Category Archives: NEV

CT&T Chooses South Carolina For EV Production Facility

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After looking at a number of different cities and states over the past year, CT&T has chosen the city of Duncan in Spartanburg Count, South Carolina for their first US based production facility.  Korea-based CT&T is partnering with the 2AM Group of South Carolina to develop the electric vehicle production facility.   Operating under the name CT&T Southeast LLC, the joint venture will produce CT&T’s eZone and cZone electric vehicles.  The vehicles will target the NEV market as well as commercial uses such as security, maintenance and utility applications.  CT&T will invest $21 million and create 370 new jobs to support its production over the next five years and expects the facility to be operational in the fourth quarter of this year.

2AM Group, LLC is a premium technical service provider in the fields of project management, engineering, assembly, quality assurance and logistic services for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers in the Automotive, Aerospace, and Marine Industries.

Learn more:  Businesswire.com


E-Z-Go Launches Their 2Five LSV

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E-Z-Go 2Five LSV

E-Z-Go enters the LSV market with the 2Five

Yesterday E-Z-go announced the launch of the company’s first LSV, the 2Five.  The 2Five features a 48-volt AC electric powertrain, hydraulic disc brakes and an on-board charger.  Targeting the neighborhood travel segment, the 2Five meets NHTSA’s LSV standard but can also be set for golf course use.

The 2Five includes four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes for superior braking and vehicle control. The windshield is automotive safety glass. Rearview mirrors provide the 2Five’s operator with clear sightlines to see nearby vehicles. A complete automotive lighting package, including headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals, provides for visibility and safety on public streets. Three-point seat belts are designed to protect front and rear passengers. Radial tires offer superior wear and stopping performance. Vehicle maintenance and performance warnings are displayed electronically on the dash to alert the driver on the operation of key vehicle systems. In addition, a “rabbit/turtle” switch on the dash conveniently limits the 2Five’s speed to 14 mph when conditions require lower speeds, or to prevent turf damage in instances when the 2Five is being used as a golf vehicle.

Eco-friendly features include a 48-volt, zero-emissions electric powertrain that uses AC current. The electric drivetrain lowers vehicle noise and eliminates use of hazardous fuel and oil, and the 2Five’s AC Drive system requires less energy to operate than traditional DC-powered electric vehicles. Regenerative braking puts energy back into the vehicle’s batteries whenever brakes are applied to maintain a quality driving experience between battery charges. An on-board solid-state battery charger is energy efficient and makes charging simple. The 2Five’s foam seating is made of 100 percent recycled material.

In addition, the 2Five offers a number of convenience features, including a state-of-charge meter that indicates the amount of power left in the batteries, a 12-volt accessory outlet to provide electrical charge for mobile phones, mp3 players and other devices while on the go, and ample vehicle storage, including four large cup holders, locking glove boxes, and a storage area under the rear seat of 4-passenger models (with an optional trunk accessory for 2-passenger models.)

Learn more:  Businesswire.com

Garia Launches LSV

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Luxury golf car manufacturer Garia has launched an LSV version of their Garia Golf Car.

The Garia features a Formula 1 inspired front suspension, a drive train built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes, and aluminum profiles made by the same company that supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo. Available in August 2010, The Garia LSV is fitted with street legal safety equipment such as seatbelts and side mirrors, and it also has a hydraulic brake system.

Learn more:  Garia.com

What’s Cooking On the STOV

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

Gator at Astley Park

Gator in use at Astley Park in Chorley, UK

Park Maintenance – Gardeners in Astley Park in Chorley, UK are pleased with their new Gator. The vehicle is used to manage the woodland, keep footpaths clear and maintain the flowering gardens. According to Councillor Eric Bell, Chorley Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, “The new machine is a lot more versatile. It means that our gardeners can reach all parts of the magnificent Astley Park a lot easier saving time and money .” Learn more: Chorleycitizen.co.uk

Forest Preserve Policing & Trolley – Managers of the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, IL are looking for sponsorship to support the acquisition of electric vehicles for policing and transporting tourists around the grounds.  The vehicles from Cruise Car are electric powered and supplanted with solar power which can increase vehicle range by 30 percent.  The police vehicle is small enough for patrolling on trails and according to Mike Tully, the district’s director of operations and public safety, “It’s a very visible vehicle but at the same time it’s not obtrusive. It’s approachable. It doesn’t give you that police-car-on-the-prowl look.”  Vehicle sponsors would have their company logos and graphics prominently placed on the vehicles.  Learn more:  Dailyherald.com

Bad Boy Buggies Recall LSVs For Acceleration Problem

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Bad Boy Enterprises recently announced they were recalling 370 of their 2009-2010 Classic LSVs because of an acceleration problem.  According to reports “…water getting onto the accelerator can cause a voltage surge that will cause the vehicle to accelerate without the pedal being pressed.”  The company has also told the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) that based on what they have seen in these LSVs a fix to an acceleration problem for a previous recall involving 3,900 vehicles will not solve  the problem in those vehicles.  The company is investigating what additional steps may be needed regarded those vehicles.  Learn more:  Wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

Mahindra & Mahindra Buys Majority Stake In Reva

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Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), India’s leading producer of SUVs, recently purchased a 55% stake in electric vehicle producer Reva.  Maini Group will have a 31% and AEV LLC of California, the joint venture partner, will have 11% stake.  The deal included a $10 million cash infusion for Reva, which has produced 3,500 electric vehicles to date. According to reports, 400 vehicles were sold last year mainly in Britain, Germany and Spain.

M&M expects the Indian market for electric vehicles to grow substantially and by 2020 expect to be producing 50,000 electric vehicles annually.  Some of the new funds for Reva will be used to increase their current production capacity from 6,000 to 30,000 vehicles per year.  A consequence of this deal is that Reva’s work with GM to develop the electric mini Spark has been called off.  Learn more:  Vamban.com

NEVs Slow To Gain Traction In Korea

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Despite a growing number of local governments designating roads for NEV use, the vehicles have not attracted many buyers.  After Korea passed favorable NEV regulations at the national level earlier this year, 30% of the local government have reported designating local roads for NEV use.  this figure is expected to increase rapidly in the coming months.  However, manufacturers point to a lack of electric vehicle subsidies and recharging infrastructure as reasons for the lack of NEVs purchases to date and a likely persistent obstacle to market growth moving forward.  Learn more:  Koreaherald.com

Delta Q Technologies Raises $17 Million

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Growth capital firm Tandem Expansion has invested in $17 million in fellow Canadian firm Delta Q Technologies.  Delta-Q makes power conversion and power management systems for electric vehicles.  Key end markets include golf cars, aerial work platforms, industrial floor-cleaning machines, and low-speed neighborhood vehicles.  Learn more:  Xconomy.com

CT&T Adds Georgia To List Of Potential Plant Sites

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Korea-based LSV manufacturer CT&T has added Georgia to the list of states that could potentially host a vehicle assembly plant.  In the past year the company has also named Hawaii, South Carolina and Pennsylvania as potential locations.  The company expects to select a site by the end of the year and start production in 2011.  Learn more:  Bizjournals.com/atlanta/

Insurance Institute Wants To Restrict LSVs

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) wants to restrict the use of LSVs on public roads over concerns about crash safety, or have the government review current LSV safety standards.  Based on results from recent crash tests, the IIHS believes the mixing of LSVs with larger , full-functioning vehicles is a recipe for more serious injuries and deaths in vehicle accidents.

IIHS GEM Crash Test

IIHS crash test simulating a GEM being hit by an SUV

The institute recently conducted a number of crash tests including a GEM e2 simulating a side impact with a SUV traveling at 31 mph, a GEM e2 being impacted by a Smart Fortwo and similar tests with a Changan Tiger Star mini-truck.  The institutes’s position is that crashworthy enough to be on the road with larger, faster vehicles.  At the same time, the group cannot point to evidence of  “…large numbers of people being hurt or dying in such crashes.”   Learn more:  Wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

Another article on the issue provided some responses from LSV manufacturers.

Chrysler Group responds, “GEM vehicles offer customers an inexpensive, clean solution for low-speed environments and comply with (the NHTSA’s) standards for low-speed vehicles, which limit the maximum speed of the vehicle to 25 mph.”

“It’s a grave generalization to say that all LSVs are simply souped-up golf carts,” says Mike McQuary, CEO of Atlanta-based Wheego Electric Cars, which manufactures the Whip LSV. “The Wheego Whip … is a full-functioning, steel unibody automobile that certainly nobody would ever mistake for a golf cart.”

Learn more:  USAToday.com