Category Archives: market trends

Electric Utility Vehicles Claiming Market Share?

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This story exemplifies the potential for electric powered utility vehicles to make inroads into gas powered segments of the market.?? In this case, an electric powered Club Car replaced an older Gator utility vehicle in a county park.???? The lack of noise and odor emitted by the vehicle is noted as the advantages of the new vehicle.?? On the other hand, the staff remarked that the vehicle can only be used on the more developed parts of the park and not the trails, and cannot be operated all day or the power runs out.?? The vehicle is used for regular maintenance around the park.?? They did receive a number of favorable letters and calls from park users about the vehicle.

Comment:?? In much the same way utility vehicles have replaced full-size trucks when appropriate, I can see electric powered utility vehicles replacing gas powered vehicles or being the first vehicle of choice where they can perform just as efficiently, especially as the “going green” trend continues.?? However, except for vehicles like the Bad Boy Buggie, most of the electric utility vehicles will still fall short in some key performance requirements for the more demanding tasks required of gas powered vehicles.

NEVs Become A Point Of Attack On Stimulus Bill

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Numerous blogs and websites are recycling the same political spin in opposition to the stimulus bill.?? Typically the headline includes the phrase “$300 million for golf carts”. (Here is an example)?? The story then highlights NEVs from a list of electric vehicle types that would be eligible for federal funding under the bill and conflates NEVs/LSVs with golf carts.

Whether you are for or against the stimulus bill, this is another example of how various media outlets and others are blurring the line between NEVs/LSVs and golf carts.?? In the past, the blurring has had more to do with vehicle safety issues.?? In both cases, the blurring is to the detriment of NEV/LSV manufacturers.?? If this trend continues, NEV/LSV manufacturers may have to more aggressively and clearly delineate the differences between NEVs/LSVs and golf carts in order to protect the generic NEV/LSV brand and their specific brand of NEV/LSV.

Chicago To Pilot Test LSVs As Taxis

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Later this year the City of Chicago is planning to start a pilot project to test the viability of using low speed vehicles as taxicabs in certain areas of the city.

I spoke with Efrat Stein, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and she stated that the first step in the program is the passage of an LSV ordinance by the City Council.???? The ordinance, recently proposed by Mayor Daley, just made it through the Traffic Committee today and should be placed for a vote before the full council later this month.?? Stein currently sees no issues that would impede passage of the ordinance.

The city has not chosen a specific LSV for the pilot yet and will not begin the process until the ordinance passes.?? The minimum requirement is that the LSV has to have four doors and be able to seat four people. Learn more

Another Sign of Electric Vehicle Popularity

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South Seattle Community College is offering a number of courses focusing on electric vehicles.?? Developed in conjunction with the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, the courses cover topics such as electric vehicle conversion, batteries and safety.?? The conversion workshop involves the actual conversion of a vehicle to electric power.

Chicago To Allow LSVs?

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Mayor Daley of Chicago is set to introduce an ordinance in the City Council today that will allow residents and city agencies to use LSVs on Chicago streets with speed limits up to 30 mph.

The ordinance is part of the Mayor’s “green Fleet” initiative which already includes the purchase of four GEMs for use inside fleet management facilities. The city expects to add more vehicles for parking enforcement, some refuse collection tasks and crowd control in contained areas.

From our point of view this is a significant development that such a large city is moving towards allowing LSVs. To date, mostly smaller communities have adopted LSV ordinances. This action could set a precedent for other large cities, provides high profile exposure for LSVs and offers a test case for the use of LSVs in urban areas. We will be watching to see if the ordinance passes and how many of Chicago’s residents will choose to use LSVs.