ZENN Motor Co. is looking for sites to build a R&D facility that will focus on developing their Zennergy Drive System. The facility will have an initial budget of $40 to $50 million over three years according to CEO Ian Clifford. ZENN has applied to the governments of Ontario and Michigan for financial assistance. Government funding will be a major factor in choosing where the facility is located. Learn more: Montrealgazette.com
GM is holding talks with their Chinese Partner SAIC Motor Inc. to explore selling Wuling produced minitrucks for the Indan market. The Wuling minitrucks are sold in China in 0.3 to 0.8 tonne versions. The Wuling offers GM a faster entry into the market since relatively few modifications of the existing vehicle platform and technology would be required. SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile is a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation(SAIC) of China and Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. Learn more: Wheelsunplugged.com
CT&T LSV
Korean electric vehicle maker CT&T plans to open manufacturing and distribution facilities in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas. The company will be making LSVs, which retail for about $12,000, at each of the locations. The company expects to employ about 200 people at each facility. In Philadelphia the company is looking at locations along the Delaware river and in Pittsburgh they have toured five sites in around the city.
CT&T’s long term strategy is to open 40 regional assembly and sales systems in North America as they target city and municipal fleets in particular. They currently have a contract to supply California police departments with 4,000 vehicles for use in parking enforcement.
ZAP distributes Wuling Motors electric truck
ZAP received the first shipment of small electric trucks from Wuling Motors of China earlier this year. To date approximately 100 of the vehicles, which are classified as LSVs, have been shipped to the US. Most of the vehicle is manufactured by Shanghai-GM-Wuling except for the transmission, battery, controls and motor. The batteries are provided by HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH & Co. KG and the vehicles have an AC motor. Besides ZAP, Green Go Tek also distributes the electric trucks.
Wuling is planning on rolling out their Smile-E micro car for the NEV markets such as gated communities and retirement areas as early as next month. The Smile-E will be distributed by Green Go Tek and Ruff and Tuff vehicles. Learn more: ChinaBizGov
Modec and Navistar recently announced that they will soon finalize a joint venture that will produce class 2c-3 commercial trucks. The trucks will have the Navistar brand and will be assembled in Indiana. Navistar recently won a $39.2 million grant from the US government’s Recovery Act funds targeting battery technology and electric vehicles. The grant will be used by the joint venture to develop 400 electric commercial trucks in 2010 with a range of 100 miles. In the following years the JV is expected to produce thousands of vehicles annually. Modec currently sells electric trucks to companies such as Fedex, UPS and supermarket chains. Learn more: Autogreenmag.com
According to a recent company press release the official premiere of the Garia Golf Car will take place this September at the PGA Golf Show in Las Vegas. The Garia Golf Car was designed in Denmark and is targeting the luxury golf car and gated community transportation markets. Manufactured by Valmet Automotive of Finland the vehicle will offer customers flexibility through a number of customizable features. Learn more
Modec recently announced a 100 vehicle order for their all electric urban delivery van. ElecTruckCity, their new distributor based in Paris, placed the order and has already sold 40 of the vehicles to customers. The order is worth about $4.9 million USD or approximately $49,000 per vehicle.
The electric van received EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval allowing it to be sold across Europe without gaining country by country approval. The company is currently seeking government approval to begin sales in the United States. The vans were designed from the start as battery powered vehicles and specifically for urban use. They have a range of 100 miles, a top speed of 50mph and a 4,000 lb payload.
Modec sees great market opportunities for the vehicle as management expects to be producing the vehicle on three continents in five years and reach a total annual production of 50,000 vehicles. Last year 100 vehicles were produced and that figure is expected to increase to 400 in 2009 and 1,200 in 2010. Learn more: Birminghampost.net
I came across an interesting story that exemplifies the versatility and efficiency of utility vehicles that makes them so popular. Railway services companies in the UK are purchasing Kubota RTV900’s that are modified to travel on rails. They can carry up to six workers or as few as two and a 500 kg payload. They are also used to haul additional maintenance trailers to work sites along the railway. An initial ten such vehicles have been sold but one of the companies has already ordered an additional 22 of the modified vehicles. Learn more pressreleasepoint.com
Tiger Truck Vehicle line
Tiger Truck of Oklahoma recently won an $11 million GSA contract to supply the US Air Force with 863 mini-trucks. The purchase is funded by the recent federal stimulus package since the mini-trucks will be replacing less fuel-efficient vehicles. All the vehicles will be fueled by either gas or a gas/ethanol mix and are slated for delivery in about four months. The recently opened Tiger Truck assembly plant employs 90 people and can produce approximately 35 vehicles per shift per day. The company assembles the vehicles from a mix of US and foreign sourced parts. Learn more: www.newsok.com
Miles Automotive has created a new company, Coda Automotive, for the marketing of their first highway speed all electric vehicle, aptly named Coda. The Chinese manufactured vehicle will have a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 90-120 miles. The four-door sedan will seat five and include amenities like bluetooth and an iPod dock. According to the company’s CEO, Kevin Czinger, a test fleet of 200-300 vehicles will be on the road in June 2010 and vehicles will be available for consumers later in the fall. The vehicles will be priced around $45,000 but that could be reduced to around $35,000 with federal and state tax credits.
The vehicle has been modified from a Mitsubishi designed internal combustion vehicle manufactured for the Chinese market by China-based Hafei and sold under the name Saibao. Coda has partnered with Tianjin Lishen of China to manufacture the vehicle’s lithium ion batteries. Learn more: MSN Autos