Battery Developments and Implications for STOVs

The ongoing development of battery power holds significant potential for small, task-oriented vehicles (STOVs).  Most of the development and most discussion and analysis of battery development is in the context of powering on-road vehicles.  The crumbs off the table of this development process, however, could have a significant impact on market development of small, task-oriented vehicles.

STOVs are certainly not confined to electric power, but given the trend toward electric power in all but the off-road UTV (and derivatives) market–and that is coming, too–as well as the market drivers pushing toward electric, a focus on electric power is hardly unjustified.

In a presentation at the Industrial Utility Vehicle Technology Conference, I outlined four areas of product development that were needed to encourage market growth of the small, electric vehicle market.

• Greater range, moving from 30-40 miles to 100 miles;
• More power, deliverable through the adaptation of AC electric motors;
• Faster speeds, increasing from the upper limits now of 25 m.p.h. to the 40-45 m.p.h. range;
• Better ergonomic features, including all-weather driveability.

The ensuing years have seen improvements in all categories.  – Steve Metzger

For the full article see:  IUVMag.com

South Korean Government Targeting EV Market

Last week the South Korean government announced plans to accelerate the development of the electric vehicle industry in their country.  Revised plans now call for full-scale production of electric vehicles in 2011 instead of the previous target date of 2013.  The government views the competition to develop the next generation of automobiles and grab market share as important to South Korea’s long term economic health.

A range of automobiles including hybrid, plug-in and fuel cell powered will be supported.  The target goal is for South Korea to account for a 10% share of the global EV production by 2015.  Ironically, the country does not currently allow EVs to be operated on any roads.  However, as part of this initiative, the parliament is passing legislation to allow EVs including NEVs to be driven on the country’s roads.  Learn more:  yonhapnews.co.kr

LSV Market Segment Spotlight: Municipalities & Universities

I came across a couple of stories in the last week that I believe are representative of two key market segments for LSVs:  municipalities and universities, as well as the versatility of the vehicles.

In the first, the city of Hoboken is looking to replace full size vehicles in their parking enforcement department with LSVs. For the municipality the key factors are a significantly lower capital cost for the vehicle, drastically lower operating costs and reduced maintenance costs.  A secondary consideration are the environmental benefits.

“I’m very concerned about saving money for the city of Hoboken and saving the environment and I think it’s really going to reduce costs,” said Hoboken acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer after completing her ride around town.

The vehicles will mainly be used for transporting the meter readers but their  configurations will also allow them to carry the necessary equipment for booting cars.

Learn more:  NJ.com/hobokennow/

In the other story Princeton University is replacing small pickup trucks with LSVs configured as utility trucks.  A driving factor in their decision is the university wide goal of sustainability.  They are impressed by the efficiency of the vehicles and the reduction in gas consumption that can be realized.

“Electric cars are much more efficient. They use less energy to travel the same amount of miles as a gas-powered vehicle,” said Roger Demareski, the assistant vice president for facilities for plant, who oversees the pilot program.

In order to expand the streets the vehicles can be legally driven on the university had to work with the local towns to change their LSV ordinances.  Some towns only allowed LSVs on streets with a 25 mph speed limit but a shift to a 35 mph limit allows vehicle access to all parts of the campus.

Learn more:  Princeton.edu

In both cases the LSVs are replacing gas-powered vehicles and they represent important market segments for LSVs, especially in a slow economy.  The cost savings realized by the vehicles, the environmental benefits and various federal and state funding available for these type of vehicles help drive these market segments while others may be faltering.- Marc Cesare

Federal Tax Credit Appears To Be Significantly Boosting LSV Sales

Based on stories from around the country, the federal tax credit for new plug-in electric vehicles purchased during 2009 is providing a significant boost to LSV sales. The tax credit is included as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) and is credit of $2,500 to $7,500 for a four wheeled vehicle that draws propulsion using a rechargeable battery with at least four kilowatt hours of capacity. The base credit is $2,500 and increases depending on the size of the battery pack.  An additional $417 is added for each kilowatt hour above four kilowatts hours.  For many LSV this equates to a tax credit of roughly $4,000 to $6,000 depending on the brand of LSV and the battery pack option chosen.

A Tomberlin dealer in Oklahoma has reported a “dramatic” increase in sales, Bad Boy Buggies is hoping to launch their street legal vehicle shortly to take advantage of the tax credit fueled demand and in a recent story out of South Carolina a dealer reported a sales jump from 10 to 60 vehicles per month because of the tax credit.  South Carolina adds a state tax credit equal to 20% of the federal tax credit and Oklahoma adds a 50% tax credit for electric vehicles.  In addition, the major LSV manufacturers are all prominently touting the tax credit on their websites, often with the specific tax credit available for each model.  Learn more:  SCNow.com

NHTSA Proposes Requirement To Prevent Vehicle Rollaway

According to Trailer-bodybuilders.com:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to place a requirement in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that motor vehicles 10,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and below, excluding walk-in vans with an automatic transmission that includes a “park” position, manufactured for sale after Sept. 1, 2010 be equipped with a brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI).

This interlock will require that the service brake pedal be depressed before the transmission can be shifted out of “park” and will function in any starting system key position.

NHTSA is issuing this document in response to a statutory mandate in the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007.

Based on changes to which type of vehicles would be covered by the regulation, low-speed vehicles would have to meet this proposed requirement. Learn more:  Trailer-bodybuilders.com