Category Archives: Management

Company News

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Global Motor Services – This newcomer to the electric vehicle market is using former Bears coach Mike Ditka to promote their products.  Their current line-up includes a converted Chevy Aveo and a three-wheeled scooter.  They expect to add an LSV in the future and currently have dealers in San Diego, New Jersey, Las Vegas and Chicago.  Learn more:  Autobloggreen

Zap – Zap has shipped a Zaptruck XL equipped with a solar panel to a large government agency.  The solar panel supplements normal charging and provides some extra range. Learn more:  Zjucnc.org

Also the company has been awarded “…an engineering prototype contract for the design and development of an electric mail truck.”  This project is for converting a US Postal Service gas vehicle to electric propulsion.  Learn more:  Autobloggreen

Cruise Car – Adam Sulimirski has been promoted to the position of General Manager from Global Sales Director.  Learn more:  Madduxpress.com

Company News

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Nivel Holdings – At the end of 2009 Nivel Holdings completed their acquisition of Jake’s Carts, a leading provider of lift kits for the golf car market.  The company has become a subsidiary of Nivel Parts.  Learn more:  Golfcarnews.com

Kandi Technologies Corporation –has entered into an alliance with China Potevio/CNOOC New Energy and Power, Ltd. and Tianneng Power International, Ltd with a goal of mass producing electric vehicles. The alliance combines the IT equipment and service of CNOOC, battery production from Tianneng Power International, vehicle production from Kandi as well as governmental support.  Kandi produces the COCO LSV.  Part of vehicle concept focuses on easy battery removal and replacement and battery rentals.  Learn more:  Worldmarketmedia.com

Ameritex – will supply canvas doors for GEM vehicles.  The company is a division of Taylor Made which designs and manufactures windshields.  Ameritex is trying to diversify their business which has suffered from the downturn in the marine industry and is investigating the resort, consumer, recreational vehicle and golf cart industries.
Learn more: Tampabay.bizjournals.com

ZAP Forms Joint Venture In China

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ZAP has announced that it has entered into the China Electric Vehicle market with Holley Group.  The two companies have entered into a joint venture in China from venture capital firm Better World International.  The joint venture company is named ZAP Hangzhou, and is intended to design and manufacture electric vehicles, in addition to developing infrastructure technology for the Chinese market. Learn more:  transworldnews.com

Recent Company News

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Navistar and Modec complete joint venture agreement – Navistar International and Modec completed their joint venture agreement for the production of Class 2c-3 commercial trucks. The all electric trucks will be produced in Elkhart, Indiana. In 2010 400 of the trucks are expected to be produced. Learn more: Tradingmarkets.com

Northwire introduces charging cable for electric vehicles – Northwire, Inc. announced the availability of CoilBoss Retractile Cords for use in electric and hybrid vehicles. All EV Cable options are available in standard or custom configurations. Customization includes hybrid designs, colors, private labeling and more. Learn more: Northwire.com

GM & SAIC Motor Corp pursuing venture – GM and SAIC Motor Corp, China’s largest automaker, are looking to create a joint venture to sell minivans, mini-trucks and mini cars in the Indian market.  It would be a 50-50 joint venture.  Learn more:  Wheels.unwireindia.com

Smith Electric Vehicles places battery order with Valence Technology – Smith Electric Vehicles placed a $1.4 million order with Valence Technology for batteries to be used in their Newton electric truck being produced in Kansas.  Learn more:  austin.bizjournals.com

Think thinking of Indiana for plant site – Think North America is in negotiations with officials from the state of Indiana and Elkhart County as it tries to decide on where to locate a manufacturing plant.  Besides Indiana, Oregona and Michigan have been on their short list.  Elkhart County is considering ten years of tax abatements to attract the company.  Learn more:  WSBT.com

E-Z-Go Wins IndustryWeek Best Plants Award

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E-Z-Go’s Augusta, Georgia plant that produces golf cars and turf utility vehicles earned a 2009 IndustryWeek Best Plants Award.  Using a continuous improvement process management dramatically improved a number of operating benchmarks and even brought some parts manufacturing back in-house. Key improvements from 2005 to 2008 include:

Plant specific

  • 90% increase in plant-level profitability in past three years
  • Inventory turns improved by 30% between 2005 and 2008
  • More than 1 million hours without a lost-time injury using a behavior based safety program

Company wide

  • Increased profitability 200%
  • Cut its supplier base by 60%
  • Improved first-pass yield by 24%

One highlight for the plant was the introduction of E-Z-Go’s new AC drive golf car, the RXV.  The company used benchmarks from BMW, Harley-Davidson and Honda to build a new production line and then ramp up  to full production in only seven weeks.  Management makes several benchmarking trips to other companies during the year. Learn more:  IndustryWeek.com

Columbia Lands Another Government LSV Order

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Columbia ParCar announced today that the company had been awarded an order for 192 vehicles by the US government.  This follows on the heels of a previous order for the US Army of 799 vehicles.  The vehicles for the latest order are destined for U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine installations, as well as certain FAA installations, Kennedy Space Center and numerous National Parks.  The mix of LSVs include a four passenger vehicle for transporting personnel and a utility vehicle that can carry cargo and two passengers.  Both orders are required and expected to be fulfilled by March 2010.  The Army reports an annual energy savings of $740 for each vehicle compared to a gas powered car.  Learn more:  AMTOnline.com

Comment: I find two aspects of this order that are significant.  First, the speed with which the government has followed up on the previous order I believe is an indication that they are pleased with how well the vehicles fit their needs.  Second, that some of the vehicles are headed for other branches of the Armed Forces points to a much greater market potential.  The Army originally noted that beyond their initial plan for 4,000 vehicles they could envision ordering another 6,000 vehicles, and 10,000 vehicles each for the Navy and Air Force.  This order could be an early sign of those projections coming to fruition, and driving growth in the LSV market for a number of years. – Marc Cesare

GEM Goes Lunar

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GEM will be participating in a University of North Dakota project developing the  next generation  lunar  exploration system.  The  university was awarded a three year $741,109 grant by NASA to support the design and development of a three-part system: a lunar rover; inflatable modular habitat units; and a lunar exploration suit. Other companies participating in the project include Boeing Company, Cirrus Aircraft, ILC Dover,  Packet Digital, and Paragon Space Development Corporation.

I assume GEM will be involved in the rover development. – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Silverevilchaoblog.blog,blogspot.com

ZENN To Stop LSV Production; ZAP Phasing Out Xebra?

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ZENN announced that it will be stopping production of their LSV in April 2010. As had been reported earlier the company is shifting it’s focus to the development of electric drivetrains based on EEStor technology. The company reports selling about 500 of their LSVs in three years.

Learn more: Reuters.com

In another story about phasing out a vehicle, a careful examination of ZAP’s most recent quarterly findings, seem to indicate that they will be phasing out their three-wheeled Xebra model. From their 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2009:

The decrease of $1.5 million (in revenue) is primarily due to the phase out of our three wheeled Xebra vehicle with reduced selling prices.

In addition the company appears to be putting less emphasis on development of the Alias model.

Research and development expenses decreased by $57,000 from $138,000 in 2008 to $81,000 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. The decrease was due to less work on the development of the Alias prototype vehicle

Learn more: thetruthaboutcars.com

Club Car Increasing Vehicle Prices 2.5%

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Driven by sharp increases in commodity prices, Club Car announced that prices 2010 for golf cars and utility vehicles will increase about 2.5% immediately.  The main commodities contributing to the price increase are lead, copper and aluminum.  According to the report Club Car annually uses approximately 20 million pounds of lead for batteries, eight to 10 million pounds of aluminum for vehicle chassis and significant amounts of copper for wiring in electric motors and other components.  In the last year commodity costs have increased an estimated 35% for lead, 50% for copper and 15% for aluminum.  Learn more:  Blogs.augusta.com-Scuttlebiz

Comment: It will be interesting to see if E-Z-Go or other manufacturers, especially electric vehicle manufacturers follow suit.  If the economy improves over the next year it is likely to drive demand for these commodities even higher. – Marc Cesare

Aptera Facing Difficulties

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Recent reports indicate that three-wheeled, electric vehicle maker Aptera is having development and financial difficulties. The founders have reportedly been pushed out and staff has been cut. Changes to the vehicle design to widen the vehicle’s appeal has delayed the launch date significantly and created more capital demands in the middle of a poor investment climate. Loans from the US government’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program is potentially a source for cash infusion. Learn more: Autogloggreen