Category Archives: NEV

NEV Manufacturers Going Full-size

Posted on by
Reply

Since the beginning of the year a number of NEV manufacturers have announced intentions to produce full-size electric vehicles.

RTEV plans wide-ranging electric vehicle product line – RTEV which currently produces LSVs under the Ruff and Tuff brand are planning on expanding their electric vehicle offerings with bicycles and scooters from their Wheego division in 2008, auto-shaped LSVs in 2009 and full-speed electric vehicles in 2010.

In March, 2008 ZENN reported that it was moving forward with plans to sell a highway speed vehicle starting in Fall 2009. The vehicle will be powered by ultracapacitor technology from EEStor, a Texas based firm in which ZENN has a 3.8% equity stake. The highway speed vehicle, to be called the cityZenn, will have a top speed of 80 miles per hour and a range of 250 miles, according to Zenn. The company said the car will be rechargeable in less than 5 minutes.

BG Automotive Group is starting with LSV production but plan to produce full-size vehicles in the following year.

Growing Market Still Attracting New Market Entrants

Posted on by
Reply

Electrovaya enters vehicle arena – Electrovaya which develops lithium ion batteries announced it will be producing their own electric vehicle, a two-seater with top speed ranging from 25-45 and a range up to 120 miles. It will be called the Maya-300. The company states that the vehicle could be ready for market by later this year. The initial target market is fleets and the price point is expected to be in the $20,000 to $25,000 range with a longer term price target of under $20,000.

Philadelphia steel wholesaler Barry D. Bernsten has formed BG Automotive Group for the purpose of producing electric vehicles. Plans call form importing 4,000 cars from Asia and installing batteries and electric motors in them at a local assembly plant. The initial vehicles will be low-speed vehicles with plans to upgrade the vehicles the following year to highway-ready vehicles. The initial retail price is expected to be $16,000. Targeting urban commuters, students and vacation homeowners.

Army To Purchase Thousands of NEVs

Posted on by
Reply

According to a U.S. Army press release, a Senior Energy Council has been established to “…serve as a board of directors focusing on Army energy policy, programs and funding to leverage the Army’s nationwide energy-conservation efforts.” One of the pilot projects underway is the purchase of 4,000 NEVs to replace gas-powered vehicles on various posts. There was no information available on how many vehicles have been purchased so far and what the time line is for purchasing all the NEVs. more info

GEM Has A New Model & A New Name

Posted on by
5
New model for 2009
GEM Peapod – New model for 2009

GEM recently announced a re-designed model called the Peapod, which will go into production in 2009. The Peapod includes a newly-designed center console that will offer iPod integration and hands free operation of an iPhone. Additional new features includes the use of eco-friendly recycled and recyclable materials and ergonomic, mesh seating which enables air circulation for comfort.

GEM Peapod features a re-designed console

GEM Peapod features a re-designed console

According to management GEM also has plans to market a new light-duty, battery electric commercial truck and a larger city electric vehicle, with more range and performance. These vehicles are scheduled for production within the next year.

In a related note, GEM has changed its name from Global Electric Motorcars to GreenEcoMobility to reflect the company’s goal to redefine environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Globalization In The STOV Market

Posted on by
1

Since tracking this industry from 2000, there has been a trend towards increasing globalization and the following developments are more evidence of this trend.

Miles Electric Enters Benelux Market – Miles Electric signed their first international distribution agreement with AllGreenVehicles of the Netherlands which will distribute the vehicles in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

GEM & Tata Team Up On Mini-truck – GEM is working with TATA Motors to develop and market an electric version of the Tata???s Ace mini-trucki in the US. GEM is expected to fit the vehicles which will be delivered nearly fully built with an electric motor and controller. The Ace was launched in India in 2005 and has exceeded the company???s expectations. Sales for the vehicle marketed to small businesses are estimated to be around 130,000 annually with double digit growth. In a related note, The Economic Times reports that the Tata Ace mini-truck being developed with GEM is expected to cost upwards of $5,000 and the companies may consider doing a joint venture depending on the success of the Ace.

Start Of A New Dynasty – Karakoram Motors Ltd. of Karachi has agreed to buy the design and manufacturing operations of Delta, B.C.-based Dynasty Electric Car corp. the company was only producing 30-40 vehicles a year but the new owner is hoping to increase production to 5,000 and sell into the EU and US markets.

New Entrant Uses Asian Imports – New market entrant BG Automotive Group plans on importing cars from Asia and installing the batteries and motors here in the US.

Introduction – Gas Prices Drive NEV Sales

Posted on by
Reply

While this blog will be based mostly on current and more recent events, my first few posts will include some information and insights about the NEV/LSV market I???ve been gathering from the beginning of this year.

According to GEM???s sales and marketing director Jay Wik, GEM Asia reports strong increases of 30% in sales revenue attributing the increases to rising oil prices and concern about global warming. In the US dealers are reporting increases of 10-30 percent in the last year and inquiries have increased ten-fold. Increases have occurred in all parts of the country and for exports as well. The company reports that production increased 15 percent in May. Second quarter sales were reportedly up 30% from last year. One GEM dealer experiencing the sales jump is Greg Welsh of Gulf Atlantic Vehicles in New Smyrna Beach, FL who has reported a sales increase f 30%.