Oregon Governor Supports Electric Vehicle Manufacturers

Oregon’s Governor Ted Kulongoski is using a $100,000 grant from his Strategic Reserve Fund to support Brammo, Inc., a manufacturer of electric motorcycles.

The company plans to invest $51 million over the next five years to produce its all-electric motorcycle called the Enertia. That includes an $18 million headquarters and production facility in Ashland.

The governor also paid a visit to Barefoot Motors a manufacturer of electric off-road utility vehicles.?? The company relocated from California last fall and started production in June at a rate of 10 vehicles per month.?? Learn more:?? Bizjournal.com

DOE Announces Funding Awarded For Clean Cities Programs

Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.?? Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S.?? Many of the projects include installing recharging stations for electric vehicles and?? purchasing electric vehicles. One such project is The Triangle J Council of Governments’ Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative which is planning to purchase 56 NEVs with some of the funds.?? Learn more:???? DOE

Electric Vehicles International Moving Headquaters To California

Mexico based Electric Vehicles International is moving their headquarters to Stockton, CA where they will also be building a manufacturing facility for their electric powered light truck.?? The EVILightTruck has a top speed of 45-60 mph, depending on the version, and is available as a class 3,4,5 or 6 truck.?? There is also a hybrid?? option.?? The all electric model has a 100KW motor and is powered by a lithium phosphate battery supplied by Valence.?? EVI also sells drive trains and controllers for electric vehicles.?? Since its founding in 1989 the company reports selling over 1,000 vehicles.?? Production in the new facility will begin in 2010 and will employ up to 100 people when operating at peak production.?? Learn more:?? Centralvalleybusinesstimes.com

Chicago Adds Solar Recharging Station For NEVs

In July the Chicago Office of Fleet Management installed a solar powered recharging station on the banks of the Chicago River near the borders of Logan Square and Lincoln Park. The station will be used by the city’s fleet of seven NEVs as well as nearly 100 Segways and a hybrid vehicle. According to the city the power station produces about 10 kilowatts of power on a sunny day or enough to recharge approximately 10 Segway vehicles. Learn more: Medill Reports Chicago

Tampa Allows Free NEV Service To Return

The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission voted to rescind their earlier decision that effectively stopped NEVs from being offered for free transportation.?? The vehicles charged no fee for short rides in the downtown area but sold advertising and allowed drivers to accept tips.?? The service angered local taxi drivers and the commission passed an earlier ruling halting the service.?? There is some disagreement over the commission’s right to regulate the vehicles since they may not technically be taxis since they are free.?? The commission is trying to obtain a legal ruling in that regard, and establish some regulatory procedures.?? While that process moves forward, they are asking NEV operators to voluntarily follow some safety and insurance guidelines.?? Learn more:?? Tampabay.com

Polaris Announces Layoffs

In response to lower sales Polaris Industries will be laying off 50-60 people next month at it’s Spirit Lake, Iowa facility.?? The company is reducing production at the facility by combining the Ranger utility vehicle and Victory motorcycle production lines into one line that will only produce one type?? of vehicle at a time.?? The change is designed to help maintain lower dealer inventory levels during this economic downturn which has hit markets driven by discretionary spending, like the utility vehicle and motorcycle markets, hard.?? Kawasaki, maker of the Mule utility vehicle, has also reduced their work force this year.?? On a more positive note Polaris announced a $6 million contract with the US military for Ranger utility vehicles and service.???? Learn more:?? SiouxCityJournal.com

GEM Electric Vehicles Now Qualify For Plug-In Tax Credit

Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) recently announced that GEM vehicles

…have been certified to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the Qualified Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit, part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

The credit is available for new vehicles purchased in 2009 and applies to models from 2007, 2008 or 2009.?? The tax credits by model are as follows:

GEM e2 – $3,751.00
GEM e4 – $3,751.00
GEM e6 – $3,751.00 (with 12-volt batteries)
GEM e6 – $5,002.00 (with 8-volt batteries)
GEM eS – $3,751.00
GEM eL – $3,751.00
GEM eL XD – $5,002.00

It appears that the GEM may also still be eligible for the separate LSV tax credit (10% of price up to $2,500). I will try to confirm this. Learn more:?? GEM

Comment: This is a major change in the market as the tax credit will cut the cost of the GEMs significantly, some models in half, for commercial customers looking for utility vehicles and for individuals looking purchasing for personal transportation. For the latter, the vehicles will now be on par or close to the cost of golf cars.?? It will be interesting to see if other LSV/NEV manufacturers become certified for the tax credit.?? Other manufacturers could be at a distinct disadvantage if they do not qualify for the tax credit as well.?? Originally LSVs qualified for the plug-in tax credit then they were excluded and given a separate tax credit. – Marc Cesare

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Border Patrol: A sheriff’s office in Maine recently used a Department of Homeland Security grant to purchase a Yamaha Rhino to patrol the border with Canada. The vehicle is used to monitor remote border entrances for illegal drug trafficking and other activity and replaces the use of ATVs. The latter required officers to travel in pairs for safety reasons since the vehicles were not as stable. The grant is part of Homeland Security’s Stonegarden Operation which is sending $60 million to local law enforcement in border states to supplement federal border protection efforts. The funds are for both equipment and payroll. Learn more: Morningsentinel.mainetoday.com

NEV Tourist Rentals: An Austin, TX entrepreneur has recently launched E-Cars of Austin to provide NEVs around the city for tourists to rent. The rental fleet currently consists of six GEMs that will be placed in various downtown locations and will be available to rent for $30 for one hour or $50 for two hours. The plan is to eventually have two vehicles at each of 10 downtown hotels. Learn more: AustinBusinessJournal

Meter Reading: Silver City, NM has purchased two LSV utility trucks from Miles Electric Vehicles for use by the town’s meter readers.?? The meter readers travel around 24,000 miles each year.?? Town officials expect to save on maintenance and operating costs over the years compared to the current vehicles being used.?? Learn more:?? Silver City Sun News

ZENN Reports Sharp Drop In Vehicle Sales

In the third quarter ending June 30, 2009 ZENN Motor Co. reported selling just 19 vehicles compared to 67 for Q3 2008.?? This is slightly more than the previous quarter when only 16 vehicles were sold compared to 54 the prior year.?? In the first half of 2009 ZENN has now sold a total of 35 vehicles compared to 121 in the first half of 2008.?? This a decrease in unit sales of 86 or 71% from the prior year.?? The management points to the decline in the overall economy as well as lower fuel prices as key factors in the decline.?? Learn more:?? Reuters.com

Long Drive Solar Looking To Supply LSVs To Atlanta Area Developments

Long Drive Solar a marketer of solar-powered LSVs from Cruise Cars is in talks with the Jacoby Group to provide the vehicles for two of Jacoby’s real estate development projects.?? One project is the Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta and the other is the Aerotropolis Atlanta near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.?? The deal would involve potentially hundreds of vehicle according to the companies.?? The Jacoby Group is considering offering vehicles as an incentive for those purchasing condos in the developments.?? Long Drive Solar’s management also stated that they are “…in negotiations to supply about 3,000 solar LSVs to a nonprofit in Oklahoma.”?? Learn more:?? Atlanta Business Chronicle