be manufactured in partnership with China auto manufacturer Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd. The electric SUV, to be based on Jonway’s A380 5-door SUV, will have a top speed of 70 mph and a range of 100 mph. The target market in Korea is fleet vehicles for intra-campus transportation for large government, military, corporate and university campuses. according to ZAP the vehicles will be assembled in China at ZAP Hangzhou, a joint venture recently formed with Holley Group, a global supplier of electric power meters based in Hangzhou, and Better World International Limited, funded by Cathaya Funds. The contract is reflective of a strong push in the electric vehicle market by the Korean government. – Marc Cesare Learn more: Zapglobal.wordpress.com

Mini-Truck Developments

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Sarge mini-truck from Sokon USA Photo by Branimir Kvartuc

Sokon USA – After encountering quality issues with their first attempt several years ago under the Mattruck brand, Hal Ferrell and Michael Lewis of Sokon USA have launched a mini-truck based hunting vehicle.  Selling under the brand Sarge, these mini-trucks feature four wheel drive, a 45 hp engine and a 25 mph top speed.  The company claims the vehicles are classified as LSVs and are street legal depending on state and local regulations.

The vehicle, which seats five, is sourced from China based DFM (Dong Feng Motor), a subsidiary of Chongqing Yuan Group and will retail for about $14,500.  In addition to the hunting market, the vehicle will compete against utility vehicles in the construction, turf, ranching, farming and government markets.  Learn more:  Dealernewsblog.com

DFM Mini-truck (Thailand) –  Driven by rising demand in the Thai market, the company is talking to the parent company DFM of China about  manufacturing vehicles in Thailand rather than importing them from China.  Learn more:  Thailandchat.org

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Mini-truck Based Mobile Grocery Store

Mini-truck Based Mobile Grocery Store

Mobile Grocery Store – In Thailand DFM Mini Truck Co is teaming up with  Siam Makro Plc to launch a mobile grocery store concept.  A specially designed vehicle with product inventory will be sold to grocery-store owners for use as mobile grocery stores, restaurants, bakery or coffee shops.  According to reports the trucks will be available in two formats. The counter format allows shoppers to buy products around the truck and the walk-in format allows customers to choose products inside.

The truck and inventory will sell for the equivalent of about $15,000 US and owners will have seven product groups from which to choose.  The companies estimate that owners can break even in one year and expect to initially sell 100 vehicles through a special marketing roadshow that will demo the concept.  The DFM mini-trucks are imported from China.  Learn more:  Bangkokpost.com

Deere & Boeing Defence UK Working On Robotic Gator

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John Deere R-Gator Utility Vehicle

John Deere and Boeing Defence UK have announced a 17 month development project to enhance the capabilities of the R-Gator, Deere’s robotic utility vehicle for the military market.  Boeing will be adding technologies to the vehicle to improve performance as an Assisted Carriage System (ACS).

The John Deere R-Gator™ ACS can support an infantry section of up to eight men, and offload 1400 lbs. of individual equipment. It is designed to carry an increased level of ready combat supplies for more effective patrolling and re-supply operations. Most importantly, the vehicle can operate autonomously, be driven manually, and be reconfigured to meet a multitude of ground support needs.

The R-gator is based on Deere’s Gator XUV utility vehicle.  Learn more:  Deere.com

Electric Truck Developments

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ZeroTruck Corp. – The company’s ZeroTruck, an all-electric zero emission medium duty truck based on the Isuzu N series chassis, was recently added to the GSA schedule for government purchasing. The ZeroTruck features a low cab-forward design, a fully automated transmission, a range u to 100 miles and is fully highway capable. The vehicle is available at Central Truck Center of Landover, Maryland and through select Isuzu dealerships in California, Colorado, North Carolina, and New York. Learn more: Your-story.org Comment: While in theory a vehicle like this could offer competition to utility vehicles that are displacing pickup trucks in certain market segments, at a cost of over $100,000 this is not likely to happen anytime soon. – Marc Cesare

Electric Motor Cars – The company has just introduced a two-seat electric pickup which is based on the Dacia Logan. Dacia is a subsidiary of Renault and the trucks are built in Romania. The company reports the vehicles may be assembled in Florida or Iowa in the future. The pick up sells for $33,950 and van and station wagon versions will also be available. The vehicles are powered by nickel sodium chloride, “ZEBRA” batteries, which will charge in 3 hours on 220 volts or up to 8 hours when powered by 110 volts. The company claims a range of 260 miles and reports that around 100 vehicles will be available in about one month. Currently three dealers distribute the vehicles. Learn more: Trucktrend.com

Zap – According to this post Zap is rolling out a larger electric truck for industrial and fleet use. Learn more: Hybridfriends.com

India Electric Truck Market -Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Reva Electric Car Company are planning to launch electric trucks and passenger carriers in the sub-one-tonne segment. Tata Motors has developed an electric version of the Ace which could debut soon. M&M, likewise, is working on a variant for the recently launched 0.9-tonne Maxximo.  The sub-tonne segment in India numbers 100,000 vehicles annually.  The companies are targeting applications for large shopping mall and residential complexes, airports and  intra-city transport.  While there is no mention of  exporting the vehicles to other markets , previously Tata and GEM announced they were working on an electric version of the ACE for the US.

Learn more:  Thehindubusinessline.com