Category Archives: utility vehicles

Farming Market Showing Strength For Utility Vehicles

Posted on by
Reply

Signs of a strong farm segment were apparent at the recent Iowa Power Farming Show held earlier this month.?? Both the number of visitors and exhibitors increased from last year’s show.?? Organizers surveyed over 2,000 attendees on their purchase plans for 2010.?? Utility vehicles ranked fifth in the results with 11.4% of respondents indicating that they planned to purchase utility vehicles.?? They were behind tractors, guidance/precision ag equipment, grain bins/dryers and pick-up trucks.?? As a comparison 14.7% of respondents were planning on purchasing pick-up trucks.

I spoke with the show director Tom Junge and while he did not have a utility vehicle percentage from last year’s show he reported that the category placed fifth that year as well.?? He also remarked that the grain segment as opposed to the livestock segment in the agriculture market has been strong the past year and this is expected to continue this year as well. – Marc Cesare Learn more:?? Agrinews.com

Company News

Posted on by
Reply

Global Motor Services – This newcomer to the electric vehicle market is using former Bears coach Mike Ditka to promote their products.?? Their current line-up includes a converted Chevy Aveo and a three-wheeled scooter.?? They expect to add an LSV in the future and currently have dealers in San Diego, New Jersey, Las Vegas and Chicago.?? Learn more:?? Autobloggreen

Zap – Zap has shipped a Zaptruck XL equipped with a solar panel to a large government agency.?? The solar panel supplements normal charging and provides some extra range. Learn more:?? Zjucnc.org

Also the company has been awarded “…an engineering prototype contract for the design and development of an electric mail truck.”?? This project is for converting a US Postal Service gas vehicle to electric propulsion.?? Learn more:?? Autobloggreen

Cruise Car – Adam Sulimirski has been promoted to the position of General Manager from Global Sales Director.?? Learn more:?? Madduxpress.com

What’s Cooking On The STOV

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Electric Truck Developments

Posted on by
Reply

ZeroTruck Corp. – The company’s ZeroTruck, an all-electric zero emission medium duty truck based on the Isuzu N series chassis, was recently added to the GSA schedule for government purchasing. The ZeroTruck features a low cab-forward design, a fully automated transmission, a range u to 100 miles and is fully highway capable. The vehicle is available at Central Truck Center of Landover, Maryland and through select Isuzu dealerships in California, Colorado, North Carolina, and New York. Learn more: Your-story.org Comment: While in theory a vehicle like this could offer competition to utility vehicles that are displacing pickup trucks in certain market segments, at a cost of over $100,000 this is not likely to happen anytime soon. – Marc Cesare

Electric Motor Cars – The company has just introduced a two-seat electric pickup which is based on the Dacia Logan. Dacia is a subsidiary of Renault and the trucks are built in Romania. The company reports the vehicles may be assembled in Florida or Iowa in the future. The pick up sells for $33,950 and van and station wagon versions will also be available. The vehicles are powered by nickel sodium chloride, “ZEBRA” batteries, which will charge in 3 hours on 220 volts or up to 8 hours when powered by 110 volts. The company claims a range of 260 miles and reports that around 100 vehicles will be available in about one month. Currently three dealers distribute the vehicles. Learn more: Trucktrend.com

Zap – According to this post Zap is rolling out a larger electric truck for industrial and fleet use. Learn more: Hybridfriends.com

India Electric Truck Market -Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Reva Electric Car Company are planning to launch electric trucks and passenger carriers in the sub-one-tonne segment. Tata Motors has developed an electric version of the Ace which could debut soon. M&M, likewise, is working on a variant for the recently launched 0.9-tonne Maxximo.?? The sub-tonne segment in India numbers 100,000 vehicles annually.?? The companies are targeting applications for large shopping mall and residential complexes, airports and?? intra-city transport.?? While there is no mention of?? exporting the vehicles to other markets , previously Tata and GEM announced they were working on an electric version of the ACE for the US.

Learn more:?? Thehindubusinessline.com

John Deere Announces Upgrades To Gator TX & TE

Posted on by
Reply

John Deere recently announced upgrades to two of their Gator utility vehicles.?? The Gator TX will feature more horsepower, greater acceleration and a new suspension system.?? The electric powered Gator TE features a 900 lb cargo box and will be more widely available through Agriculture & Turf distributors and dealers.?? Learn more:?? Deere.com

GSA Approves Enova Systems & Smith Electric Vehicles As Suppliers

Posted on by
Reply

The General Services Administration (GSA) which provides vehicles and arranges pricing deals for government and military agencies for the United States has approved vehicles from Enova Systems and Smith Electric Vehicles.?? Enova Systems will provide their Enova Ze for the category of all-electric walk-in step vans with a GVWR between 10,001 and 16,000 lbs. for 12, 14, and 16 foot body lengths.?? Smith Electric Vehicles is providing their?? Newton in the all-electric medium and heavy duty categories with a GVWR of up to 25,500 lbs.?? Both companies report they are the exclusive supplier for their respective all-electric vehicle categories.?? Enova Systems also supplies Smith Electric Vehicles with electric drive systems for their Newton vehicles.?? Learn more:?? finance.yahoo.com

STOV Technology Developments

Posted on by
Reply

I came across some new technology developments that have potential applications in the STOV market.

EV Platform for STOV Applications

Trexa EV Platform

The first is a new lithium-powered all-wheel-drive platform developed by Trexa.?? One area the company is specifically targeting with the platform is STOV for commercial, military and municipal fleets.?? The platform is made with with carbon steel tubing, aluminum and fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.?? Trexa claims the lithium iron phosphate battery system is capable of range up to 105 miles with dual motors and a top speed of 100 mph.?? The platform features a built-in 6 kW charger?? that recharges the batteries in four hours and has the flexibility to accommodate other charging options.?? Learn more:?? Blueplanetnews.com

Ultracapacitor Cells for EV Applications

Ioxus, Inc. has introduced a new family of electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLC) for transportation and utility applications.?? The company claims the 1,000-, 3,000- and 5,000-Farad (F) ultracapacitors are smaller in size with increased energy and power density than others on the market.?? The products can be used as the only energy storage device or in combination with other devices such as batteries.?? According to the company the 1,000F unit offers the same maximum power as competitive 1,200F products with 24% less volume.?? This size is targeted towards golf-car type vehicles and utility vehicles.?? Learn more:?? Greencarcongress.com

New Vehicle Introductions from Case IH & Polaris

Posted on by
Reply

Case IH compact Scout UTV

Case IH has introduced a new lineup of Scout utility vehicles targeting the farm segment.?? The lineup includes a compact, two-passenger 14-hp (10-kW) gasoline-powered version and an XL version, which is??available in two- and four-passenger configurations, with 23-hp (17-kW) gas??or 20-hp (15-kW) diesel engines.?? Learn more:?? SAE.org

Ranger Crew 800 Limited Edition - Sunset Red with electronic power steering

Polaris Industries has introduced a new lineup of limited edition utility vehicles.?? Beyond cosmetic upgrades such a new paint schemes some models include performance upgrades such as the Ranger Crew and Ranger RZR with electronic power steering and a 50-inch Ranger RZR with a premium Walker Evans shock package. 2010 Limited Edition models include:

  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP EPS LE-Sage Green
  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP LE-Turbo Silver
  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP EPS LE-Nuclear Sunset
  • 2010 RANGER 800 XP LE-Browning Edition with Pursuit?? Camo
  • 2010 RANGER 800 CREW LE-Sunset Red with Electronic Power Steering
  • 2010 RANGER 800 CREW LE-Sunset Red with Electronic Power Steering
  • 2010 RANGER RZR LE-Walker Evans
  • 2010 RANGER RZR LE-Pearl White
  • 2010 RANGER RZR S LE-Purple Thunder

Learn more:?? UTVweekly.com

Polaris Introduces Four-Seat Sport UTV

Posted on by
Reply

Polaris Ranger RZR 4 - Robby Gordon Edition

Polaris has introduced the Ranger RZR 4 Robby Gordon Edition, a four-seat UTV targeting the recreational market.?? Identifying an opportunity for a vehicle with a?? significantly lower price point than an expensive sand car or rail, Polaris teamed up with Robby Gordon to produce this industry first four seat sport side-by-side.?? Key features include:

  • 800 Twin Cylinder High Output EFI Engine
  • Industry-Leading 12 in. (30.5 cm.) Long-Travel Suspension
  • Fox Podium X?? 2.0 Racing Shocks with Piggyback Reservoirs
  • Rolled Independent Rear Suspension (IRS)
  • Maxxis?? Bighorn?? 26 in. Radial Tires With 12 in. Aluminum Rims
  • Top Speed – 61 mp

The vehicle has an MSRP of $14,999.

Learn more:?? UTVGuide.net