The TrikE is an electric power assisted bicycle designed to provide urban commuters with a transportation option that takes advantage of the increasing miles of bike lanes. Developed by Speed Studio Design, the TrikE features weather protection, light cargo storage and a 36v lithium battery pack which drives a 750W motor. The TrikE has a top speed of 20 mph and is classified as a bicycle. The vehicle is positioned, in part, as a more affordable transportation option than NEVs. Learn more: Design-daily.com
Category Archives: Market entrants
New Electric Vehicle Dealerships Open
While last month I noted the closing of some electric vehicle dealerships in the San Francisco area, this month openings are the story. In Fresno, Ca a new Tomberlin dealership has opened. Valelectricar is the official authorized Tomberlin dealer for central California. The Tomberlin vehicles are eligible for the 10% Federal tax credit. Learn more: thebusinessjournal.com
Meanwhile in Charleston, South Carolina Current Electric Vehicles opened. They will be offering Korean made CT&T’s e-Zone and c-Zone vehicles. The dealership currently has a dozen vehicles in stock now and expects to carry up to 60 vehicles in inventory eventually. They have already received an order for 20 vehicles from a local tourist business and the local police department was presented with a vehicle. CT&T is looking into opening an assembly plant in nearby Duncan, NC. Learn more: Postandcourier.com
Vehicle Reviews
Here are a couple of electric vehicle reviews covering both ends of the STOV spectrum.
The first is a review of the Tazzari Zero, a high end, sporty commuter vehicle. Priced at $31,000, the vehicle is capable of highway speeds but has not completed DOT crash testing, and therefore is a high priced low speed vehicle. Learn more: Foxnews.com
The second review is of the Polaris Ranger EV, a recent entry into the electric utility vehicle segment. The Ranger EV is based on the chassis of the gas powered Ranger 400. It features a 11.5kw battery pack of Trojan batteries, a 30hp motor and a range of 25 to 50 miles depending on the driving mode selected. Learn more: Hortweek.com
Golf Car Manufacturers Targeting LSV Market
A local newspaper story in Georgia, home state of the leading golf car manufacturers, recently ran a story about their move into the LSV market. The story focuses mainly on the leaders in the golf car market, Club Car and E-Z-Go. Club Car introduced their passenger version of the Villager 2+2 late last year and E-Z-Go will be introducing their LSV later this year.
Club Car was able to take advantage of market demand driven by federal tax credits, especially in Oklahoma. E-Z-Go chose not to rush the development schedule of their LSV to take advantage of the tax credit. Instead, they are looking to enter the market with a vehicle with distinctive features. One feature we have learned about for the vehicle is four wheel hydraulic brakes.
Not mentioned in the story is entry of smaller golf car manufacturers into LSV market such as Fairplay.
The move into the LSV market is driven by a number of factors:
- Golf cars are already being sold into the gated community market where LSVs are also sold
- There is growing market opportunity as an increasing number of LSVs are sold outside of gated communities
- The decline in the golf course driven segment of the market is forcing golf car companies to look for new areas of growth
Boulder Electric Vehicle To Begin Production
With 25 orders of intent in hand Boulder Electric Vehicles is setting up a 60,000 square foot facility to produce their electric truck. The all electric truck is targeted for the delivery market and can travel 120 miles before requiring an 8 hour recharge. The vehicle currently costs $100,000. Learn more: Detnews.com
Tomberlin Debuts Vehicles At GIS national Tradeshow
Tomberlin debuted two electric vehicles at the GIS (Golf Industry Show) National Tradeshow held last month in San Diego. One vehicle was their E-Motion concept car designed for what the company describes as the “Electric Close-In Commuter Class”. Placing an emphasis on safety, the E-Motion borrows technology from the aircraft industry and includes an AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag. According to the press release
AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag inflates in less than 90 milliseconds and, unlike automotive airbags, safely deploys up and away from the occupant, making it a safe restraint for passengers of all ages.
Tomberlin management hopes the additional safety feature could lead to the establishment of a new class of vehicles with less restrictive regulations compared to highway speed combustion engine vehicles. In the past, Tomberlin has been a strong advocate for a Medium Speed Vehicle classification, which NHTSA has resisted establishing in large part due to safety concerns.
The other vehicle debuted was Tomberlin’s VANISH, an electric utility vehicle with full 4 x 4 shift on the fly function targeted for hunting and other utility vehicle market segments. Additional features include independent rear suspension and 4 wheel hydraulic disc breaks. Following a trend in the market, the utility vehicle is also a street legal LSV with 3 point seat belts and safety leg restraints, lights, signals, full brush bars and padded headrests. – Marc Cesare
Learn more: Tomberlin.net
ElecTruckCity To Distribute Trucks For Smith Electric Vehicles In France
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
A Different Kind Of Hybrid
The HumanCar Imagine PS NEV uses power generated by the passengers or driver to recharge the vehicle’s batteries. The vehicle uses a rowing mechanism to generate power and can seat four. The battery can also be charged via a standard electrical outlet.
Because steering using the rowing handles would be too difficult to control the vehicle is steered by “Body Steering” (read leaning into turns). According to Chuck Greenwood, HumanCar Inc. CEO and son of Charles Greenwood [the inventor], this is apparently much more intuitive (not to mention more fun) than using a conventional steering wheel.
The company claims to have orders for 200 of the vehicles which currently cost $75,000 to produce. Management expects to start full commercial production when 800 orders are received, at which point the vehicles will sell for $15,500. – Marc Cesare
Up & Coming Seat Supplier
I recently came across a story about United Commercial Upholstery of Nicollet, MN which provides seats for the marine and golf car/LSV markets. While the company struggled at first, it has recently gained traction with their own Suite Seat brand of seats. This higher end seat is sold as part of Fairplay’s deluxe LSV package. Fairplay’s management liked the quality of the seats and the fact that they are US made. The company also supplies seats to Star Car and at the end of last year began talks with one of the world’s largest golf car manufacturers. According to the story 40 percent of the company’s sales originate with OEMs and the rest with Suite Seats which is sold to dealers and OEMs. Learn more: Connectbiz.com -Marc Cesare
ZAP Lands Order For Electric SUVs
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