This story from greencar.com reports on an interesting three-wheel hybrid vehicle concept targeting the urban commuter segment.?? The concept includes technology of Dutch origin that allows the vehicle body to tilt during turns depending on vehicle speed.?? As a three wheeler it would be classified as a motorcycle.?? The company, Pursu Mobility, expects a launch in 2010.
Greenwit Technologies reports increasing sales of their Motorino electric scooter.?? While not the usual type of vehicles covered in this blog, scooters do rub up against some of the vehicles we cover in the urban use segment and I think it is important to track this tangential market.
Steve Miloshev, company president, estimates that a 1,000 units were sold in 2008.?? He recently made his first shipment to the US for East coast distribution and plans further expansion into Florida and California.?? He attributes fuel prices, environmental concerns and the practicality of the vehicles.?? In the article he remarks that some buyers are replacing second vehicles with the scooters and about 15% use it as their main means of transportation.?? The scooters, which reach speeds of 60km/h and can travel up to 60 kilometres on a single charge, retail between $3,700 and $5,000. Learn more
In February Markstone Capital Partners of Los Angeles acquired a controlling interest in Tomcar, which makes offroad vehicles for military and industrial applications.?? Terms of the agreement were not released.
Last year Tomcar had received an investment from Markstone and had opened up a 85,000 square foot contract manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, MI in partnership with German-based EDAG.?? At full production the facility can produce just over 10,000 vehicles per year but initial production targets were for 2,000 vehicles in 2008 and 5,000 in 2009.?? According to reports, the first vehicles rolling of the line were for a custom order and vehicles for the general market start this month.
The vehicles, which retail starting between $14,000 and $15,000, come in two-seater, four-seater or mini-truck versions.?? They have applications in military, mining, security patrol, farm and ranch, recreation and tourism uses.
Total investment in the plant was estimated to be $9.5 million. Tomcar also has facilities in Israel and Phoenix, AZ.?? Learn more
This story exemplifies the potential for electric powered utility vehicles to make inroads into gas powered segments of the market.?? In this case, an electric powered Club Car replaced an older Gator utility vehicle in a county park.???? The lack of noise and odor emitted by the vehicle is noted as the advantages of the new vehicle.?? On the other hand, the staff remarked that the vehicle can only be used on the more developed parts of the park and not the trails, and cannot be operated all day or the power runs out.?? The vehicle is used for regular maintenance around the park.?? They did receive a number of favorable letters and calls from park users about the vehicle.
Comment:?? In much the same way utility vehicles have replaced full-size trucks when appropriate, I can see electric powered utility vehicles replacing gas powered vehicles or being the first vehicle of choice where they can perform just as efficiently, especially as the “going green” trend continues.?? However, except for vehicles like the Bad Boy Buggie, most of the electric utility vehicles will still fall short in some key performance requirements for the more demanding tasks required of gas powered vehicles.
Electrovaya's Lithium-Ion Powered Maya 300
If all goes according to plan the Maya 300 will be available this summer in the US and Canada.?? The LSV will be available with either a 12 KW or 18 KW Lithium ion battery pack, which will give the vehicle a range of 80 km or 120km respectively.?? Produced by Electrovaya, the LSV will be priced around $20,000 and will be assembled in either Mississauga, Ontario, or Malta, NY,?? the final decision is yet to be made.
The Maya 300 is based on the Chana Benni car which is manufactured by Chana International Corporation in Chongqing (province of Sichuan) with styling by Bertrone of Italy.?? Learn more
Tata Motors is developing an electric powered version of their Nano. The gas powered Nano will hit the Indian market later this year, and with a price tag of $2,000 will be the cheapest car in the world. However, for Western markets, the company wants to sell an alternative fuel vehicle. To this end, Tata Motors acquired a majority stake in Miljo Grenland Innovasjon last year. The Norwegian company specializes in electric car technology. The low speed electric Nano will be targeted towards urban and gated community market segments. Tata is also working with MDI Enterprises on a compressed air powered version of the car, which will also be a low-speed vehicle. Learn more
Wheego recently announced the official launch of their dealer network.?? According to the company’s press release, their first car, the Wheego Whip will be available in May of this year and they plan to have 50 dealers in place at that time.?? Commenting on the dealer network President Jeff Boyd states,
These will be a combination of traditional car dealers as well as a new type of dealer who exclusively sells electric vehicles and combines several manufacturers such ZENN, ZAP, and MILES in one dealership.
Wheego is a division of RTEV which produces electric vehicles for recreational use under the Ruff & Tuff brand and vehicles for street use under the Wheego brand.
A recently granted patent provides some more information about the company’s much anticipated technology.?? According to one analysis of the patent
An EESU (Electrical Energy Storage Unit) weighs 281 pounds, has a volume of 2.63 cubic feet, can be fully charged in 3-6 minutes, is completely unaffected by temperature, will not explode or catch fire in an accident, and provides 52 kWh of electricity.
Peapod From Newly Formed Peapod Mobility, LLC
Chrysler recently created a separate subsidiary, Peapod Mobility, LLC, to market the Peapod, which had been under the GEM brand. The new company is headed up by Chrysler “brand guru” Peter Arnell who helped design the Peapod. The company is targeting the 20 something segment with the vehicle. Arnell recently told Brandweek,
You know how the Beetle was the vehicle of choice for the whole ’60s, the hippie revolution and everything? We’re hoping that this becomes the new-wave car for the younger set as well as addressing mom and her needs with her kids.
The company expects to deliver the first Peapod. a four-seater, in September 2009 followed by a two-seater later in the year and a utility vehicle in the Spring of 2010. Learn more
Comment: If they do produce a utility vehicle what will that mean for GEM which sells a large number of vehicles configured as utility vehicles. It seems like it would put the companies in direct competition. The other question is whether or not NEVs with their limited mobility will appeal to a younger and presumably more mobile market segment.
The tax credit for NEVs made it into the final stimulus bill recently signed by Obama.?? The tax credit is for 10% of the purchase price of the vehicle with a?? maximum credit of $2,500.?? Three wheel vehicles like those produced by ZAP will also be eligible.
The bill also includes $300 million for federal fleet purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles which could help NEV manufacturers. Vehicles must be replaced on a one-to-one basis, and to remove a functioning government vehicle, the hybrid or electric replacement must have an improved fuel economy at least 10-percent greater than the original. Learn more