New Electric 4WD Motor Kit for Golf Cars from SilverWolf Motors

SilverWolf Motors 4WD motor kit for golf cars

Exploded view of motor, wheel and tire

A new aftermarket electric motor kit from SilverWolf Motors can provide 4WD capabilities to golf cars. The sealed AC motors bolt on to the front suspension and “add??independent electronically differentiated Drive System to the front wheels.” The kit provides a vehicle with more climbing and pulling power. ??According to company information “The 4WD can be engaged by the operator using a dash mounted switch at any time. It provides additional traction in the forward direction as required. ??Once the vehicle has attained a speed of approximately 10 – 12 mph (Hare Mode) it disengages automatically and re-engages when needed.“??The MSRP for the kit is $1,195 CAD. Vehicle specific adapters are sold separately. The company is currently building up their dealer distribution network.

The kit can also be added on to gas powered vehicles to create a hybrid vehicle. The increasing use of hybrids is a market trend SVR expects to see in the next few years as more OEMs are expected to offer hybrid models. ??Aftermarket kits like this one will only add momentum to the trend. Hybrids have applications for parts of the hunting market that require more range and in the parks/campus segment where organizations are “greening” their fleets but current all electric vehicles may not be feasible for some of their vehicle uses at this time. A kit like this opens up a range of personal use markets served by golf car dealers that offer rebuilding and customization services of new and used golf cars.

The press release follows:

4WD Kit for Golf Cars Delivers on Power Waterloo, Ontario ??? April 16, 2013

SilverWolf Vehicles Inc. has introduced a Motor Kit that bolts to the front suspension of a golf car to provide 4WD performance and act as an independent drive system. Two Motorized Wheels offer Ultra-High levels of Torque without limiting the vehicles top speed. ???The motors provide over 250 Nm of torque to each of the front wheels???, says company CEO, Bill Jager, ???which almost doubles the pulling power and traction of a standard golf car???. The Kit bolts easily to the existing steering and suspension system and works well with both lifted and stock vehicles. The 4WD is engaged by using a dash mounted switch that controls the amount of torque provided by the motors. The Motor Kit can also be adapted to gas UTVs and other vehicles to make them true Hybrids.

Contact Information: Claudia Demandt 1-888-398-7078 ext. 712

email: info@silverwolfmotors.com

www.silverwolfmotors.com

 

What’s Cooking on the STOV

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

School Safety Vehicle – Vinemont schools in Alabama purchased a Polaris UTV for safety patrols and driver education classes. For safety patrols the vehicle can access campus areas that their existing patrol cars cannot. ??The UTV will also be used in their DUI related sessions of their driver education program. Students will use special goggles that simulate driving while intoxicated while attempting to navigate a set driving course under instructor supervision. Learn more: ??Cullmantimes.com

Airport Patrols & Maintenance: ??Lambert St. Louis International Airport purchased four electric-powered GEMs to be used in their parking operations for patrols and maintenance. The vehicles will be covering two terminal garages and four long-term lots. The GEMs replaced full-size pick-up trucks. The replacement of pickup trucks is an ongoing trend we are seeing particularly in corporate/college campuses and park settings.??Learn more: ??Bizjournals.com

Scotland Business Park Switches to Electric Utility Refuse Vehicle: ??Hillington Park, a business park in Scotland, is replacing a diesel powered van with a??new Alke ATX200E battery-powered utility truck. The vehicle will be used for refuse collection on the campus that is home to 300 companies and 6,700 workers. The new purchase also fits in with their award winning environmental management of the business park.

I thought this example demonstrated a number of aspects of the STOV market. First the STOV market is global. As the STOV market continues to grow it is likely that companies will look for export markets for their vehicles. Second a significant portion of the electric powered segment of the STOV market is driven by “green” or sustainability issues. Third displacement of ICE vehicles is a continuing trend that drives sales for STOVs. Learn more: ??Fleetnews.uk.co

Analyst Points To Polaris Ranger For Stronger Polaris Q1 Sales

An analyst from BMO Capital Markets predicts stronger than expected first quarter 2013 results for Polaris in large part driven by Ranger UTV sales. While the recreational segment has been experiencing fast growth the markets served by the Ranger UTV have been overlooked to a certain degree. The analyst points to an estimated 35% share in the segment held by the various Ranger models and the relatively lower level of competition compared to the recreational segment as reasons for optimism in the expanding market. Expectations are that Ranger sales will grow by nearly 50% in quarter to quarter comparison with 2012. Despite more competition, growth is expected in the recreational segment as well. ??Learn more: ??Powersportsbusiness.com

A Tale of Three Towns & Road Use Regulation

Potential ordinances from three small towns, one in Colorado, another in Kansas, and a third in Canada demonstrate the different trends occurring regarding road use laws for STOVs. The different contexts for the vehicle use and the different goals of the local community dictate which trend a municipality follows.

In Nederland Colorado the governing body is reviewing an ordinance that allows NEVs/LSVs on local roads but excludes ATVs. ??Meanwhile in Garden City, Kansas the city commission has passed an ordinance allowing “micro utility” vehicles on local roads as long as they have??roll cages, head and tail lights, turn signals and seat belts. In Powell River, British Columbia the city council is considering an ordinance allowing LSVs and proponents make a point that golf cars and ATVs are not included.

In Nederland they point to decreasing noise and improving air quality. In Garden City the likely impetus is the use of vehicles by farmers and such that??occasionally??need public road access for work purposes. In Powell River proponents are trying to get the city to catch up to other municipalities in the province that have passed similar ordinances. The stumbling block is that in Canada NEVs/LSVs are only legal on roads with speed limits up to 40km/hr but most of the city’s streets have 50 km/hr speed limits. A common thread in all three is the importance of safety and basic safety features for the vehicles. ??Learn more: ??Westernkansasnews.com?? Themtear.com?? Hqsunshineoast.com

Piaggio Updates Vehicles for India LCV Market

After a not so successful first try, Piaggio Vehicles India, will be taking a second crack at the light commercial vehicle market in India with some updated models. Their current product lineup featuring the Ape Mini and the Ape Truck Plus in the 0.5 and 1 tonne categories respectively will be replaced by the Porter 600 and the Porter 1000 in the next two months. ??The Porter 1000 is a 0.75 tonne vehicle and a 1.5 tonne vehicle based on the Porter platform is also on the horizon.

The main competitors in this market are??Tata Motors’ Ace Zip and Ace and Mahindra & Mahindra’s Maxximo. According to Piaggio’s According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers??the new vehicles will provide more “power, fuel efficiency, gradability” than the competition and they hope to capture 10% of the market with the new vehicles. ??The LCV market grew approximately 14% in the last year according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. ??Learn more: ??Domain-b.com

Stealth Manufacturing Shuts Its Doors

Stealth Manufacturing, a maker of electric powered utility vehicles for hunting, has gone out of business. ??According to management they simply did not sell enough product and pointed to range and cost issues as well as a small developing market as reasons for their difficulties. A last minute investment or sale of the company could not be arranged. ??While some dealers are left with inventory and are out some money, they generally liked the latest line of vehicles.

The company started in 2007 in Louisiana before moving operations to Georgia in 2010. Stealth had become the main competitor to Bad Boy Buggies in the burgeoning market segment for electric hunting vehicles. Learn more: ??Dealernews.com

Comment:?? ??The relatively recent acquisition of Bad Boy Buggies by E-Z-GO is looking like a smart move. They are now in a dominant position in the segment and our interviews with dealers for our latest market study indicate that their product line upgrade has been well received. With E-Z-GO behind it, Bad Boy Buggies now has access to a large dealer network across the country, production and engineering expertise and the financial resources to develop as the segment grows.

While we have heard some remarks about the quality of Stealth vehicles, this may provide an opportunity for another manufacturer in the market to grab a fairly well-established brand in this sub-segment for a limited amount of money. In general, STOV manufacturers are diversifying into other market segment and an acquisition of Stealth assets could fit into that strategy. A couple of possibilities that come to mind are another golf car manufacturer looking to leverage their electric vehicle expertise and further expand into off-road utility vehicles. ??Another would be Polaris that has been making acquisitions in the electric vehicle and technology space with acquisitions such as GEM. As their dealers develop expertise in selling one electric vehicle line, they could leverage that experience as well as their access to recreational market segments by adding an electric hunting vehicle line.

More Funds for CA Clean Vehicle Rebate Program – But Not LSVs

The California Energy Commission is adding $4.5 million to the coffers of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program operated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Unfortunately for LSV manufacturers and purchasers the funds are earmarked only for highway capable??zero-emission electric vehicles and light-duty plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that can carry at least four passengers. CARB has issued??approximately 18,000 rebates totaling $41 million through its Clean Vehicle Rebate Program with a small percentage of those rebates for LSVs/NEVs.

Comment:?? The exclusion of NEVs/LSVs is not too surprising. One of CARB’s goals of the program is to speed the adoption of new vehicle technologies. They do not consider LSV technology to be a new technology that can be transferred to highway capable vehicles. This is also apparent in the zero emission credit valuation of LSVs for their zero emission vehicle requirement program with which vehicle manufacturers must comply.

Learn more: ??Greencarcongress.com

Gridtential Energy: Applying Silicon Valley Manufacturing Techniques To Batteries

Gridtential Energy is a startup battery manufacturer that is applying chip and hard-drive manufacturing processes to lead acid batteries. The techniques are being used to bond active material to the battery plates as opposed to pasting or printing it on them. ??The advantage is that the active layer is less likely to separate from the plates so the battery last longer. In addition the active layer is much thinner for more efficient charging and discharging that reduces energy loss to heat buildup. The battery is also lighter. According to management “…the battery can be charged and discharged more than a regular battery, and can be charged and discharged to 80 percent of its capacity. In contrast basic lead acid batteries are more commonly charged and discharged closer to 40 to 50 percent of their capacity in order to make them last longer.”

The company recently received $1 million in funding from the Roda Group. In the early stages of development, the technology is not expected to be commercialized until 2016. The company is targeting the golf car, forklift and wheelchair markets first.

Learn more: ??Gigaom.com

Polaris Plans To Introduce Non-Pneumatic Tire

Polaris Non-pneumatic tire technology

Polaris Industries is taking their non-pneumatic tire (NPT) technology developed for military applications and is planning to commercialize it for other markets. The tires feature a web made of proprietary plastic, a solid outer band of rubber for the tread and an inner steel rim. In testing the tires have been able to withstand 0.50 caliber bullets and railroad spikes and continue to perform for hundreds of miles or more. A significant portion of the webbing can be compromised and the tire will remain functional.

The NPT tires also have the added advantages over pneumatic tires of being more shock absorbing for a better ride and contact with the driving surface and quieter since there is no air-filled cavity to amplify sounds. ??The NPT tires may be available as soon as early 2014. The technology originated with Resilient Technologies which Polaris acquired last year.

In early estimates management expects there to be a 30% to 50% premium over traditional tire and rim assemblies. One potential consumer segment that would want the tire would be recreational trail riders. They spend significant dollars on upgrades and drive their vehicles hard in difficult terrain. The convenience of not having to fix one or more flats on a ride could be compelling. In addition, commercial applications where UTVs are being used in particularly harsh and/or remote areas could make the tires worth the extra expense. SVR knows of one other major STOV manufacturer that is looking to introduce a NPT by the end of 2014.

Learn more: ??Foxnews.com (video)

Bobcat Launches New UTVs with PTO Feature

New Bobcat 3600 and 3650 UTVs co-developed with Polaris

New Bobcat 3600 and 3650 UTVs co-developed with Polaris

Bobcat has launched the 3600 and 3650 utility vehicles, the latter features powert take-off (PTO) attachments. The vehicles are similar to the recently introduced Brutus line from Polaris that the companies co-developed. Both the 3600 and 3650 feature a 24.8 hp Yanmar diesel engine, hydrostatic drive and a top speed of 30 mph. They also have 4×4 and AWD capabilities. The 3650 offers more attachments including??PTO attachments: snowblower, mower, angle broom and non-PTO attachments snowblade, pallet fork and bucket. A spreader and sprayer are available for both. Other comparative features for the models include:

  • 1,250 lb cargo box capacity for both models
  • 2,200 lb towing capacity for the 3600 vs 2,000 lb for the 3650
  • 500 lb in lift and 2 feet in height ??capacity for the 3650 attachments
  • Factory cab comes standard with heat and air
  • MSRPs of $15,000 for the 3600 and $25,000 for the 3650

Learn more: Equipmentworld.com