Category Archives: Sourcing

Dealer News

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Arnell Auto Group A New GEM Dealer – Arnell Auto Group in Burns Harbor, IN recently became the only dealer for Global Electric Motorcars in Indiana.  The GEM line includes six vehicle models that operate on a chargeable 72-volt battery and can seat between two and six passengers.  David Arnell is the president of the Arnell Auto Group, which sells new and used vehicles, also sells Chevrolet, Chevrolet Commercial, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram brands. Learn more:  NWItimes.com

North Shore Auto Group Provides Solar Charged Vehicles – North Shore Auto Group of Highland Park, IL has partnered with The Solar Electric Vehicle Company (SEVC) to provide solar-charged Cruise Car NEVs. The vehicles travel up to 60 miles on a single charge using a solar panel system that provides constant supplemental charging throughout the day.  The line-up of vehicles includes 4 and 6 passenger NEVs and multi-passenger shuttles, security and utility NEVs as well as solar-canopied golf carts.  Learn more:  EVworld.com

5 Star Mini Trucks To Market Chinese Brand – 5 Star Mini Trucks of Yukon, OK recently announced an exclusive contract with Shandong Liangzi Power Co. Ltd. of China to market their trucks and set up dealerships around the U.S.  The vehicles are street legal in Oklahoma except on highways and can travel 40 miles on a gallon of gasoline. Owner Rick Opitz said “...the partnership could also lead to an Oklahoma assembly plant or parts warehouse for the mini trucks.”  Learn more:  OKNews.com

Battery News

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Worldwide Battery Joins Trojan Battery Network – WorldWide Battery Company recently joined its superior network of master distributors to oversee distribution of Trojan Battery products in the states of Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. WorldWide Battery. WorldWide Battery currently owns and operates six distribution centers spanning a total of over 75,000 square feet of space.  Learn more:  Trojanbattery.com

Fairplay To Use Fullriver AGM Batteries – Fairplay Electric Cars will offer its new EVE LSV Deluxe Limited model exclusively with AGM batteries manufactured by Fullriver Batteries.  The vehicle features an AC motor.  The Fullriver AGM batteries will also be offered as an upgrade in all models of Fairplay cars, including the HOSS for commercial industrial use, the Legacy Golf products and the popular EVE low speed vehicles for street use.  Learn more:  Fullriverdcbattery.com

Tomberlin Debuts Vehicles At GIS national Tradeshow

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Tomberlin debuted two electric vehicles at the GIS (Golf Industry Show) National Tradeshow held last month in San Diego.  One vehicle was their E-Motion concept car designed for what the company describes as the “Electric Close-In Commuter Class”.  Placing an emphasis on safety, the E-Motion borrows technology from the aircraft industry and includes an AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag.  According to the press release

AmSafe Seatbelt Airbag inflates in less than 90 milliseconds and, unlike automotive airbags, safely deploys up and away from the occupant, making it a safe restraint for passengers of all ages.

Tomberlin management hopes the additional safety feature could lead to the establishment of a new class of vehicles with less restrictive regulations compared to highway speed combustion engine vehicles.  In the past, Tomberlin has been a strong advocate for a Medium Speed Vehicle classification, which NHTSA has resisted establishing in large part due to safety concerns.

The other vehicle debuted was Tomberlin’s VANISH, an electric utility vehicle with full 4 x 4 shift on the fly function targeted for hunting and other utility vehicle market segments.  Additional features include independent rear suspension and 4 wheel hydraulic disc breaks.  Following a trend in the market, the utility vehicle is also a street legal LSV with 3 point seat belts and safety leg restraints, lights, signals, full brush bars and padded headrests.  – Marc Cesare
Learn more:  Tomberlin.net

Flight Systems Industrial Products Acquires Controls Business From GE

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Flight Systems Industrial Products (FSIP) recently announced that they were acquiring certain product lines and equity interest related to a joint venture with GE.  The joint venture located in Patillas, Puerto Rico manufactures and distributes controls used in electric vehicles such as forklifts, neighborhood electric vehicles, golf carts, walkies, tuggers, go-carts and personnel carriers.   FSIP remanufactures over 45,000 controls annually for forklifts, aerial lifts, golf carts, scrubbers/sweepers, personnel carriers and mobility controls and has relationships with many OEMs.  Under the twelve year old joint venture arrangement FSIP had provided manufacturing and warranty services for GE.  – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  MHIA.org

Gill Industries Supplying Chassis For Club Car UTV

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Gill Industries of Trenton, GA recently started up a new production line that is manufacturing the chassis for Club Car’s XRT950 utility vehicles.  At a maximum capacity of 30 chassis a day the company could produce an estimated 7,500 chassis a year.  The steel chassis are robotically welded and weigh 200 lbs.

The XRT950 series is targeting agricultural and recreational trail-riding market segments.  The vehicle features a twin-cylinder 14-horsepower engine, independent suspension, four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, locking rear differential and nine inches of ground clearance. Learn more:  Haoodnla.com

Up & Coming Seat Supplier

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I recently came across a story about United Commercial Upholstery of Nicollet, MN which provides seats for the marine and golf car/LSV markets.  While the company struggled at first, it has recently gained traction with their own Suite Seat brand of seats.  This higher end seat is sold as part of Fairplay’s deluxe LSV package.  Fairplay’s management liked the quality of the seats and the fact that they are US made.   The company also supplies seats to Star Car and at the end of last year began talks with one of the world’s largest golf car manufacturers.  According to the story 40 percent of the company’s sales originate with OEMs and the rest with Suite Seats which is sold to dealers and OEMs.  Learn more:  Connectbiz.com -Marc Cesare

ZAP Lands Order For Electric SUVs

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Zap to make electric SUVs for Korean market

Zap to make electric SUVs for Korean market

Zap announced last week that they received an order from Samyang Optics Co. Ltd. for 100 electric SUVs. the vehicles wil be manufactured in partnership with China auto manufacturer Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd. The electric SUV, to be based on Jonway’s A380 5-door SUV, will have a top speed of 70 mph and a range of 100 mph. The target market in Korea is fleet vehicles for intra-campus transportation for large government, military, corporate and university campuses. according to ZAP the vehicles will be assembled in China at ZAP Hangzhou, a joint venture recently formed with Holley Group, a global supplier of electric power meters based in Hangzhou, and Better World International Limited, funded by Cathaya Funds. The contract is reflective of a strong push in the electric vehicle market by the Korean government. – Marc Cesare Learn more: Zapglobal.wordpress.com

Mini-Truck Developments

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Sarge mini-truck from Sokon USA Photo by Branimir Kvartuc

Sokon USA – After encountering quality issues with their first attempt several years ago under the Mattruck brand, Hal Ferrell and Michael Lewis of Sokon USA have launched a mini-truck based hunting vehicle.  Selling under the brand Sarge, these mini-trucks feature four wheel drive, a 45 hp engine and a 25 mph top speed.  The company claims the vehicles are classified as LSVs and are street legal depending on state and local regulations.

The vehicle, which seats five, is sourced from China based DFM (Dong Feng Motor), a subsidiary of Chongqing Yuan Group and will retail for about $14,500.  In addition to the hunting market, the vehicle will compete against utility vehicles in the construction, turf, ranching, farming and government markets.  Learn more:  Dealernewsblog.com

DFM Mini-truck (Thailand) –  Driven by rising demand in the Thai market, the company is talking to the parent company DFM of China about  manufacturing vehicles in Thailand rather than importing them from China.  Learn more:  Thailandchat.org

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Mini-truck Based Mobile Grocery Store

Mini-truck Based Mobile Grocery Store

Mobile Grocery Store – In Thailand DFM Mini Truck Co is teaming up with  Siam Makro Plc to launch a mobile grocery store concept.  A specially designed vehicle with product inventory will be sold to grocery-store owners for use as mobile grocery stores, restaurants, bakery or coffee shops.  According to reports the trucks will be available in two formats. The counter format allows shoppers to buy products around the truck and the walk-in format allows customers to choose products inside.

The truck and inventory will sell for the equivalent of about $15,000 US and owners will have seven product groups from which to choose.  The companies estimate that owners can break even in one year and expect to initially sell 100 vehicles through a special marketing roadshow that will demo the concept.  The DFM mini-trucks are imported from China.  Learn more:  Bangkokpost.com

Deere & Boeing Defence UK Working On Robotic Gator

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John Deere R-Gator Utility Vehicle

John Deere and Boeing Defence UK have announced a 17 month development project to enhance the capabilities of the R-Gator, Deere’s robotic utility vehicle for the military market.  Boeing will be adding technologies to the vehicle to improve performance as an Assisted Carriage System (ACS).

The John Deere R-Gator™ ACS can support an infantry section of up to eight men, and offload 1400 lbs. of individual equipment. It is designed to carry an increased level of ready combat supplies for more effective patrolling and re-supply operations. Most importantly, the vehicle can operate autonomously, be driven manually, and be reconfigured to meet a multitude of ground support needs.

The R-gator is based on Deere’s Gator XUV utility vehicle.  Learn more:  Deere.com