What’s Cooking On The STOV

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Marc Cesare

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

Border Patrol: A sheriff’s office in Maine recently used a Department of Homeland Security grant to purchase a Yamaha Rhino to patrol the border with Canada. The vehicle is used to monitor remote border entrances for illegal drug trafficking and other activity and replaces the use of ATVs. The latter required officers to travel in pairs for safety reasons since the vehicles were not as stable. The grant is part of Homeland Security’s Stonegarden Operation which is sending $60 million to local law enforcement in border states to supplement federal border protection efforts. The funds are for both equipment and payroll. Learn more: Morningsentinel.mainetoday.com

NEV Tourist Rentals: An Austin, TX entrepreneur has recently launched E-Cars of Austin to provide NEVs around the city for tourists to rent. The rental fleet currently consists of six GEMs that will be placed in various downtown locations and will be available to rent for $30 for one hour or $50 for two hours. The plan is to eventually have two vehicles at each of 10 downtown hotels. Learn more: AustinBusinessJournal

Meter Reading: Silver City, NM has purchased two LSV utility trucks from Miles Electric Vehicles for use by the town’s meter readers.?? The meter readers travel around 24,000 miles each year.?? Town officials expect to save on maintenance and operating costs over the years compared to the current vehicles being used.?? Learn more:?? Silver City Sun News

ZENN Reports Sharp Drop In Vehicle Sales

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Marc Cesare

In the third quarter ending June 30, 2009 ZENN Motor Co. reported selling just 19 vehicles compared to 67 for Q3 2008.?? This is slightly more than the previous quarter when only 16 vehicles were sold compared to 54 the prior year.?? In the first half of 2009 ZENN has now sold a total of 35 vehicles compared to 121 in the first half of 2008.?? This a decrease in unit sales of 86 or 71% from the prior year.?? The management points to the decline in the overall economy as well as lower fuel prices as key factors in the decline.?? Learn more:?? Reuters.com

Long Drive Solar Looking To Supply LSVs To Atlanta Area Developments

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Long Drive Solar a marketer of solar-powered LSVs from Cruise Cars is in talks with the Jacoby Group to provide the vehicles for two of Jacoby’s real estate development projects.?? One project is the Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta and the other is the Aerotropolis Atlanta near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.?? The deal would involve potentially hundreds of vehicle according to the companies.?? The Jacoby Group is considering offering vehicles as an incentive for those purchasing condos in the developments.?? Long Drive Solar’s management also stated that they are “…in negotiations to supply about 3,000 solar LSVs to a nonprofit in Oklahoma.”?? Learn more:?? Atlanta Business Chronicle

Wheego Electric Cars Raises An Additional $1.2 Million

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Wheego Electric Cars, maker of the Wheego Whip, recently announced that the company had raised an additional $1.2 million from existing investors.?? The Whip is expected to be available next month as a low speed vehicle or medium speed vehicle.?? Next year, after crash testing is completed, the company hopes to sell the Whip as a full speed vehicle.?? Management expects to sell 1,000 of the LSV/MSV version in the first year as they build up their dealership network to 50 dealers.?? The vehicle has an MSRP of $18,500 but is also eligible for federal tax credits.?? Learn more:?? Atlanta Business Chronicle

Comment: Selling 1,000 of these vehicles in the first year appears to be ambitious given the economy and currently lower gas prices.?? ZENN recently announced a sharp decrease in sales of their LSV which has a similar price point.?? In addition, interviews I’ve conducted with electric vehicle dealers for an upcoming study also indicate a poor sales environment. MC

Wheego Eyes Shuttered Car Dealerships

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Marc Cesare

According to reports the LSV manufacturer Wheego is looking at some of the recently closed car dealerships as an opportunity to build their distribution.

Wheego considers its cars the perfect product for these dealerships to preserve local employment and keep local economies from falling into further trouble.

As the story notes the dealerships may be too large for Wheego’s limited product line and some may be located in communities that do not allow LSVs.?? Learn more:?? Tech.blorge.com

Roush Electric Vehicle In Limbo

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Roush Electric Vehicle

The Roush Electric Vehicle produced by Roush Industries is essentially a small pick-up truck that conforms to most LSV/NEV standards except GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).?? With a payload capacity of 1,100 pounds the REV has a GVWR of almost 4,000 lbs which is well over the 3,000 lb limit put forth in NHTSA’s FMVSS 500 regulations that relate to LSVs.?? The company has been unsuccessful in obtaining an exemption for the vehicle and therefore has put a hold on any further development.?? Learn more:?? Automobilemag.com

Polaris Enters NEV Market & Adds Electric Utility Vehicle

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Polaris Enters NEV Market With The Breeze

Polaris Industries will enter the NEV/LSV market this September with their Polaris Breeze. The electric powered Breeze will be targeting end use applications such as golfing, transportation and light portage. Master planned communities are expected to be a primary market. The vehicle is the first product from the companies recently formed On-Road Vehicle Division and will be available in select markets. The MSRP is $7,499. Learn more; sidebysideaction.com

Polaris also recently introduced their 2010 line-up of vehicles which will include their first electric utility vehicle, the Ranger EV. The Ranger EV will share the same chassis as the new Ranger 400, a smaller vehicle with an MSRP of $7,999 that is aimed at the hunter, farming and estate segments . The Ranger EV will target similar customers and is powered by a 11.5 KW battery pack and 30 hp AC motor that gives the vehicle a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 25-35 miles. The EV has a box payload capacity of 500lbs and an MSRP of $10,699 or $10,999 depending on color selection. For a short review of the vehicle see can-amforum.com

Other product line changes include the new heavy duty utility vehicle, the Ranger HD, a new Ranger 800 XP, increased horsepower for the Ranger 4×4 and a new 800cc EFI engine for other vehicles in the line. For more specific features and changes learn more at www.sidebysideaction.com

Chrylser Wants To Sharply Reduce The Number Of GEM Dealers

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Chrysler will argue in bankruptcy court next week that it should be able to eliminate 64 of 150 GEM dealers.?? This represents just over 40% of the GEM dealerships.?? According to Chrysler management 26 of the dealers are already closed or winding down operations and many others have only sold a “handful” of vehicles in the past two years. Learn more:?? Freep.com

Comment: This development is not too surprising. In recent weeks I?? have interviewed a number of NEV dealers for an upcoming study and some of them, not just GEM dealers, have shutdown or put their operations on hold.?? The economy has a large part to do with their difficulties as well as misjudging the interest in these vehicles for personal transportation. MC

ZENN Takes Larger Stake In EEStor

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Last week ZENN completed an additional $5 million equity investment in EEStor.?? This investment increases ZENN’s stake in the energy storage developer from 3.8% to 10.7%.?? The option to increase their stake was triggered when EEStor reached a previously agreed upon technical milestone earlier this year.?? Learn more:?? Stockhouse.com

Will Best Buy Be The Best Place For e-Vehicles?

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Best Buy is exploring market opportunities as a distributor of e-vehicles.?? The computer and electronics retailer sees potential in these products along with others related to the concept of the “smart grid”.???? According Rick Rommel, Best Buy’s senior vice president for Emerging Business

When you turn to the smart grid, the ability to take complex technologies that are going to plug into the home, utilize home area networks, communicate back over broadband to utilities — it’s going to be a fairly complex system.?? We think that’s a place where Best Buy can take our experience in in-home systems sales, support and installation and apply it to the smart grid.

The company recently started selling electric bicycles in 20 stores around Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles and has plans to see the Enertia, an electric motorcycle as well.?? Depending on the success of these products,?? other e-vehicles such as NEVs may offered for sale or rental.?? Learn more:?? greenbiz.com

Comment: Distribution on this scale could really raise the awareness level of NEVs and a rental option could allow a large number of consumers to experience and essentially test drive these vehicles. – MC

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