SVR Adds Vantage Vehicle International Models To Vehicle Database

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Models like the electric powered GreenTruck Extended Cab from Vantage Vehicle International have been added to the SVR vehicle database.

Smallvehicleresource.com has added models from Vantage Vehicle International to our vehicle database. Vantage Vehicle International offers a range of electric and gas models, all of which are low speed vehicles. There are three product lines: the electric powered Green line, the Primo line with 4WD designed for all terrain and the Premium line with a 2,500 lb. payload. Each line offers models in a cargo or passenger van configuration and standard cab truck configurations. The Premium and Green lines includes trucks with extended and crew configurations. If you are a Vantage Vehicle International dealer you can add a basic listing for your dealership to our dealer directory for free or if you are already in our database you can add Vantage Vehicle International to your listing.

Delta-Q Technologies QuiQ 1500 Industrial Battery Charger Enters Full- Scale Production

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Marc Cesare

The new QuiQ 1500 battery charger from Delta-Q Technologies.

Delta-Q Technologies announced that their new QuiQ 1500 Industrial Battery Charger has begun full-scale production. The charger can be used with burden carriers, utility vehicles, golf cars and LSVs, and is available in 48- and 72-volt models. From an earlier post about the new charger:

The QuiQ 1500 is a higher power version of the original QuiQ 1000 that is found in many electric utility vehicles used in material handling. The QuiQ 1500 allows users to charge existing battery packs up to 30 percent faster than the QuiQ 1000 or equip machines with a bigger pack and still meet a 5- or 8-hour charging time requirement. The QuiQ 1500’s compact design matches the exact dimensions and mounting configuration of the existing QuiQ 1000, allowing swift replacement of any existing QuiQ charger. With a standard North American 110V AC power source, the QuiQ 1500 provides 1200 watts of output power, and at 220 or 230 VAC, 1500 watts of output power.

Learn more: PRNewswire.com

Google To Begin Testing Self-Driving LSVs

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Google Prototype self-driving low-speed vehicle.

Google is planning on testing its own Google prototype self-driving vehicles on the roads of Mountain View, with safety drivers aboard. The vehicles will be low-speed vehicles (LSVs) produced by Roush Industries and will be on the road this summer. Roush provides services to move from concept to prototype to manufacturing and has experience in the automotive, motorsports and alternative fuel vehicle markets. The vehicles will have manual controls to conform with California autonomous vehicle code but Google has reported that it plans to make vehicles in the future without steering wheels or manual brakes. Learn more: Autoconnectedcar.com

Comment: Perhaps the next place to test the vehicles will be in gated communities where there is a defined and limited road network and all the traffic is low-speed.

How To Extend Battery Life

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Marc Cesare

An article from Battery Watering Technologies has been posted in our Buying Guides/Tech section. The article provides some tips on when and how to water your electric vehicle batteries and provides some information about their single point watering system and new i-Lite sensor which helps you keep track of water levels. Learn more: Smallvehicleresource.com

Oregon Electric Vehicle Incentives Would Include NEVs

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Having established a sizable EV charging infrastructure, Oregon now may provide incentives for purchasing or leasing EVs.

A House bill working its way through the Oregon legislature would provide cash incentives for purchasing a range of alternative vehicles including NEVs. House bill 2092 would provide different levels of incentives for all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles. The incentives would be applied at the time of sale against the down payment or to reduce the amount financed. The incentive levels are as follows:

All-electric highway capable vehicle – $3,000
Hydrogen powered vehicle – $3,000
Plug-in hybrid – $1,500
Electric motorcycle – $1,000
NEV – $750

This is the first time that Oregon is providing incentives for purchasing electric vehicles. In the past they have encouraged the development of charging infrastructure in the state, which is now one of the best in the country. The incentives are deemed necessary if the state is to meet their zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate that requires 15% of the new-vehicle mix in 2025 to be ZEVs. Learn more: Greencarreports.com

Comment: Historically incentives have provided a boost to NEVs sales, although they typically have been worth more money. At the $750 level this incentive amounts to about 7.5% of the cost of an NEV. It may be enough of an incentive for someone to already considering purchasing a vehicle to choose an NEV over a new or customized golf car, but may not be enough to encourage a new purchase that wasn’t already being considered.

Golf Cars Finding Success In Thailand

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Local media reports that Global Electric Motorcars Asia and others are finding success in Thailand selling electric golf cars (not to be confused with Polaris’ GEM brand). Key market segments are resorts and hotels in the South and universities in the Northeast. The company has three showroom locations with service centers in the country, one in Bangkok and two more in the South with plans to open a third. Used primarily for people transport and golf, the majority of the vehicles in the market are imported. Cost-conscious shoppers tend towards Chinese imports that are exempt from the stiff 40-50% import tax other manufacturers pay. The company is also trying to get NEVs licensed for use on public roads to expand the market. Learn more: Phuketgazette.net

Columbia ParCar Purchases Tomberlin

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Marc Cesare

The Tomberlin Anvil is one of the more consumer-oriented vehicles Columbia ParCar will be adding to their offerings.

The Anvil is one of the more consumer-oriented vehicles Columbia ParCar will be adding to their portfolio under the Tomberlin brand.

Columbia ParCar Custom Carts, Inc., a Nordic Group company, announced that they are in the process of acquiring the assets of Tomberlin Automotive Group. In a statement to dealers, Scott Breckley , President of Columbia ParCar stated

The combined product portfolios across multiple commercial and consumer based platforms will create the worlds leading privately held EV company and a very compelling message for our Dealers, Distributors and Consumers. The result will blend product innovation with superb branding into our heritage of customer care that dates back to 1946. A winning combination in any strategic initiative .

The deal is expected to take another 45 days to close. The Tomberlin brand will continue to stand alone along side the ParCar brand. The merger will be kicked off with a series of regional launch parties starting in the Villages in Florida. Learn more: Parcar.com

Comment: This is a good match of complementary strengths. Tomberlin will add a lineup of vehicles primarily focused on the consumer personal transportation and recreation market but applicable to some commercial applications as well. Tomberlin’s product line includes LSVs and an off-road electric utility vehicle. The deal will allow Columbia ParCar to expand the breadth of their offerings as well as their dealer network. Tomberlin also adds some expertise in sourcing and manufacturing in China and a track record of innovation. When Tomberlin first came to the market they were one of the first companies to design an LSV that looked much more like a car than a golf car or a GEM. With some additional resources available, it will be interesting to see what new products will be launched. The deal also points to the continued effort by companies in all segments of the STOV market to expand their distribution and reach new customers.

NEVs: The Future of Transportation?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Marc Cesare

An essay in the May issue of Harvard Business Review makes the argument that vehicles like the NEV will be the future of transportation. The premise is that in the future car ownership will decline significantly as ride-sharing services become a more dominant mode of transportation. Given that most driving trips are local, NEVs are positioned well for this changing market, particularly in urban areas. Industry analysts view car-sharing services and autonomous vehicles as the future. An analyst from Morgan Stanley used the following graphic to illustrate the expected shift in car ownership and use.

What one analyst sees as the future for cars.

There are some statistics that indicate the transformation is already under way. “… the average person uses his car for only one hour a day, according to a still-widely cited 1995 statistic from the U.S. Department of Transportation. And driving by U.S. household fell nearly 10 percent between 2004 and 2014, marking the first major shift in car ownership since World War II.” However, it may be a while before a wholesale shift happens, if it ever does. Learn more: Huffingtonpost.com

Comment: While NEVs are popular in certain areas, like vacation communities and gated communities, they have not quite gained traction as predicted. In fact, SVR’s research shows that their use has largely switched from predominately personal transportation to commercial use, such as on college campuses and resorts. One reason is that more municipalities are allowing golf cars or modified golf cars to be used on public roads. The price differential between these and NEVs make the NEV the less frequent choice in these areas. Where ordinances are more restrictive, NEVs have proven to be a popular choice. The key to expanding the market is allowing the vehicles to travel at a higher speed than the currently regulated 25 mph. A NEV with a top speed in the range of 35 mph to 45 mph, often referred to as a medium speed vehicle (MSV), would open up the market considerably but this would require significant and costly changes in NEV safety equipment and/or design. NHTSA has been adamant about not creating an MSV classification as currently envisioned, and they are not enthusiastic about the mixing of NEVs with highway capable vehicles on public roadways. But in the future autonomous technology and advances in safety technology could improve safety and lower the costs of safety equipment enough to make MSVs viable.

Polaris Reports Record First Quarter 2015 Results

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Polaris yet again reported record quarterly results with first quarter 2015 sales reaching $1,033.3 million, up 16% compared to the previous year. Operating income increased 19% to $150.3 million during the 2015 first quarter. Currencies in the 2015 first quarter had a $32 million negative impact on total company sales versus Q1 of last year. Here are some of the highlights related to the STOV market. Comparisons are between first quarter 2015 to first quarter 2014, unless otherwise stated. The highlights have been updated following the earnings conference call with analysts.

Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) sales, which includes UTVs and ATVs increased 11% to $645.4 million.
ORV inventory increased primarily in the ATV segment.
Polaris North American ORV unit retail sales were up mid-single digits percent, with consumer purchases of Rangers and RZRs each increasing from the first quarter last year.
RZR sales are stronger than Ranger sales but the latter grew “nicely”.
North American ATV retail sales decreased low-single digits percent due to heavy competitive promotional spending during the 2015 first quarter with ACE up significantly.
Management reports a “fair amount” of wholesale discounting by competitors but this is not expected to continue. Promotional activity is more pronounced for ATVs but is occurring for side-by-sides as well.
Management sees the Hammerhead brand acquisition as a good way to attack the value end of the UTV market.
North American industry ORV retail sales in the first quarter 2015 increased an estimated mid-single digits percent according to management.
Sales of Polaris ORVs outside of North America decreased 10% primarily due to weak economic conditions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, as well as the currency impact of a strengthening U.S. dollar.
ORV industry in EMEA region grew mid-single digits in terms of volume but was driven by smaller value products and discounting.
Average sales per ORV unit increased 7% in the quarter.
The Eicher-Polaris JV will begin shipping the new utility vehicle in Q3.
Global Adjacent Markets, which includes GEM, Aixam, Goupil as well as government and military sales, increased 7% to $65.4 million.
Government/military group experienced double digit percent sales growth during the 2015 first quarter.
Work and Transportation (W&T) group sales (part of Global Adjacent Markets) increased mid-single digits percent with North American W&T sales increasing double digits percent while W&T outside North America declined partly resulting from lower Aixam sales in EMEA due to the impact of negative currencies.
North American W&T was up over 30% on strong partnership shipments, national account growth and 40% GEM retail increase.
Brutus retail increased low double digits in volume but revenue was hurt by promotions and the loss of some dealers. The PTO and high end models are performing well but base models are underperforming.
Goupil and Aixam increased shipments and future orders are up 20% but currency headwinds remain a drag.
Aixam made market share gains in a flat industry performance.
Defense revenue grew double digits on strength of M RZR in international markets and DAGOR shipments to special forces.

Guidance for the Year

Global adjacent market sales are now expected to grow 5% to 10% and total international sales are now expected to decline low single digits percent.
ORV’s are expected to increase mid-single digits percent after growing 11% in the first quarter benefiting from a 7% increase in the average sales per ORV unit.
Currency changes are expected reduce full year 2015 revenue by $140-160 million.

Learn more: Seekingalpha.com (Earnings call transcript)

Club Car Offering Solar Panels

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Marc Cesare

New solar panel offering from Club Car.

Club Car is now offering rooftop solar panels for their 48-volt Precedent golf cars, Carryall utility vehicles and Villager LSVs. Customers will now be able to capture store and use solar power with the 100-watt Solar Drive Charging Panel Assembly. Club Car reports that “As a yearly average, the system generates 29 percent of the total energy required to drive eight miles per day in West Palm Beach, Fla.” Customer results may vary depending on how they use their vehicle and where they live. The panels measure 40 inches by 26 inches by 0.2 inches thick and weigh less than 6 pounds. The panels are impact resistant, have Teflon-like coating to protect the cells and come complete with a controller, connector to the vehicle’s power supply, all necessary hardware and installation instructions. They can be user- or dealer-installed in about 20 minutes. Learn more: Golfcourseindustry.com

Comment: Club Car now joins GEM and Evergreen Electric Vehicles in offering a solar option for their vehicles. Evergreen and GEM also offers a SolarDrive product. GEM offers 220 watt and 410 watt systems for $2,500 and $4,000 respectively. Pricing was not provided for the Club Car product.

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