New GEMs Launched For 2011

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars LLC (GEM) has announced their new product line for 2011. New features for the six model product line include:

An energy monitoring system, which allows drivers to determine the total amount of energy in kilo-watt-hours (kWh) that the GEM vehicle has removed from the grid. By using the trip meter, odometer switch in the vehicle, drivers can view the energy saving information right on the vehicle’s LCD screen. This feature is the first of its kind in the industry and allows drivers to actually see, and quantify, the positive impact that a GEM vehicle makes to the environment.
Also new for 2011 are four vehicle options including:

12” turf tires for off-road applications

Right-hand-drive package that converts the GEM vehicle into the perfect police or security vehicle

Short-bed package that provides a 34” x 48” cargo bed on the GEM e4 four-passenger coupe or the GEM e6 six-passenger shuttle vehicle

Utility tie downs that allow cargo to easily be secured in any of the GEM utility vehicles

Learn more: Chrysler.com (pdf of press release)

Garia LSV In NYC

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Street legal Garia on the streets of New York City

Garia recently premiered the street legal version of their luxury golf car in New York City. Pictures and videos show the vehicle as it makes its way from Columbus Circle through Times Square into downtown Manhattan and across the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn. The press release follows below. Learn more: Garia.com

World Premiere: Luxury Golf Cart Goes Street Legal

With the street legal version of The Garia you can take luxury and comfort straight from the green to the street.

Built at the same factory as the Porsche Boxster and Cayman and with luxury features such as a super-car inspired steering wheel, a built-in refrigerator and hand-stitched seats, The Garia is the ultimate machine in its class.

Now, The Garia LSV*, a street legal version of The Garia, lets you drive directly from the golf course to the streets. Fitted with street legal safety equipment such as seatbelts, side mirrors and reflectors, The Garia LSV will take you straight from your home to the golf course, tennis club, grocery store or your favorite cafe.

With a 25 mph top speed, The Garia LSV features a double wishbone front suspension, automotive style shocks and springs and a unique digital instrument cluster with all relevant driver information.

Superb handling and stability, extra storage space and a comfortable car-like driving position simply makes The Garia LSV ideal for your short, daily commutes.

The Garia LSV features a drive train built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes, and its components are made by the same company that supplies Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Volvo.

With automotive features unseen in the golf cart industry The Garia LSV has – as the first golf cart ever – entered the automotive league and earned its right to be called a car as opposed to a cart.

For videos of The Garia LSV in the perfect city scene, New York City, please visit www.garia.com

Low Speed Vehicle News

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Marc Cesare

DOT Proposes Rear Visibility Rule – The US Department of Transportation recently proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles that can hide the presence of pedestrians. Issued by NHTSA, the new regulation would apply to all passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, buses and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,000 pounds. NHTSA believes manufacturers will install rear mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays to meet the proposed standards. Learn more: DOT.gov

US Navy LSV Sales – According to information from the US Navy, to date they have replaced 900 non-tactical vehicles in their fleet with low-speed vehicles. The purchases are part of their overall alternative fuel vehicle program to convert a large portion of their non-tactical fleet of vehicles, which numbers over 46,000, to various alternative fuels. Learn more: Greenfleet.dodlive.mil

Cruise Car To Exhibit LSVs At World Energy Engineering Congress – This week Crusie Car will be exhibiting their All American Solar Electric LSV at the World Energy Engineering Congress being held in Washington DC. Learn more: Benzinga.com

Nissan Planning A Small Urban Vehicle

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Nissan New Mobility Concept

Nissan recently announced that they are planning on introducing three additional electric vehicles besides the Leaf in the next three years. One will be a small urban vehicle, referred to as the New Mobility Concept. It is not known at this time what the performance parameters of the vehicle will be. While the New Mobility Concept looks very much like a low speed vehicle, Nissan could design the vehicle to have a higher top speed than currently allowed for LSVs. According to Nissan the vehicle could be the ideal last mile transportation solution for commuters connecting to public transit or for residents of planned communities.

Nissan’s entry into the LSV market would be an important event in the market since major auto manufacturers have not been active in the market, except for Chrysler which has operated under the GEM not Chrysler brand. Earlier forays into the previously labeled NEV market by the majors was essentially only to meet California ZEV mandates. Nissan’s move appears to be part of a strategic plan to develop a robust electric vehicle product line. Their market entry could also create more demand for NHTSA to develop a medium speed vehicle classification. Learn more: Reviews.cnet.com

Kandi COCOC LSV Receives Chinese Approval

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Kandi Technologies COCO LSV recently qualified to be eligible for certain Chinese government energy programs. The vehicles can now be marketed to Chinese consumers and government agencies and are available for various local and regional subsidies. Management also formalized a partnership with China-based battery maker Tianneng Power International, Ltd. and Jinhua Bada Group, a subsidiary of State Grid Power Corp. to create China’s first Electric Vehicle battery replacement services company. Kandi will make batteries available on a rental basis for their vehicles and the partnership will create a network of charging and battery replacement locations. Learn more: RTTNews.com

Company News Briefs

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Cub Cadet Sponsors Design Contest – Outdoor Power equipment maker Cub Cadet is sponsoring the Cub Cadet Future Vision Design Contest. The contest is open to anyone with a vision for futuristic lawn mowers, tractors or utility vehicles. Learn more: Designcrave.com

Yamaha’s Kevin Norcross Gets Expanded Duties – Yamaha Golf-Car Company has put Kevin Norcross in charge of their National Direct Sales team. The new duties will be in addition to his current work as Marketing Department Manager. Learn more: Worldgolf.com

Ladybug Resource Acquires Mag International – Ladybug Resource, a company that acquires and licenses technologies, patents, patents-pending and trade secrets in the energy, health and intellectual property sectors, has acquired controlling interest in Mag International, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of gasoline and electric mini-utility vehicles. Learn more: Tradingmarkets.com

ZAP and Remy Electric Motors Partner – Remy Electric Motors will be the new electric motor suppler for ZAP. The companies will also work together on developing a drivetrain for other ZAP automotive platforms and for vehicles related to ZAP’s joint venture in China. Learn more: Indianapressreeleases.com

Ev Manufacturer Barefoot Motors To Close Doors

Posted on October 23, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Barefoot Motors a manufacturer of electric utility vehicles based in Ashland, OR announced that they will be closing their doors by the end of the year. According to a statement from CEO Mary Gresens,

Due to a critical interruption in our supply chain which has resulted in a review of our business model, Barefoot Motors LLC will no longer produce and offer the present products. The facility in Ashland is being ramped down and will be closed by the end of the year.

Learn more: Barefootmotors.com

This is the second company this year in the STOV market that has closed their doors. Earlier in the summer BG Automotive Group which had plans to build an LSV and then full-size electric vehicles also closed. Learn more: Green.autoblog.com

Polaris Reports Strong 3Q Results

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Polaris Industries reported strong third quarter results as the company continues to perform well in a struggling economic environment. Compared to last year’s numbers total sales increased 25% for the first nine months and 33% for the last three months, indicating increasing momentum as the year has progressed. In the off-road segment sales increased 33% compared to the first nine months in 2009 and 49% for the last three months. Management reported a generally positive reaction from dealers to their new product introductions and that they gained market share during the quarter. Unit sales in this segment which includes ATVs and side-by-sides increased 20% in the 3rd quarter compared to last year with side-by-side growing by over 20% and ATVs experiencing a single digit increase. Learn more: Businesswire.com

Sandia National Labs Wins Award for Solar Powered GEM

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Sandia National Laboratories has won a 2010 GreenGov Presidential award for modifying a GEM LSV to operate on solar power. The awards honor federal agencies and employees who work to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, meet a number of energy, water and waste reduction targets and leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally responsible products and techniques.

PV-powered GEM carts would reduce the number of needed charging stations, resulting in fewer repairs and decreased maintenance costs. Converting to solar powered carts also translates to significant environmental savings. Because no power is purchased for the PV-powered cart, no coal is burned, and no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere to power them.

According to management Sandia will be expanding the program by modifying five Club Car LSVs. Learn more: Photonicsonline.com

Sam’s Club Feature Stealth UTV/LSV

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Tom Colangelo, a local LSV dealer in Florida’s The Villages (a master planned community), has teamed up with Stealth Corporation and Sam’s Club to offer Stealth’s electric powered utility vehicles at several Florida Sam’s Clubs. The vehicles are also part of the store’s auto buying program which can be accessed online. The Stealths meet LSV requirements so residents of The Villages can use them within the community and venture out onto public roads.

Comment: The combination off-road UTV/LSV is a recent trend, and as the story notes, provides a more versatile alternative to golf cars in these communities. These combination vehicles will likely start taking increasing market share from golf cars within the master planned community market segment. While golf cars have traditionally had a cost advantage, as more municipalities open up public roads to LSVs, versatility will start trumping price differences. Learn more: PRLog.org

Small Vehicle Resource Blog

Information on the small, task-oriented vehicle market

Category Archives: NEV