Category Archives: NEV

Team Industries Licenses Fallbrook’s Transmission Technology for STOV Market

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Fallbrook Technology and TEAM Industries announced an exclusive licensing agreement for Fallbrook’s NuVinc CVP (continuously variable planetary) technology in North America and Europe for the STOV market.  Under the agreement, TEAM will have “…manufacturing rights for their light utility and recreational vehicle families for North America and Europe and includes an engineering services agreement (ESA) for the development of a NuVinci vehicle transmission, with development running through 2013 and into 2014. The agreement also provides for royalties with commercialization volume milestones beginning in 2015.”  The agreement covers the ATV, UTV, LSV and NEV markets.  The companies have been working together since 2011.  Learn more:  Marketwatch.com

DOD Plug-in Purchases May Hurt LSV Market

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The Department of Defense has announced plans to purchase approximately 1,500 plug-in vehicles, mostly Chevy Volts over the next few years.  This could potentially hurt the LSV market.  The DOD has made it a priority to reduce petroleum consumption and one approach is to replace passenger vehicles used on bases and in other areas with alternative fuel vehicles.  Starting in 2007 and 2008, primarily with the US Army, LSVs were tested and then purchased in large quantities.  At the time, all the military branches were drawing up plans to purchase LSVs.  In total, these purchases would number several thousand per year.

However, government data on Federal fleets indicates that these large volume purchases did not materialize as expected.  While a number of factors could have impacted LSV sales including budgetary and performance issues, the advent of other electric vehicle alternatives such as the Volt may have played a role as well and might do so in the future.  Although considerably more expensive than LSVs, the Volt does offer highway capability, more versatility and overall greater vehicle performance.  Until the comparative cost versus performance trade-offs can be evaluated over the next few years the long-term impact on the LSV market won’t be known but in the short-term there will likely be fewer LSV sales in this market sub-segment.  Learn more:  Insideevs.com

Clark Material Handling Acquires EverGreen Electric Vehicles

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Clark Material Handling Company recently acquired EverGreen Electric Vehicles which produces industrial and utility vehicles as well as golf cars.  Clark management sees a good alignment between their current dealer network and the markets that EverGreen serves.  They also believe they can provide engineering, financial and purchasing advantages to EverGreen.

EverGreen has an estimated 25-35 employees across offices in Grand Junction, Colorado and a 30,000 sq ft. production facility in Compton, California.  EverGreen brands include EVE low-speed vehicles, Legacy golf cars, Hoss commercial and industrial vehicles and Goat off-road vehicles.  There was no details on the acquisition costs.  Learn more:  ForkliftAction.com

Tomberlin Launches Mobile Website

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Tomberlin Automotive Group recently launched a mobile version of the Tomberlin website for use with smart phones and tablets. The site is accessible at www.mobiletomberlin.net.

“Themobile site is a streamlined version of the regular Tomberlin site. Product descriptions, a dealer locator, news and downloads are available. Links to Tomberlin’s Youtube and Facebook page are listed, allowing for more ways to connect with Tomberlin with navigation buttons made for fingers instead of a mouse or keyboard. Images are optimized to load quickly with a clean crisp look specifically for small screens. Text and navigation buttons were made for use with fingers, not a mouse and keyboard.”

Moto Electric Vehicles On GSA

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Moto Electric Vehicles has announced that 24 of their low speed vehicle models are now available through the General Services Administration (GSA).  The GSA provides purchasing services for a variety of products and services at set prices for various government agencies and institutions.   Moto Electric Vehicles offers a range of utility vehicles, emergency vehicle and shuttle vehicles that are LSVs. Learn more:   Motoelectricvehicles.com

Polaris Introduces 2013 GEM Lineup

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2013 GEMeL XD with dual tool box option

Polaris announced their 2013 line of GEM vehicles which include a variety of improvements.  The 2013 lineup features the GEM e2, e4, e6, eS, eL, and eL XD models with starting MSRPs of $7,829 to $13,459.  The company borrowed technology from their powersports products for some of the improvements.  Key changes include:

  • High-low beam headlamps
  • Day-night mirror to reduce reflective glare.
  • Improved front brakes, suspension, steering and foot pedals
  • Factory-installed MAX BOX with cargo doors and a dual tool chest option for select utility vehicles
  • Updated color options
  • Charging cordsets for international markets

New hard doors with better sealing and locks are expected to be available in 2013. Learn more:  Government-fleet.com

Expert Calls For Low Speed Vehicle Planning In China

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Guo Konghui of the Chinese Academy of Engineering recently criticized China’s Energy-Saving and New-Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan (2012-20) for not including plans for developing low speed vehicles.  In this context low speed vehicles are vehicles with a top speed of 70 km/hr and powered by lead-acid batteries.  Guo argues that lithium based, fully functioning are vehicles are still not ready for “industrialization and marketization” while low speed vehicles are ready for market now.  Organizations at the provincial level are filling the void.  In August 2011 the Shandong New-Energy Vehicle Technology Innovation Alliance issued its own regional low-speed vehicle standard and Guo estimates that 64,000 low speed vehicles were produced in the province in 2011.  Learn more:  Globaltimes.cn

Car Dealer Plans Small Electric Vehicle Dealerships In SoCal

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Ramon Alvarez, who owns Lincoln and Jaguar dealerships, is planning to offer a range of  small electric vehicles through dealerships in Southern California in the near future. Through his company Alvarez Electric Motors Co., he will be importing vehicles produced by Liuzhou Wuling Special Purpose Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in China and selling them through authorized EcoCentre franchisees. The first EcoCentre will be opened next month in Irvine by the Fladeboe Automotive Group, which consists of Honda, Volkswagen, GMC, Buick and Code franchises.  Other dealers are planning on opening EcoCentres in Riverside, San Bernardino, Glendale, Canoga Park and San Jose.

The first shipment of 42 vehicles was scheduled to arrive this week.  The model lineup includes two-seater Eco-E Commuter Car, listed for $9,995, the EcoTruck for $16,995 and the EcoVan for $17,995.  All the vehicles are LSVs with a range of 30-40 miles.  The target users for the vehicles include new drivers, Metrolink commuters and commercial users such as golf courses, airports, military bases, shuttle vans, food deliveries, landscaping companies and government fleets. Learn more:  PE.com

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Border Patrol – Customs and Border Protection will be adding two UTVs and three ATVs to their fleet.  The UTVs, Polaris Ranger 800 HD with plows, blades and other accessories, will be used near Spokane, WA and the ATVs in Maine.  Learn more:  GSNmagazine.com

Pitt Community College Buys GEMs

Campus Transportation – One of the major market segments for LSVs is college campuses.  Pitt Community College recently expanded their campus and needed a versatile option for staff to move around the ground.  Their choice was a pair of GEM LSVs.  Learn more:  Reflector.com

All Purpose Farm/Mining Vehicle – In Australia the farm segment is showing the same trend as in the US:  the replacement of ATVs by UTVs.  Key factors driving the switch are ease of use and more productivity compared to ATVs.   Demand for vehicle accessories for this segment is increasing as well.  A Polaris retail manager states that 80% of sales in Queensland and the Northern Territory is for farming.  The other important segment in this area is mining where an accessorized UTVs offer a much cheaper alternative to traditional Landcruisers.  Learn more:  SL.farmonline.com.au

Polk County Sheriff uses Mule for bike trail patrol

Bike Trail Patrol – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa is using a Kawasaki Mule to patrol bike trails this summer.  The Mule gives them access to areas that their other cars cannot reach while at the same time allows them to carry gear and supplies or an injured person, which is not possible with a motorcycle.  Learn more:  Blogs.Desmoinesregister.com

Green Tech Starts NEV Production

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Green Tech Automotive's MyCar NEV

Green Tech Automotive starts production of their MyCar NEV

A visit from former President Bill Clinton kicked off production  at Green Tech Automotive’s Horn Lake, MS plant.  The production line will manufacture the company’s MyCar NEV.  Management, which includes former Democratic National Committee chief Terry McAuliffe, hopes to produce 10,000 vehicles in their first year.  Many of these are destined for Denmark where Greenabout will distribute the vehicles.  Pizza chain Domino’s will also use some of the vehicles.  The company is targeting the fleet market with the vehicle which is priced at $18,000 and claims a maximum range of 95 miles for the top of the line model.  The vehicles feature lithium batteries from Flux Power of California.  Future plans include shipping vehicle components to China for final assembly in a to be built plant there as well as 300,000 square facility in Tunica County to produce up to 16,000 vehicles per year.  Learn more:  ClarionLedger.com