Wheego Electric Cars Raises An Additional $1.2 Million

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Wheego Electric Cars, maker of the Wheego Whip, recently announced that the company had raised an additional $1.2 million from existing investors.?? The Whip is expected to be available next month as a low speed vehicle or medium speed vehicle.?? Next year, after crash testing is completed, the company hopes to sell the Whip as a full speed vehicle.?? Management expects to sell 1,000 of the LSV/MSV version in the first year as they build up their dealership network to 50 dealers.?? The vehicle has an MSRP of $18,500 but is also eligible for federal tax credits.?? Learn more:?? Atlanta Business Chronicle

Comment: Selling 1,000 of these vehicles in the first year appears to be ambitious given the economy and currently lower gas prices.?? ZENN recently announced a sharp decrease in sales of their LSV which has a similar price point.?? In addition, interviews I’ve conducted with electric vehicle dealers for an upcoming study also indicate a poor sales environment. MC

SolarMotion Laboratories Partners With Southwest Section PGA

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Arizona based SolarMotion Laboratories has become a Technology Sponsor?? of the Southwest Section PGA.?? The company makes solar powered golf car roofs that are compatible with golf cars from the three leading manufacturers, E-Z-Go, Club Car and Yamaha.?? SolarMotion plans to launch their product in the next two months and the solar roofs will come with a four year warrantee.?? According to management, the company has partnered with Standard Renewable Energy and Kyocera Solar. Learn more:?? Russellchrist.wordpress.com

Golf Car Use In Small Towns Increasing?

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Marc Cesare

A recent story from Courtland, Kansas highlights the use of golf cars in small towns.?? While not legal until the Kansas legislature passed a law earlier this year allowing for local ordinances, local law enforcement often looked the other way as the vehicles proved popular and practical.?? Gas prices and?? a clear set of rules have helped increase their usage.?? The state law also covers utility vehicles and mini-trucks.?? This story may be indicative of increasing usage in other states and municipalities that have passed similar ordinances in the past few years.?? Learn more:?? Salina.com

Modec & Navistar Forming A Joint Venture

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Modec and Navistar recently announced that they will soon finalize a joint venture that will produce class 2c-3 commercial trucks.?? The trucks will have the Navistar brand and will be assembled in Indiana.?? Navistar recently won a $39.2 million grant from the US government’s Recovery Act funds targeting battery technology and electric vehicles.?? The grant will be used by the joint venture to develop 400 electric commercial trucks in 2010 with a range of 100 miles.?? In the following years the JV is expected to produce thousands of vehicles annually.?? Modec currently sells electric trucks to companies such as Fedex, UPS and supermarket chains.?? Learn more:?? Autogreenmag.com

CT&T Announces Manufacturing & Distribution Approach To US Market

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Marc Cesare

CT&T, manufacturer of the eZone NEV, recently announced their Regional Assembly and Sales System (RASS) approach for selling electric vehicles in the US.?? RASS will utilize multiple assembly plants, each located near key electric vehicle markets.?? Vehicles will be?? assembled using parts sourced by CT&T.?? Retail networks will be developed by each RASS for their designated region.?? Each RASS is expected to cost between $8-$10 million to create according to management.?? Learn more:?? www.prweb.com

Comment: BG Automotive has also talked about building multiple assembly plants near key markets but has not mentioned separate retail networks as well. They are also still looking for funding to carry this out. – mc

Wheego Eyes Shuttered Car Dealerships

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Marc Cesare

According to reports the LSV manufacturer Wheego is looking at some of the recently closed car dealerships as an opportunity to build their distribution.

Wheego considers its cars the perfect product for these dealerships to preserve local employment and keep local economies from falling into further trouble.

As the story notes the dealerships may be too large for Wheego’s limited product line and some may be located in communities that do not allow LSVs.?? Learn more:?? Tech.blorge.com

CT & T Partners With Electric Vehicle Technology Manufacturers

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Marc Cesare

CT & T recently announced a joint venture with PUES Corporation and E-1 Technology.?? The joint venture is focused on bringing in-wheel direct drive motors and rapid charging technologies into the market.?? PUES and E-1 have already been working together towards commercializing the PUES technology.?? According to the report,

Electric vehicles with in-wheel motors are lighter weight (27 percent less than conventional motors), offer improved energy efficiency (by as much as 95 percent), better performance (doubled driving distance range) and increased power (from 2.5kw to 25kw).

CT & T produces the eZone NEV and has plans to offer a full range of electric vehicles from city cars to buses.?? The company is currently finalizing sites in the US for a North American headquarters, research center and manufacturing facilities.?? Learn more:?? www.swampfox.ws

Smith Electric Vehicles Wins $10M DOE Grant

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Smith Electric Vehicles has won a $10 million grant from the US Department of Energy for the production of all-electric, zero emissions commercial trucks for a nationwide demonstration project to validate performance across a range of climates and locations.?? Major purchasers of the vehicles include Coca-Cola, Staples, AT&T, PG & E, Kansas City Power and Light and Frito-Lay?? Learn more:?? PRnewswire.com

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Ships First Newtons

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. recently delivered the first six trucks from their Kansas City based plant.?? The keys to the Smith Newtons were handed over during a ceremony at the Washington D.C. Mall.?? Companies receiving the trucks include Coca Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T and two utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Kansas City Power and Light.

The Smith Newton features a 120KW motor powered by lithium-ion batteries and has a top speed of 80 km/h and a range in excess of 160 km on a full charge. It can be recharged in six hours. Learn more:?? Sacarfan.co.az

Roush Electric Vehicle In Limbo

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Roush Electric Vehicle

The Roush Electric Vehicle produced by Roush Industries is essentially a small pick-up truck that conforms to most LSV/NEV standards except GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).?? With a payload capacity of 1,100 pounds the REV has a GVWR of almost 4,000 lbs which is well over the 3,000 lb limit put forth in NHTSA’s FMVSS 500 regulations that relate to LSVs.?? The company has been unsuccessful in obtaining an exemption for the vehicle and therefore has put a hold on any further development.?? Learn more:?? Automobilemag.com

Small Vehicle Resource Blog

Information on the small, task-oriented vehicle market