Golf Car Fleets Going Solar

Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Course in Hong Kong and the Sebonack Golf Club in Southhampton, N.Y recently became the first golf courses to completely power their golf car fleets with solar power.  Both fleets used Club Car’s SolarDrive system to retrofit their existing Club Car fleets.  Management expects to reduce costs in the long-term through energy savings.  The Hong Kong facility converted 205 golf cars and the club in New York converted 40 golf cars. The solar panels typically cost about $2,700 but can be eligible for tax incentives as well.  they are supplied by SolarDrive of Denmark that has a marketing partnership with Club Car. Learn more:  Golfcarnews.com

Comment: While capital costs for retrofitting may be an issue for some fleet managers, if savings can be realized in a reasonable amount of time this type of product will be another factor in the continuing trend towards more electric powered golf cars.  Combined with the recent introduction of golf cars with AC drive and increased environmental concerns the trend towards electric could significantly accelerate. – Marc Cesare

Flux Power Systems Targeting LSV & Golf Car Market

Flux Power, a startup led by the co-founder of vehicle manufacturer Aptera, is targeting the LSV and golf car markets with their lithium based power systems.  Flux Power’s products manage, monitor and charge lithium batteries.  Flux Power products are designed to work with batteries from a variety of manufacturers to create modular battery units.  A vehicle manufacturer or other customers could then combine units to create custom battery packs.  Smart charging technology can be integrated as well. By increasing the efficiency of lithium battery packs and thereby lowering costs, the company hopes to penetrate markets currently dominated by lead-acid batteries.  Products are expected to be available in November, 2009.  Learn more:  Earth2tech.com

Cart Mart Acquires Pacific Golf Cars

Cart Mart, one of the largest distributors of golf car, transportation and industrial vehicles in Southern California, recently announced their acquisition of Pacific Golf Cars.  Pacific Golf Cars has been San Diego’s exclusive Club Car dealer for over thirty years.  The acquisitions adds the Club Car brand to Cart Mart’s existing line-up which includes Yamaha, Taylor-Dunn and Fairplay.  Learn more:  Earthtimes.org.

Road Use Regulations Roundup – September

Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

• Some cities and states are expanding road use regulations to include mini-trucks and other off-road vehicles
• LSV/NEV road use ordinances continue to be passed by local municipalities although safety concerns, usually raised by the local police department, remain an issue
• In some localities the new LSV ordinances prohibit the use of golf cars which previously had been allowed
• Texas MSV and Massachusetts LSV laws went into effect

Boonville, Ind - Warrick County officials have taken the first steps to allowing ATVs to use some county roads.

Baraboo, WI – City Council approves ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on most city streets.

Minnesota – Minnesota House of Representatives passes bill allowing the use of mini-trucks on local streets and highways under a special permit issued by the local governments.

Ocean City, NJ – Ordinance banning the use LSVs on city streets which was supported by the police department failed to pass.

Peabody, KS – Local ordinance is passed allowing alternative transportation vehicles on city streets including ATVs, golf carts and mini-trucks.

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada – City Council bans the use of NEVs on city streets because of concerns about the safety of vehicles in crashes with highway speed vehicles.

Neoga, IL – City Council passes ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on city streets.

Wheeling, IL – Village Board passes ordinance allowing NEVs to be used on city streets.

Massachusetts – On July 31, 2009 the states NEV ordinance , which allows vehicles to operate on streets with speed limits of 30 mp or less, went into effect.

Colorado – State Senate passed a bill allowing NEVs and street legal golf cars to be operated on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

Texas - On September 1, 2009 the state’s MSV law, which allows NEVs to be operated on streets with speed limits of 45 mph or less, went into effect. In addition a new law stops the state DMV from registering golf carts but allows cities to pass their own ordinances governing golf cars.

Chesterton, IN – State LSV law went into effect on July 1, 2009 that excludes the use of golf cars on the city streets.  Chesterton previously allowed the use of golf cars on city streets.

Nebraska – State legislature is considering whether mini-trucks and other off-road vehicles should be allowed on public roads.

Abilene, KS – City passes ordinance allowing the use of work-site utility vehicles and mini-trucks on city streets except main thoroughfares.

SolarMotion Laboratories Partners With Southwest Section PGA

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?

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

Garia Golf Car To Be Launched At PGA Show In Las Vegas

According to a recent company press release the official premiere of the Garia Golf Car will take place this September at the PGA Golf Show in Las Vegas.  The Garia Golf Car was designed in Denmark and is targeting the luxury golf car and gated community transportation markets.  Manufactured by Valmet Automotive of Finland the vehicle will offer customers flexibility through a number of customizable features.  Learn more

Club Car Extends European Tour Sponsorship

Continuing a relationship that started in 1999, Club Car has extended their agreement to be the official golf car and utility vehicle and sponsor of the European tour. At least 70 Club Car golf cars are in use at each European Tour event. Learn more: sportsbizasia.com

Trojan Battery Introduces Watering System For Golf Car Batteries

Trojan Battery has introduced their Hydrolink battery watering system for 6, 8 and 12-volt golf car batteries.  Hydrolink was developed in partnership with Flow-rite Controls, the leading designer and manufacturer of watering systems.  The product is available pre-installed on Trojan Batteries and features a non-mechanical water level indicator that will not give a false reading, according to the company.  The system can fill a set of batteries in less than thirty seconds.  Learn more:  earthtimes.org

Golf Car Manufacturers In the Rough

Bloomberg News reports on the current difficulties golf car manufacturers are facing. The industry is dominated by Club Car and E-Z Go which account for nearly all the fleet sales to golf courses. Besides the recession, these companies have also been dealing with pre-existing negative trends of declining golf course construction and fewer rounds played. The former is in part a market response to record course construction in the preceding years. Some courses are turning to refurbished rather than new vehicles to lower costs.

According to the story the manufacturers have reduced their work forces by about 3% and Club Car states that “orders for new carts have fallen by as much as 20 percent.”

I have started conducting some dealer interviews for a new version of our market study covering small, task-oriented vehicles like golf cars, NEVs and utility vehicles and have identified similar themes. In addition, some dealers told me that some courses are extending by a year the leases for their existing fleets. They also report that the once tight supply of used vehicle has now swung in the opposite direction. While golf course driven demand is not likely to improve in the short term, my interviews indicate that the utility vehicle and NEV markets will provide some growth.