Arizona Promising Stronger Enforcement of OHV Laws

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is increasing their enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with off-highway vehicle(OHV) laws.?? In Arizona OHVs are required to have decals but the department reports that less than 25% of OHVs have them.?? The annual decals cost $25 and are part of a program that started in January, 2009.?? The program covers most ATVs, utility vehicles, dirt bikes and some sand rails and revenues pay for information booklets and riding maps as well as clean up and restoration efforts.?? Learn more:?? KTAR.com

Polaris Defense Introduces LSV For Military Market

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New Polaris EV LSV For The Military Market

Earlier this week Polaris Industries Defense division introduced the Polaris EV LSV which is targeting the military market and other government agencies.?? The vehicle is based on the Range EV utility vehicle.?? Key features besides basic LSV requirements include:

  • 48 volt AC induction motor with 30 horsepower
  • 50 mile range and 25 mph top speed
  • Three driving modes:?? High for speed, Low for towing and hauling, and Max for maximum range
  • 1,000-pound payload capacity
  • 1,250 lbs. of towing capacity

The Polaris EV LSV will enable the company to bid for the contracts that the various US Armed Forces have started to award for LSVs.?? These contracts could be for as many as 30,000 vehicles over the next 5 to 10 years. Columbia ParCar has won contracts for almost 1,000 LSVs in the past year.?? In presentations for investors Polaris has pointed to the military market a an important growth driver for the company.?? Learn more:?? PolarisIndustries.com

On a related?? note, in October, 2009 Polaris Defense was awarded a $2.4 million contract by the National Guard Bureau for their Ranger 800 Crew utility vehicles.?? This contract probably represents about 200 vehicles.?? Learn more:?? MSN.com

Comment: This vehicle introduction continues a trend of utility vehicle manufacturers making their rough terrain utility vehicles LSV compliant.?? Others that have done so previously include Bad Boy Enterprises, Stealth, HuntVe and Titan.?? You might consider these crossover LSVs.?? Although this market is in part driven by recent government tax cuts, I believe the need is real for a versatile vehicle that can handle rough terrain as well as street duties.?? While Polaris is targeting the military market, their vehicle can easily be sold into this crossover market on the consumer side. – Marc Cesare

Company News

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Nivel Holdings – At the end of 2009 Nivel Holdings completed their acquisition of Jake’s Carts, a leading provider of lift kits for the golf car market.?? The company has become a subsidiary of Nivel Parts.?? Learn more:?? Golfcarnews.com

Kandi Technologies Corporation –has entered into an alliance with China Potevio/CNOOC New Energy and Power, Ltd. and Tianneng Power International, Ltd with a goal of mass producing electric vehicles. The alliance combines the IT equipment and service of CNOOC, battery production from Tianneng Power International, vehicle production from Kandi as well as governmental support.?? Kandi produces the COCO LSV.?? Part of vehicle concept focuses on easy battery removal and replacement and battery rentals.?? Learn more:?? Worldmarketmedia.com

Ameritex – will supply canvas doors for GEM vehicles.?? The company is a division of Taylor Made which designs and manufactures windshields.?? Ameritex is trying to diversify their business which has suffered from the downturn in the marine industry and is investigating the resort, consumer, recreational vehicle and golf cart industries.
Learn more: Tampabay.bizjournals.com

A Basic Utility Vehicle For The Developing World

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I recently came across a story about a Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV) developed by The Institute for Affordable Transportation.???? The organization’s mission is?? “… to improve the lives of the world???s poor by providing simple, low-cost vehicles to facilitate community transformation.”?? The BUV is a no frills but practical utility vehicle.?? The institute has developed a whole turnkey type program that allows local entrepreneurs to become a local distributor or assembler of the vehicles. They typically will assemble, sell and service the vehicles.?? Some parts are expected to be sourced locally and the vehicle can use 20 different engines without modification.?? A starter kit for six vehicles can be shipped in one twenty foot shipping container.

BUV at work in Honduras

The first overseas BUV factory is in Honduras and five other groups are planning to launch in Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Haiti, Ethiopia and D.R. Congo.?? Learn more:?? www.drivebuv.org/

Illinois LSV Goes Into Effect

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On January 1 a new LSV law went into effect in Illinois.?? There are two basic parts to the law:?? first LSVs will now have to be titled and registered with the state; the second and more interesting part is that LSVs will be allowed to travel on any roads with posted speed limites of 30 mph or less unless specifically prohibited by a municipality.

This essentially creates LSV road access as the default policy.?? I believe this is the first state to do so.?? Other states have allowed similar access but with the added step that municipalities had to pass ordinances to explicitly allow LSV access.?? This requires a certain level of initiative and interest by local officials to write and pass the ordinances.?? The law should provide a boost to LSV sales in Illinois and may spur other states to adopt similar legislation.??– Marc Cesare

Learn more:?? www.connecttristates.com

Company News

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Polaris – The Ranger HD has been named the “Best of the Best” by Field & Stream magazine. Learn more:?? UTVWeekly.com

Nemo Motors – As part of a pilot project started in early 2009 Nemo Motors recently delivered an electric truck to the Quebec government.?? The company is headqurtered in Redwood City, CA but produces vehicle in Quebec.?? Learn more:?? Sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com

CPSC Extends Comment Period For Recreational Offhighway Vehicles

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The Consumer Products Safety Commission is extending its comment period for 75 days related to the advance notice of proposed rulemaking for Recreational OffHighway Vehicles (ROVs).?? The extension comes at the request of Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki and the Recreational OffHighway Vehicle Association.?? The original deadline was December 28, 2009 and the new deadline is now March 15, 2010.?? Learn more:?? Federalregister.com

ZAP Forms Joint Venture In China

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ZAP has announced that it has entered into the China Electric Vehicle market with Holley Group.?? The two companies have entered into a joint venture in China from venture capital firm Better World International.?? The joint venture company is named ZAP Hangzhou, and is intended to design and manufacture electric vehicles, in addition to developing infrastructure technology for the Chinese market. Learn more:?? transworldnews.com

Road Use Regulations Roundup – December

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Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

  • Continued passage of ordinances allowing?? LSVs and/or golf cars on local streets
  • Municipalities considering regulations that will allow the use of LSVs as taxis or rental vehicles
  • Trends towards expansion or restriction, depending on the locality, regarding the use of UTVs and/or mini-trucks on public streets

Illinois – Effective January 2010 Illinois will allow low-speed vehicles on any road with a posted limit of 30 mph or lower, effective January 2010. Previously, individual communities had to adopt laws to permit the use of low-speed vehicles on local roads.

Orting, WA – Passed an ordinance to allow golf cars on city streets as part of a one year pilot program.

Manhattan, KS – Amendment allows citizens may operate golf carts and ???work-site utility vehicles??? on city streets marked with speed limits of 30 mph or less.

Austin, TX – City officials considering legislation that would allow the use of LSVs as taxis in downtown area.

Austin, MN – Responding to farmer requests, Mower County officials drafted an ordinance that allows the use of mini-trucks on county and township roads.

Ocean City, NJ – City council voted to allow local business to rent out LSVs.

Wisconsin – Two representatives from the state legislature are sponsoring a bill to allow the use of light utility vehicles on some public roads for agricultural purposes.

West Vancouver, CA – City officials pass ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on roads with speed limits of 50 km/hr or less.

Hamlin, West Virginia – Town council approved the changes to the town’s ordinance dealing with ATVs, utility-terrain-vehicles (UTVs) and off-road motorcycles that specifically prohibits the operation of the vehicles on any streets.

Oregon – Rule change requires that as of January 1, 2010 anyone under 18 years old riding in an off-highway vehicle such as a side by side will have to wear a helmet.

Recent Company News

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Navistar and Modec complete joint venture agreement – Navistar International and Modec completed their joint venture agreement for the production of Class 2c-3 commercial trucks. The all electric trucks will be produced in Elkhart, Indiana. In 2010 400 of the trucks are expected to be produced. Learn more: Tradingmarkets.com

Northwire introduces charging cable for electric vehicles – Northwire, Inc. announced the availability of CoilBoss Retractile Cords for use in electric and hybrid vehicles. All EV Cable options are available in standard or custom configurations. Customization includes hybrid designs, colors, private labeling and more. Learn more: Northwire.com

GM & SAIC Motor Corp pursuing venture – GM and SAIC Motor Corp, China’s largest automaker, are looking to create a joint venture to sell minivans, mini-trucks and mini cars in the Indian market.?? It would be a 50-50 joint venture.?? Learn more:?? Wheels.unwireindia.com

Smith Electric Vehicles places battery order with Valence Technology – Smith Electric Vehicles placed a $1.4 million order with Valence Technology for batteries to be used in their Newton electric truck being produced in Kansas.?? Learn more:?? austin.bizjournals.com

Think thinking of Indiana for plant site – Think North America is in negotiations with officials from the state of Indiana and Elkhart County as it tries to decide on where to locate a manufacturing plant.?? Besides Indiana, Oregona and Michigan have been on their short list.?? Elkhart County is considering ten years of tax abatements to attract the company.?? Learn more:?? WSBT.com