Clean Cities National Parks Initiative

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Marc Cesare

In 2010 Clean Cities partnered with the National Park Service to develop the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative to support the use of renewable and alternative fuels, electric vehicles, and other vehicle energy-saving practices to help preserve air quality and promote the use of domestic energy resources in the parks.?? The program will run for five years and will have between $1 million and $5 million in funds available annually.?? The funds can be used to:

Purchase electric drive, alternative fuel, and advanced technology vehicles
Install electric vehicle charging stations and other alternative fueling infrastructure
Implement petroleum-reduction programs, such as idle reduction
Educate park visitors, employees, and others about the benefits of using cleaner, more efficient vehicles and renewable and alternative fuels.

A number of parks have initiated projects including the purchase of electric LSVs and utility vehicles.?? Learn more:?? USDOE

Bad Boy Buggies Becomes NASCAR Sponsor

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Marc Cesare

In 2011 Bad Boy Buggies will sponsor both NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams at Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI).?? Elliott Sadler and Clint Bowyer will drive Bad Boy Buggies branded vehicles in five races.?? Bad Boy Buggies was recently acquired by Textron and the sponsorship is a sign that management is moving quickly to take advantage of the resources and connections of their new parent. Previously, Textron’s E-Z-Go subsidiary has sponsored?? KHI vehicles in the same NASCAR race series.?? Learn more:?? Speedwaymedia.com

JCB Launches New Workmax UTV

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Marc Cesare

JCB Workmax 800 D

UK based JCB has added a new 4×4 utility vehicle to their Workmax product line, the Workmax 800 D.?? Targeting the UK and European markets, the 800 D features a 600 kg payload and a 784cc Yanmar diesel engine.?? The 4×4 drive plus locking differential is electronic.?? Management believes that the utility vehicle market in Europe is still developing and offers plenty of opportunity for growth.?? Accordingly, this year JCB has put more emphasis on UTVs rather than ATVs as the former is becoming the preferred work vehicle in many applications.?? They have also expanded their dealer network beyond their traditional construction equipment dealers to include specialist ATV and agricultural equipment dealers.?? Learn more:?? MHWMaagazine.co.uk

UTV Shelter For Outdoorsmen

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Northlander Utility Vehicle Shelter from Canvas Craft

Canvas Craft of Minnesota offers their Northlander utility vehicle shelter that attaches to a Polaris Ranger.?? The shelter is designed for a range of outdoor uses including ice fishing, hunting and camping.

Its quick flip/lock and ride anchor system is designed for simple folding and mobility. The ultra lite frame stores in a boot behind the cab, leaving space in the bed for additional gear and equipment. Currently available in 5’W x 9.5’L.

Learn more:?? Canvascraftinc.com

UTV-Based Ocean Rescue Unit For US Navy

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Ocean Rescue Unit for US Navy

Kimtek Corporation has developed an ocean rescue unit for the US Navy based on a Polaris Ranger Crew UTV.?? Kimtek added their Emergency Utility Vehicle (EUV) conversion and the KIMTEK MEDLITE Transport MTD-10 mounted in the cargo area.?? Key features include:

…an all aluminum skid chassis with bright diamond plate, storage area with tailgate, rescue area to secure long board or stokes basket (not included) for patient transport, two ambulance grade stainless steel rescue grab bars, 3-position guide lock seat with seat belt, slide out tray in storage area, oxygen bottle holder, retractable IV pole, third attendant rail, and a quick disconnect mounting system. The special Ocean Rescue unit also features a WHELEN lighting/siren/PA package with exterior mounted speaker, full function control head, remote siren; two red LED body mounted strobes, a ROPS mounted Red LED strobe; three ROPS mounted scene lights (2 front and 1 rear facing); NFPA style reflective body stripe package with customized lettering package; two portable radio holders; and a mounted five pound ABC fire extinguisher.

Late last year Kimtek also introduced the MEDLITE??? Transport EV, a custom skid unit designed for the new Polaris Ranger EV.?? The unit allows emergency personnel to more easily operate in crowds and not expose patients and others to exhaust fumes.

Learn more:?? sxsnews.com and Kimtekresearch.com

KYMCO To Launch 700cc UTV In The US

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. (KYMCO), the largest powered two-wheeler manufacturer in Taiwan recently announced major 2011 marketing initiatives including the introduction of a 700cc UTV in the US market.?? The company which took over the remaining share of KYMCO US in 2010 expects to sell 1,000 UTVs in the US this year.?? Management expects UTVs to eventually replace ATVs in the market.?? Total revenue for the company is about $1 billion a year.?? Learn more:?? News.cens.com

Tata Launches Electric Mini Truck

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Indian manufacturer Tata is planning on launching an electric mini truck based on their Ace light commercial vehicle in March 2011.?? The UK will be the first market followed by Scandinavia.

The zero emission Ace is powered by an 85 Ah battery that produces 25kW of maximum power and a top speed of 25mph. With only a 25 mile range, on the European Combined Drive Cycle, the Ace EV is designed primarily for use by Local Authorities in town centres, parks and university campuses.

The vehicle will initially be sold directly to customers from the manufacturer.?? Learn more:?? Articledatabase.com

What’s Cooking on the STOV

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Marc Cesare

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

Pheasant Gamekeeper UTV – Park House Pheasantries in the UK uses three Kubota RTV900’s to manage their gamekeeping operation which involves rearing up to 50,000 pheasants a year for small to large shoots.?? The UTVs are used for a variety of tasks including game crop spraying with a front mounted sprayer, hauling feed, dumping gravel, pulling out stuck vehicles and transporting dogs.?? Besides the horsepower, ground clearance and power steering the owner purchased the street legal version of the vehicle to provide additional flexibility.?? Learn more:?? Constructionnewsportal.com

LSV Police Patrol Vehicles – The Wetumpka Police Department in Alabama recently purchased two GEMs for use at community events and patrolling select neighborhoods.?? Obtained with grant money, the department likes the smaller size and relatively silent vehicles for nighttime patrols and community events.?? They also expect to save money on fuel and maintenance costs.?? Learn more: Blog.al.com

Rural Real Estate Selling – A Wisconsin real estate agent specializing in selling properties for hunting, recreation and rural homes uses a Polaris Ranger to show clients around various properties.?? The rural and sometimes large size of the tracts require a vehicle with off-road capabilities to provide clients with an up close look at the properties.?? Learn more:?? Wisconsin State Journal

Park Maintenance – Wisconsin’s state parks department recently purchased 15 E-Ride electric vehicles from E-Ride Industries for cleaning and maintenance at parks around the state. Some units were customized with full-length aluminum enclosures to protect the payload.?? Compared to the full-size trucks they replace, the vehicles cost less up front to purchase, have lower fuel costs, lower maintenance costs and a smaller carbon footprint.?? In addition, the parks department has received positive feedback regarding the vehicles from park visitors.?? Learn more:?? WisBusiness.com

John Deere Gator Named Official UTV of Best in the Desert Racing Association

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Marc Cesare

John Deere Gator XUV 825i crossover UTV

The John Deere Gator??? has been named the ???Official UTV??? of the Best in the Desert Racing Association for the 2011-2012 Best in the Desert Racing Series.?? The sponsorship will be used to highlight Deere’s Gator XUV crossover utility vehicles.?? As the term crossover implies, these latest additions to the Gator product lineup were introduced to appeal to customers that straddle the work and recreation segments.?? In the past few years the Gator has lost market share as the recreation and combination work/recreation segments of the market have expanded quickly.?? Learn more:?? SXSNews.com

Are Electric LSVs Taking Market Share From Gas UTVs?

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Marc Cesare

While I’ve come across many instances of gas and electric STOVs replacing full-size pickup trucks, I’ve seen fewer stories about electric LSVs replacing gas UTVs but in the past few weeks I came across two. In both cases the electric vehicle offered cost advantages and a better set of features for the end use application.

The first is from Albany, GA where the local police department replaced a 12 year old gas powered Kawasaki Mule with a GEM for use in parking enforcement. ??Learning from the local US Marine base experience and evaluation, the department estimates that they will save about $6,000 a year in gas, oil change and maintenance expense each year.?? The GEM also has better features for parking enforcement including an enclosed cab, rear and side mirrors, warning lights, a fan for summer use and a heater for winter use. Learn more:?? Albanyherald.com

In the second instance, River Falls Municipal Utilities in Wisconsin replaced a John Deere Gator with a Polaris NEV.?? In this case, they tested the vehicle for several weeks by performing tasks around the wastewater treatment plant.?? The utility also received a $5,009 grant from Wisconsin Electric Power.?? Management sees the vehicle being used for both off-road and on-road uses such as driving downtown for supplies or town meetings.?? A cab enclosure will be purchased in the future to enable year round use.?? Learn more:?? Riverfallsjournal.com

Small Vehicle Resource Blog

Information on the small, task-oriented vehicle market

Category Archives: utility vehicles