What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Park Patrol & Emergency Response - Cramerton, NC police received a Gator utility vehicle as a donation from a local community group for use on the Carolina Thread Trail.  With much of the park area inaccessible to cars, the utility vehicle will be used for regular police patrols and is outfitted with medical equipment for first responders to use in emergencies.  Learn more:  GastonGazzette.com

Stetson University's Miles Electric Vehicle

Sustainable Campus Patrol - In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, Stetson University recently replaced a SUV used for campus security with a Miles electric vehicle.  The LSV cost $13,000.  The university expects to add more electric vehicles to their fleet in the future.  Learn more:  News-journalonline.com

 

 

 

 

John Deere Marketing Initiatives

Drive Green Challenge – For a third year John Deere will be bringing their Drive Green Challenge to select dealerships in the Midwest and East Coast.  A total of 60 dealerships will be visited by a customized promotional tractor trailer with various Deere equipment for test drives and demonstrations.

A unique Gator utility vehicle – the “Tail Gator” XUV, complete with speakers and other gadgets – will be featured at the sites. In addition, there will be a drawing for a similar machine at the end of the summer, to be given to one visitor to the Challenge’s various dates.

Other dealerships will have satellite versions of the Challenge.  Learn more:  Machinefinder.com

Gator XUV Configurator – John Deere has added a new feature to their website, a configurator for their Gator XUV model.  The features allows for a range of vehicle customizations which are then sent to a dealer for a quote.  Learn more:  Machinefinder.com

John Deere Sponsors Iowa NASCAR Event – An Iowa Speedway event has been renamed the John Deere Dealer’s 250.  The NASCAR event on May 22nd is expected to attract over 50,000 fans including a few thousand John Deere equipment owners as part of a dealer tie-in.  Ten free one-year leases for a Gator utility vehicle will be given away as part of the promotion.  Learn more:  Machinefinder.com

John Deere Gator Named Official UTV of Best in the Desert Racing Association

John Deere Gator XUV 825i crossover UTV

The John Deere Gator™ has been named the “Official UTV” of the Best in the Desert Racing Association for the 2011-2012 Best in the Desert Racing Series.  The sponsorship will be used to highlight Deere’s Gator XUV crossover utility vehicles.  As the term crossover implies, these latest additions to the Gator product lineup were introduced to appeal to customers that straddle the work and recreation segments.  In the past few years the Gator has lost market share as the recreation and combination work/recreation segments of the market have expanded quickly.  Learn more:  SXSNews.com

Are Electric LSVs Taking Market Share From Gas UTVs?

While I’ve come across many instances of gas and electric STOVs replacing full-size pickup trucks, I’ve seen fewer stories about electric LSVs replacing gas UTVs but in the past few weeks I came across two. In both cases the electric vehicle offered cost advantages and a better set of features for the end use application.

The first is from Albany, GA where the local police department replaced a 12 year old gas powered Kawasaki Mule with a GEM for use in parking enforcement.  Learning from the local US Marine base experience and evaluation, the department estimates that they will save about $6,000 a year in gas, oil change and maintenance expense each year.  The GEM also has better features for parking enforcement including an enclosed cab, rear and side mirrors, warning lights, a fan for summer use and a heater for winter use. Learn more:  Albanyherald.com

In the second instance, River Falls Municipal Utilities in Wisconsin replaced a John Deere Gator with a Polaris NEV.  In this case, they tested the vehicle for several weeks by performing tasks around the wastewater treatment plant.  The utility also received a $5,009 grant from Wisconsin Electric Power.  Management sees the vehicle being used for both off-road and on-road uses such as driving downtown for supplies or town meetings.  A cab enclosure will be purchased in the future to enable year round use.  Learn more:  Riverfallsjournal.com

Gator Review

John Deere Gator 825i 4x4 at play

Earlier this year John Deere launched their crossover utility vehicle the XUV 825i.  The vehicle was developed to capture the part of the UTV market that is using vehicles for both work and recreation.  One of the fastest growing segments in the UTV market, in recent years John Deere has lost some market share in this area to the powersports manufacturers.  Side by Side News put the 825i to the test in a recreational setting and came away impressed with the vehicle’s performance.  Learn more:  sxsnews.com

Gators spotted on UK beach – On another Gator related note, I came across a story about the town of North East Lincolnshire in the UK using TH 6×4 Gators to patrol their local beaches.  The diesel powered vehicles are “…equipped with a cab for winter protection, plus a PA system, internal two-way radio, siren, warning beacons, a detachable winch and a land anchor.”  Besides general patrol duties, the vehicles are used to warn and help visitors stranded by changing tides and clearing paths and leveling sandbanks.  Learn more:  Pitchcare.com

Kawasaki & John Deere Reach Production Milestones

A Teryx 750 FI 4x4 Sport is the 3,000,000th vehicle produced at Kawasaki's Lincoln, NE plant

The 3,000,000th vehicle recently rolled off the assembly line of Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing’s facility in Lincoln, NE.  In this case the vehicle was a Teryx 750 FI 4×4 Sport.  Over the 36 years of operation the plant has produced motorcycles, snowmobiles, jet skis, ATVs, UTVs industrial robots and rail cars.   Learn more:  Motorcycle-usa.com

Meanwhile John Deere’s Horicon, WI plant just produced the company’s 500,000th Gator utility vehicle.  The XUV825i, the fastest and most powerful Gator yet, rolled off the line seventeen years after the first Gator was produced in 1993.  Learn more:  ATVmagonline.com

New UTVs Hitting The Market

Kawasaki's new Teryx 750 FI 4x4 LE Camo

New Teryx™ 750 FI 4×4 LE – Kawasaki has introduced a a new Teryx™ 750 FI 4×4 LE. Key features include:

• Liquid-cooled, 749cc SOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder, fuel-injected, 90-degree V-twin engine
• Realtree APG HD camouflaged bodywork, wheels, front bumper, roof and dashboard
• Digital fuel injection
• Continuously Variable Transmission features high and low ranges, a reverse gear, very direct feel from the engine, and instantaneous acceleration
• Limited-slip front differential reduces steering effort under normal four-wheel drive operation, while Variable Front Differential Control permits rider to distribute torque equally to left and right front wheels for maximum traction via a hand lever located between the seats
• Selectable two- or four-wheel-drive operation, via dash-mounted switch
• Suspension designed for high-speed operation over varying terrain
• Large 7.4-gal. (28L) fuel tank

Learn more: News.utvguide.net

X4 off-road vehicle from Volteis Electric Car of France

New electric off-road utility vehicle from France - Volteis Electric Car of France recently launched their X4 electric off-road utility vehicle. Reminiscent of WWII Jeep designs, the X4 features twelve 48 volt, 24 amp-hour lead-acid gel batteries located beneath the front sea and has a top speed is 44 mph. The vehicle is available in a number of configurations including dual electric motors, long and short frames and other options. The frame is made of stainless steel and aluminum. Learn more: Greencar.com

Bobcat utility vehicle

Bobcat offers new UTV lineup – Bobcat recently unveiled their new lineup of four utility vehicles: 3200 (4×2), 3400 (4×4), 3400 XL (up to 6 riders; 4×4) and 3450 (4×4). Key features:

• Diesel engine is available in all but the 3200
• All models feature increased horsepower
• Top speed has increased to 30 mph.
• High (30 mph max) and low-speed gearing (15 mph max)
• Increased payload capacity (up to 33% more)
• Electronic fuel injected gas engines
• Four-wheel independent suspension (MacPherson struts, front; 5-way preload adjustable rear shocks with two optional mounting positions for load carrying)
• 3450 includes Bobcat’s exclusive RapidLink attachment mounting system
• All-new frame

The vehicles are a result of Bobcat’s strategic alliance with Polaris Industries to develop vehicles for the work segment . Learn more: ATVmagblog.com

Can-Am Commander in action

Can-Am enters UTV market with Commander 800 and 1000 models – Powersports manufacturer Can-Am has entered the UTV market with their Commander 800 and 1000 models which have 71 hp and 85 hp engines respectively. The vehicles features give them a mix of work qualities as well as those for aggressive trail riding. For a more complete review of the vehicle features and technologies Learn more: ATVmagonline.com

New Gator XUV 825i from John Deere

John Deere launches new lineup of crossover utility vehicles (XUVs) - The leading model of Deere’s new trio of XUVs is the XUV 825i which features a 50 hp engine and a top speed of 44 mph. The XUV lineup designed for both work applications and the needs of the “outdoor enthusiast”. Key features include:

• An 815cc, liquid cooled, inline 3-cylinder engine with 4 valves per cylinder, dual overhead cams and electronic fuel injection.
• Re-designed front and rear independent suspension system designed for less body roll and superior side-hill stability with either no-load or maximum cargo.
• 1500 lbs. of towing and 1400 lbs. of payload capacity.
• New hybrid metal and composite cargo box with 16.4 cu. ft. of capacity and an available factory installed spray-in bed liner with 20 integrated tie downs
• New braking system that improves stopping performance over previous models.

Learn more: News.utvguide.net

What’s Cooking On the STOV

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

Gator in use at Astley Park in Chorley, UK

Park Maintenance - Gardeners in Astley Park in Chorley, UK are pleased with their new Gator. The vehicle is used to manage the woodland, keep footpaths clear and maintain the flowering gardens. According to Councillor Eric Bell, Chorley Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, “The new machine is a lot more versatile. It means that our gardeners can reach all parts of the magnificent Astley Park a lot easier saving time and money .” Learn more: Chorleycitizen.co.uk

Forest Preserve Policing & Trolley – Managers of the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, IL are looking for sponsorship to support the acquisition of electric vehicles for policing and transporting tourists around the grounds.  The vehicles from Cruise Car are electric powered and supplanted with solar power which can increase vehicle range by 30 percent.  The police vehicle is small enough for patrolling on trails and according to Mike Tully, the district’s director of operations and public safety, “It’s a very visible vehicle but at the same time it’s not obtrusive. It’s approachable. It doesn’t give you that police-car-on-the-prowl look.”  Vehicle sponsors would have their company logos and graphics prominently placed on the vehicles.  Learn more:  Dailyherald.com

Deere & Boeing Defence UK Working On Robotic Gator

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

John Deere Announces Upgrades To Gator TX & TE

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