Category Archives: NEV

MSV and Mini Truck State Laws

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has compiled information regarding medium speed vehicle (MSV) and mini-truck laws by state. According to the institute Kentucky, Montana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Washington currently have MSV laws. Oregon’s law will go into effect at the end of September and Colorado has a law that will be triggered by the US DOT’s setting of MSV standards. The latter may not happen anytime soon:

In 2008 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) denied several petitions to create a new class of vehicles known as medium-speed vehicles (MSVs), which would have a top speed of 35 mph. The petitioners asked that MSVs be subject to a set of safety standards greater than those applied to low-speed vehicles (LSVs) but substantially less than those applied to conventional passenger cars. NHTSA denied the petition because unlike LSVs, which are permitted to have a top speed of 25 mph and are intended for use in controlled, low-speed communities, MSVs are traveling in higher risk traffic situations and should comply with all of the safety standards set for passenger cars.

Kentucky, Montana and Colorado’s laws allow for a top speed of 45 mph for MSVs while all the other states with laws allow for a top speed of 35 mph. Learn more: IIHS.org

The following states have mini-truck laws: Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming. There is more variance in the laws for these vehicles since states classify them differently. Some are classified as mini trucks or mini utility trucks and others as utility vehicles, off highway vehicles, or even LSVs or MSVs since some mini trucks are speed restricted although many can go 45 to 55 mph. Top speeds allowed by the vehicles vary from 25 mph to a high of 55 mph, and the types of roads they can be used on vary as well. Learn more: IIHS.org

Tax Credit Update

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Previously I posted a story about GEM stating their vehicles qualified for a federal plug-in electric vehicle tax credit. I have since checked on other manufacturers such as Tomberlin, Columbia ParCar and Wheego and they are also claiming their LSVs qualify for the tax credit as well. Columbia ParCar’s website has some good information on the subject. LSVs are apparently eligible for two tax credits in 2009, the larger EESA or plug-in tax credit and the smaller ARRA LSV tax credit, but taxpayers can only claim one for a given vehicle. The EESA tax credit should provide a significant boost to sales of LSVs for the remainder of 2009.

AMP Control Of Oklohoma To Assemble & Sell Wheego LSVs

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AMP Control of Piedmont, OK has an agreement to assemble and sell Wheego Electric Car’s LSVs. According to Wheego management a significant factor in making this move was the sizable state tax credit for electric vehicles in Oklahoma. Wheego CEO Mike McQuary states that

…the Wheego Whip LSV qualifies for a state tax credit of 50 percent of the purchase price of the vehicle, which is $18,995, as well as a $7,500 federal tax credit.

A news conference on the agreement is scheduled for tomorrow Learn more: kfsm,com (5 News)

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Unmanned Military Vehicles: John Deere recently demonstrated its R-Gator standalone, autonomous mule, which is based on its M-Gator model at the Army sponsored Robotic Rodeo.

Applications include reconnaissance, patrol, hauling supplies (up to 1,400 lbs.), casualty evacuation, and the “marsupial” capability–namely the ferrying and remote deployment of smaller, specialized robots.

The Robotics Rodeo is sponsored by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and by the U.S. Army’s III Corps.?? Learn more:?? CNET.com

Campus Maintenance: Shenandoah University recently replaced a gas powered maintenance vehicle with a Vantage electric truck.?? The electric truck meets LSV standards and is powered by a 72 volt battery system.?? The vehicle will be used by the university’s physical plant department for general maintenance and contributes to the goals of reducing the carbon footprint and reaching campus sustainability.?? The university expects to save on fuel and maintenance costs while reducing emissions and noise.?? Learn more:?? Shenandoah University

Columbia ParCar Wins U.S. Army Order For Nearly 800 LSVs

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Columbia ParCar recently announced that they have won an order to supply 799 LSVs for the US Army.?? The LSVs will be used at 47 US Army installations in the US and Puerto Rico and are part of a three year plan to purchase 4,000 LSVs.?? The plan calls for 800 LSVs to be acquired in 2009, 1,600 in 2010 and another 1,600 in 2011.?? The vehicles will be?? used for passenger transport, security patrol, maintenance and delivery services.?? According to Columbia ParCar’s Scott Breckley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, ???438 vehicles are four-passenger models and the remaining 361 units are utility vehicles capable of transporting two passengers and cargo.??? Learn more:?? Columbia ParCar

Comment: This order is another example of the growing importance of the military segment for LSVs and utility vehicles.?? Kawasaki and Polaris have previously won contracts to supply utility vehicles and the Army’s LSV program represents a significant chunk of the LSV market.?? For utility vehicles, vehicle performance in specific field applications and favorable price points compared to previous vehicle options available is driving demand.?? Polaris, according to their latest presentation to investors, considers the military segment a significant new market development initiative in their global market strategy.?? For the LSVs, the military is replacing more expensive larger vehicles and saving on fuel costs, while still being able to perform the necessary tasks. – Marc Cesare

Zap Announces Military Reorder & Increased Production Schedule

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Electric vehicle maker Zap recently announced that the US military has followed up a June order for their Zaptruck XL with a request for eleven more of the vehicles.?? The military is ordering five 220-volt fast charging stations as well.?? The management also reported that they…

…have been increasing our production and assembly schedules for the past several months and I expect to see even more ramp-up initiatives in the next quarter.

Learn more:?? Earthtimes.org

DOE Announces Funding Awarded For Clean Cities Programs

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Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.?? Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S.?? Many of the projects include installing recharging stations for electric vehicles and?? purchasing electric vehicles. One such project is The Triangle J Council of Governments’ Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative which is planning to purchase 56 NEVs with some of the funds.?? Learn more:???? DOE

Chicago Adds Solar Recharging Station For NEVs

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In July the Chicago Office of Fleet Management installed a solar powered recharging station on the banks of the Chicago River near the borders of Logan Square and Lincoln Park. The station will be used by the city’s fleet of seven NEVs as well as nearly 100 Segways and a hybrid vehicle. According to the city the power station produces about 10 kilowatts of power on a sunny day or enough to recharge approximately 10 Segway vehicles. Learn more: Medill Reports Chicago

Tampa Allows Free NEV Service To Return

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The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission voted to rescind their earlier decision that effectively stopped NEVs from being offered for free transportation.?? The vehicles charged no fee for short rides in the downtown area but sold advertising and allowed drivers to accept tips.?? The service angered local taxi drivers and the commission passed an earlier ruling halting the service.?? There is some disagreement over the commission’s right to regulate the vehicles since they may not technically be taxis since they are free.?? The commission is trying to obtain a legal ruling in that regard, and establish some regulatory procedures.?? While that process moves forward, they are asking NEV operators to voluntarily follow some safety and insurance guidelines.?? Learn more:?? Tampabay.com

GEM Electric Vehicles Now Qualify For Plug-In Tax Credit

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Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) recently announced that GEM vehicles

…have been certified to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the Qualified Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit, part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

The credit is available for new vehicles purchased in 2009 and applies to models from 2007, 2008 or 2009.?? The tax credits by model are as follows:

GEM e2 – $3,751.00
GEM e4 – $3,751.00
GEM e6 – $3,751.00 (with 12-volt batteries)
GEM e6 – $5,002.00 (with 8-volt batteries)
GEM eS – $3,751.00
GEM eL – $3,751.00
GEM eL XD – $5,002.00

It appears that the GEM may also still be eligible for the separate LSV tax credit (10% of price up to $2,500). I will try to confirm this. Learn more:?? GEM

Comment: This is a major change in the market as the tax credit will cut the cost of the GEMs significantly, some models in half, for commercial customers looking for utility vehicles and for individuals looking purchasing for personal transportation. For the latter, the vehicles will now be on par or close to the cost of golf cars.?? It will be interesting to see if other LSV/NEV manufacturers become certified for the tax credit.?? Other manufacturers could be at a distinct disadvantage if they do not qualify for the tax credit as well.?? Originally LSVs qualified for the plug-in tax credit then they were excluded and given a separate tax credit. – Marc Cesare