The General Services Administration (GSA) which provides vehicles and arranges pricing deals for government and military agencies for the United States has approved vehicles from Enova Systems and Smith Electric Vehicles.?? Enova Systems will provide their Enova Ze for the category of all-electric walk-in step vans with a GVWR between 10,001 and 16,000 lbs. for 12, 14, and 16 foot body lengths.?? Smith Electric Vehicles is providing their?? Newton in the all-electric medium and heavy duty categories with a GVWR of up to 25,500 lbs.?? Both companies report they are the exclusive supplier for their respective all-electric vehicle categories.?? Enova Systems also supplies Smith Electric Vehicles with electric drive systems for their Newton vehicles.?? Learn more:?? finance.yahoo.com
Category Archives: market trends
Massachusetts Registers State’s First LSV
A couple from Hull, MA became the first people to register a LSV in Massachusetts. Taking advantage of the states LSV law that recently went into effect, the couple purchased a Club Car Villager 2+2.

Massachusetts' First Registered LSV In Use
Impressively, they ventured out in the open-air vehicle in the middle of a New England winter. Club Car reports that versions of the vehicle with doors and vinyl interiors will soon be available. Learn more: Wickedlocal.com
Charging Stations Gaining Momentum
Over the last year there have been a number of stories regarding the installation of charging stations. There seems to be an upward trend with regards to charging stations. One example of this is in Hawaii where Green Energy Outlet has just opened up a new charging station. Initially it will be free for electric vehicles such as electric bikes, mopeds, Segways and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs). Later users will be able to pay by either waving a smart card (RFID) in front of the device, or by placing a Toll Free call to activate the charge. Learn more: Tradingmarkets.com
Another story tells about the Lehigh Valley Mall where three outlets are provided for use by hybrid electric vehicles. Learn more: MCall.com
UPDATE: Coulomb Technologies Installs Charging Stations in Washington: Coulomb Technologies recently announced the installation of their Chargepoint Networked Charging Station at a supermarket in Washington. Charging is free and hopes are that some of the approximately 1,000 plug-in electric vehicles in Washington, which includes conversions, plug-in hybrid conversions, neighborhood electric vehicles and electric motorbikes will be able to use the station. The close proximity of many electric vehicle owners and the fact that the many o the supermarkets customers shop multiple times per week factored into the location decision. Learn more: Newsblaze.com
Arizona Promising Stronger Enforcement of OHV Laws
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is increasing their enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with off-highway vehicle(OHV) laws.?? In Arizona OHVs are required to have decals but the department reports that less than 25% of OHVs have them.?? The annual decals cost $25 and are part of a program that started in January, 2009.?? The program covers most ATVs, utility vehicles, dirt bikes and some sand rails and revenues pay for information booklets and riding maps as well as clean up and restoration efforts.?? Learn more:?? KTAR.com
Polaris Defense Introduces LSV For Military Market

New Polaris EV LSV For The Military Market
Earlier this week Polaris Industries Defense division introduced the Polaris EV LSV which is targeting the military market and other government agencies.?? The vehicle is based on the Range EV utility vehicle.?? Key features besides basic LSV requirements include:
- 48 volt AC induction motor with 30 horsepower
- 50 mile range and 25 mph top speed
- Three driving modes:?? High for speed, Low for towing and hauling, and Max for maximum range
- 1,000-pound payload capacity
- 1,250 lbs. of towing capacity
The Polaris EV LSV will enable the company to bid for the contracts that the various US Armed Forces have started to award for LSVs.?? These contracts could be for as many as 30,000 vehicles over the next 5 to 10 years. Columbia ParCar has won contracts for almost 1,000 LSVs in the past year.?? In presentations for investors Polaris has pointed to the military market a an important growth driver for the company.?? Learn more:?? PolarisIndustries.com
On a related?? note, in October, 2009 Polaris Defense was awarded a $2.4 million contract by the National Guard Bureau for their Ranger 800 Crew utility vehicles.?? This contract probably represents about 200 vehicles.?? Learn more:?? MSN.com
Comment: This vehicle introduction continues a trend of utility vehicle manufacturers making their rough terrain utility vehicles LSV compliant.?? Others that have done so previously include Bad Boy Enterprises, Stealth, HuntVe and Titan.?? You might consider these crossover LSVs.?? Although this market is in part driven by recent government tax cuts, I believe the need is real for a versatile vehicle that can handle rough terrain as well as street duties.?? While Polaris is targeting the military market, their vehicle can easily be sold into this crossover market on the consumer side. – Marc Cesare
Illinois LSV Goes Into Effect
On January 1 a new LSV law went into effect in Illinois.?? There are two basic parts to the law:?? first LSVs will now have to be titled and registered with the state; the second and more interesting part is that LSVs will be allowed to travel on any roads with posted speed limites of 30 mph or less unless specifically prohibited by a municipality.
This essentially creates LSV road access as the default policy.?? I believe this is the first state to do so.?? Other states have allowed similar access but with the added step that municipalities had to pass ordinances to explicitly allow LSV access.?? This requires a certain level of initiative and interest by local officials to write and pass the ordinances.?? The law should provide a boost to LSV sales in Illinois and may spur other states to adopt similar legislation.??– Marc Cesare
Road Use Regulations Roundup – December
Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:
- Continued passage of ordinances allowing?? LSVs and/or golf cars on local streets
- Municipalities considering regulations that will allow the use of LSVs as taxis or rental vehicles
- Trends towards expansion or restriction, depending on the locality, regarding the use of UTVs and/or mini-trucks on public streets
Illinois – Effective January 2010 Illinois will allow low-speed vehicles on any road with a posted limit of 30 mph or lower, effective January 2010. Previously, individual communities had to adopt laws to permit the use of low-speed vehicles on local roads.
Orting, WA – Passed an ordinance to allow golf cars on city streets as part of a one year pilot program.
Manhattan, KS – Amendment allows citizens may operate golf carts and ???work-site utility vehicles??? on city streets marked with speed limits of 30 mph or less.
Austin, TX – City officials considering legislation that would allow the use of LSVs as taxis in downtown area.
Austin, MN – Responding to farmer requests, Mower County officials drafted an ordinance that allows the use of mini-trucks on county and township roads.
Ocean City, NJ – City council voted to allow local business to rent out LSVs.
Wisconsin – Two representatives from the state legislature are sponsoring a bill to allow the use of light utility vehicles on some public roads for agricultural purposes.
West Vancouver, CA – City officials pass ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on roads with speed limits of 50 km/hr or less.
Hamlin, West Virginia – Town council approved the changes to the town’s ordinance dealing with ATVs, utility-terrain-vehicles (UTVs) and off-road motorcycles that specifically prohibits the operation of the vehicles on any streets.
Oregon – Rule change requires that as of January 1, 2010 anyone under 18 years old riding in an off-highway vehicle such as a side by side will have to wear a helmet.
Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules On Electric Vehicle Tax Credit
Oklahoma’s Supreme Court recently ruled that the Garfield County District Court, which had ruled in favor of LSV dealers and customers in October, did not have jurisdiction in the case and vacated that court’s order.?? For dealers and customers this means that the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s previous letter rulings on qualified vehicles now apply again.?? Some vehicles purchased with the understanding that they would be eligible for the state tax credit are no longer considered eligible.
It appears that the bulk of the rulings by the commission are not in favor of the manufacturers.?? For example, the Badboy Buggie XT LSV, the Stealth Patriot LSV, the Fairplay EVE, Fairplay Goat, American Custom Golfcars Hummers H3, American Custom Golfcars Escalade, American Custom Golfcars Roadster Limo and Titan UTV Hunting Buggy do not qualify.?? Per the commission they do not qualify because…
The term ???qualified electric motor vehicle property??? shall not apply to vehicles known as ???golf carts,??? ???go-carts??? and other motor vehicles which are manufactured principally for use off the streets and highways.
Some of the vehicles that do qualify include:
- Most but not all Bigman models
- Club Car Carryall 2 & 6 LSVs
- Columbia ParCar Mega Truck models and Summit models with enclosures
- All the GEM models
- A few of the Star models
- Wheego Whip
The complete set of ruling letters for twenty-three manufacturers can be found here.?? Learn more:?? EdmondSun.com
Comment: When I first spoke with the Oklahoma Tax Commission after their initial ruling they?? talked about trying to clarify the law and that revenue concerns were not the issue.?? When they appealed the district court’s ruling they noted that the tax credit could cost the state upwards of $40 million. In my opinion they are trying to avoid losing revenue from tax credits. It would be interesting to see, in detail, how they are deciding which vehicles qualify and which ones don’t. – Marc Cesare
ZENN To Stop LSV Production; ZAP Phasing Out Xebra?
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.
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
Utility Vehicle Market Segment Highlight: Ruralpolitans
A recent story in the Wall Street Journal focuses on a back to the country movement by “ruralpolitans”, people moving from cities and towns into more rural areas.?? The ruralpolitans can be split into three groups:?? young people buying land as an asset or investment,?? exurban commuters hoping to escape sprawl; and back-to-the-land types, sometimes referred to as hobby farmers.?? The trend is being driven by both the old and young.?? Baby boomers are the biggest driver but 20 and 30 somethings whose less tangible investments took a hit in the recession are also a force.
The ruralpolitan trend is impacting not only rural real estate markets but ancillary markets like utility vehicles.?? Manufacturers are taking notice and responding to this growing segment.
Manufacturers also are tweaking seats and designs to suit this new generation of first-time users, including females. “We took a lot of women out on tests to make sure the vehicles are still badass for guys but comfortable enough for a woman to drive every day,” says Aaron Hanlon, product manager for Cub Cadet Utility Vehicles, a brand of MTD Products Inc. Polaris Industries Inc., known for its powerful off-road utility vehicles, this month is rolling out its first low-maintenance, eco-model: an all battery-powered ride called the Ranger EV.