What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Specialized Agriculture ApplicationsOregon based manufacturer Barefoot Motors is selling electric utility vehicles for use in orchards.

Karen Lewis with Washington State University Extension in Ephrata, Wash., said many orchard owners are shifting to a two-dimensional and three-dimensional row setup, enabling human or robotic hands to access the fruit by any type of technology. They are looking for smaller, electric utility vehicles to harvest or apply pesticides, she said.

The electric UTVs are also well suited for the frequent stop and start nature of the work. Learn more: Capitalpress.com

Advertising Based Transportation Service – A pair of Florida State University graduates have launched Green Operated Transit Carrying Humanity Around, or GOTCHA, a free, environmentally friendly transportation service. The company has a fleet of five GEMs to service the FSU campus and plan for similar fleets for the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. The company generates revenue by placing advertisers logos on the vehicles. Learn more: Tallahassee.com

GEMs for the Hoboken Parking Utillity

New GEMs for the Hoboken Parking Utillity

City Parking Department Application – Hoboken, NJ has taken delivery of two GEMs for use by the Hoboken Parking Utility. The vehicles will be used to put up signs, place bags over meters and install and remove boots. They replace pickup trucks which frequently needed maintenance. and their compact size are a good fit for the city’s tight streets. Learn more: NJ.com/hobokennow

Mobile Marketing Campaign – L’Oreal Paris is using two GEM vehicles as part of a mobile marketing campaign that will visit ten college campuses this spring. The promotion will…

…provide students with a range of brand engagements creating a motivating product trial platform while generating buzz. Utilizing a branded Airstream trailer and two battery-operated GEM cars, (Global Electric Motorcars) trained product specialists will invite students to use mobile face washing stations featuring Go 360 Clean, enjoy two-minute upper back massages and a professional makeup application.

L'Oreal Paris Promo Vehicle

L'Oreal Paris GEM promo vehicle

Learn more: Drugstorenews.com

CT&T Inks Deal To Supply Spanish Firm With NEVs

South Korean electric vehicle manufacturer CT&T has signed an agreement with the Ficosa Group of Spain to supply 10,000 NEVs.  No other information was provided regarding when deliveries will start, production rates or the value of the deal.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  Blogs.edmunds.com

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

E-Z-GO Sponsors Driver & NASCAR Event

E-Z-GO recently announced that its

...consumer-direct e-commerce site, shopezgo.com, will sponsor Kevin Harvick’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Atlanta 200 race on March 6, 2010 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Shopezgo.com also will be a secondary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado owned by Kevin Harvick Inc. and driven by NASCAR veteran Ron Hornaday throughout the 2010 Truck Series season. Hornaday is the defending Truck Series champion and is the series’ only four-time champion.

ShopEZGO.com is the company’s official online source for E-Z-GO Genuine Parts and Accessories. Learn more: Catchfence.com

E-Z-GO will also be sponsoring the event itself which will be called the E-Z-GO 200 and held  on Saturday, March 6.  The race is part of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  E-Z-GO is using the sponsorship to to extend consumer awareness of their line of personal-utility vehicles.  Learn more:  Ca.sys-con.com

Company News

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

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Mini-truck Based Mobile Grocery Store

Mini-truck Based Mobile Grocery Store

Mobile Grocery Store – In Thailand DFM Mini Truck Co is teaming up with  Siam Makro Plc to launch a mobile grocery store concept.  A specially designed vehicle with product inventory will be sold to grocery-store owners for use as mobile grocery stores, restaurants, bakery or coffee shops.  According to reports the trucks will be available in two formats. The counter format allows shoppers to buy products around the truck and the walk-in format allows customers to choose products inside.

The truck and inventory will sell for the equivalent of about $15,000 US and owners will have seven product groups from which to choose.  The companies estimate that owners can break even in one year and expect to initially sell 100 vehicles through a special marketing roadshow that will demo the concept.  The DFM mini-trucks are imported from China.  Learn more:  Bangkokpost.com

A GEM Of A Super Bowl Ad

GEM Vehicle Appears In Audi Super Bowl Ad

If you looked closely at Audi’s Super Bowl commercial you would have noticed  that a GEM vehicle was featured prominently in the ad.  In fact someone took the time to measure exposure time and GEM beat the Audi vehicle 11 seconds to 8 seconds.  Learn more:  Leesfreeriff.blogspot.com

GSA Approves Enova Systems & Smith Electric Vehicles As Suppliers

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

New Vehicle Introductions from Case IH & Polaris

Case IH compact Scout UTV

Case IH has introduced a new lineup of Scout utility vehicles targeting the farm segment.  The lineup includes a compact, two-passenger 14-hp (10-kW) gasoline-powered version and an XL version, which is available in two- and four-passenger configurations, with 23-hp (17-kW) gas or 20-hp (15-kW) diesel engines.  Learn more:  SAE.org

Ranger Crew 800 Limited Edition - Sunset Red with electronic power steering

Polaris Industries has introduced a new lineup of limited edition utility vehicles.  Beyond cosmetic upgrades such a new paint schemes some models include performance upgrades such as the Ranger Crew and Ranger RZR with electronic power steering and a 50-inch Ranger RZR with a premium Walker Evans shock package. 2010 Limited Edition models include:

  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP EPS LE-Sage Green
  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP LE-Turbo Silver
  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP EPS LE-Nuclear Sunset
  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP LE-Browning Edition with Pursuit® Camo
  • 2010 RANGER 800 CREW LE-Sunset Red with Electronic Power Steering
  • 2010 RANGER 800 CREW LE-Sunset Red with Electronic Power Steering
  • 2010 RANGER RZR LE-Walker Evans
  • 2010 RANGER RZR LE-Pearl White
  • 2010 RANGER RZR S LE-Purple Thunder

Learn more:  UTVweekly.com

Polaris Introduces Four-Seat Sport UTV

Polaris Ranger RZR 4 - Robby Gordon Edition

Polaris has introduced the Ranger RZR 4 Robby Gordon Edition, a four-seat UTV targeting the recreational market.  Identifying an opportunity for a vehicle with a  significantly lower price point than an expensive sand car or rail, Polaris teamed up with Robby Gordon to produce this industry first four seat sport side-by-side.  Key features include:

  • 800 Twin Cylinder High Output EFI Engine
  • Industry-Leading 12 in. (30.5 cm.) Long-Travel Suspension
  • Fox Podium X® 2.0 Racing Shocks with Piggyback Reservoirs
  • Rolled Independent Rear Suspension (IRS)
  • Maxxis® Bighorn® 26 in. Radial Tires With 12 in. Aluminum Rims
  • Top Speed – 61 mp

The vehicle has an MSRP of $14,999.

Learn more:  UTVGuide.net