ZAP reports finishing an engineering project to develop an electric pickup truck where most of the parts and components will be made in the United States. The project is an extension of the company’s efforts to shift vehicle production back to the US. Learn more: marketwire.com
BG Automotive C100 NEV
BG Automotive is now looking in Windsor, Ontario for facilities to assemble their NEV, the C100. According to the report, if funding can arranged, the company believes they can be producing vehicles within three months. Windsor has an existing automotive manufacturing base and skilled workforce that appeals to the company.
As noted in a previous post, the company plans to develop six facilities around the country which can each produce up to 15,000 vehicles. Other states being considered include Connecticut, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Georgia and Massachusetts. Learn more Windsorstar.com
A recent article covering a trade forum involving the state of Mississippi and the city of Changzhou in China noted that a Mississippi based company was looking to import parts for use in off-road utility vehicles. According to the report Bob Kirkland business development officer for Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems remarked that:
… a Mississippi company, which he wouldn’t identify, is interested in assembling parts that would be sent to it from China to be used in off-road utility vehicles.
One such company could be Bad Boy Enterprises located in Natchez, Mississippi, manufacturers of the Bad Boy Buggie, an electric powered off-road utility vehicle. Government officials from both sides are looking at the automotive industry as a potential area for increased trade. Learn more: clarionLedger.com
Continuing a relationship that started in 1999, Club Car has extended their agreement to be the official golf car and utility vehicle and sponsor of the European tour. At least 70 Club Car golf cars are in use at each European Tour event. Learn more: sportsbizasia.com
Battery/Ultracapacitor System for Small EVs – Using an NEV as the target vehicle, researchers from the Illinois Institute of Technology and Allborg University (Denmark) are working on a hybrid system that combines a battery pack with an ultracapacitor. The battery handles average power loads while the ultracapacitor handles peak loads.
The target NEV has a speed limit of 40-50 km/h (25-31 mph), maximum power of 40 kW, and a weight of about 800 kg. The battery pack comprised two parallel strings of 14 series-connected 12 V NiMH batteries (Saft NHE 10-100). The ultracapacitor was a Maxwell BMOD0063 module with a nominal voltage of 125V.
Learn more: greencarcongress.com
Bi-polar Lead Acid Battery For EVs – Last week a partnership between University of Glamorgan (Wales) and Atraverda was announced for the purpose of developing bi-polar lead acid batteries for a variety of commercial markets including EVs. Atraverda has expertise in conductive ceramics that would be used in the batteries. Prototypes are expected to begin testing within a year.
The partners say their work could lead to lead-acid batteries that are up to 40% lighter, 20% smaller, have 40% more energy capacity and twice the lifespan of traditional lead acid batteries.
I came across a story about how farmers were choosing Japanese mini-trucks to replace pick-ups for use on their farms. This puts them in direct competition with utility vehicles which are also replacing pick-ups on farms, college campuses, parks and other areas. The mini-trucks are typically faster than utility vehicles, a top speed around 50 mph, although some new vehicles are being built to LSV standards, and have the advantage of an enclosed cab. They offer better gas mileage than pick-ups, upwards of 40-50 mpg .
There however is an issue with registration of the vehicles and road use regulations. The law varies from state to state on whether they can be registered and or used on local roads, even if it is driving between parts of the same farm. Louisiana recently passed a law allowing them to be used on certain roads.
Many of the mini trucks are purchased as used vehicles imported from Japan where various regulations apparently make it more economical to purchase a new vehicle after certain amount of use rather than comply with the regulations. Learn more: japanese4x4minitrucks.com and here
ECM3 Prototype
ECO Motor Car Company, a Seattle startup, is introducing their ECM3, a three-wheeled vehicle that is classified as a motorcycle. The gas powered vehicle with two wheels in front and one in the back has a 1.0 liter, 52 hp engine and gets a reported 60 mpg. The vehicle is built in China by Geely and weighs about 1,400 lbs. The ECM3 is expected to be available in May of 2009 for $13,995 to $14,995 depending on options. Learn more: Autopia
ECM3 Prototype Interior
Later today Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp is expected to announce that they have chosen Kansas City, MO as the site for their assembly plant. The plant will be located near the Kansas City International Airport and is expected to eventually employ 200 people within three years. The consortium involving Ford and British based Tanfield Group is expected to invest $5 million in the plant that will produce an electric version of Ford’s Transit Connect delivery vans and Smith’s Newton electric truck.
The first vehicles to be produced will be the Newtons with a third quarter launch date as the target. The company expects to produce 10,000 vehicles annually for a US market estimated to be 200,000 for delivery trucks of this size. The Transit Connect vehicles are expected to roll off the line in 2010.
The plant will be located near Kokam America Inc, a lithium ion battery manufacturer, and Fords assembly plant for Escape and Mariner hybrids. In addition, Valence Technology, battery supplier to Smith’s UK parent company, is located relatively close in Austin, TX. Learn more: KMBC.com
In related news, Smith Electric Vehicles announced they sold their first electric Newton in the Ireland market to a building materials retailer. The company will use the vehicle for deliveries. Ireland plans to have 10% of all their vehicles be electric powered by 2020. Learn more: greencarcongress.com
Update: Smith Vehicles will receive an estimated $2 million in tax credits and $1 million in job training assistance from the Missouri state government . The company is leasing an 80,000 sq. ft. facility and expects to create 120 jobs by 2010. Learn more: bizjournal.com
Think Global has signed a memorandum of understanding to supply 500 Th!nk vehicles in 2009 to Elmonet for sale in The Netherlands. Elmonet is a subsidiary of Mobility Service Netherlands. The cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam are expected to be key markets. The Dutch government has developed a 10 million euro fund to advance the introduction of electric vehicles.
Previously in financial difficulty, Think Global has recently raised funds from a variety of sources and is looking to expand beyond Norway, it’s original market, to Europe and the US. Learn more: Cleantech.com
BG Automotive C100 Prototype Photos: Clifford Atiyeh/Boston Globe
BG Automotive recently showed a prototype of their C100 NEV to Massachusetts officials in hopes of generating financial support for production facilities in the state. They are also looking to obtain funding from the US Department of Energy.
The C100 features a 48 volt, 18 hp electric motor powered by eight lead acid batteries and has a range of 60-80 miles according to the company. Except for the controller, motor and batteries which are produced in the US, the rest of the vehicle’s parts are produced in China. Price range will be $16,000 to $18,000.
A Boston Globe reporter took the vehicle for a parking lot test drive and had a mixed review.
Pros:
Cons:
The company still expects to make a May/June 2009 launch date despite not having any facilities in place. Learn more: Boston Globe Article
Update 3/23: The article is updated to note that the vehicle is actually the Chang’an Ben Ben or Chana Benni produced in China.