GM Talking With SAIC About Selling Minitrucks In India

GM is holding talks with their Chinese Partner SAIC Motor Inc. to explore selling Wuling produced minitrucks for the Indan market.  The Wuling minitrucks are sold in China in 0.3 to 0.8 tonne versions.  The Wuling offers GM a faster entry into the market since relatively few modifications of the existing vehicle platform and technology would be required. SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile is a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation(SAIC) of China and Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. Learn more:  Wheelsunplugged.com

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.

DFM-USA Announces Latest Line Of Electric Vehicles

DFM-USA recently announced their latest line of electric vehicles. The company’s product lines include the Marathon Electric Vehicle, and soon the traditional gas powered industrial transport, and our 4×4 off road UTV. According to management,

First to be released is our Marathon EV line of NEV, LSV Electric Utility Vehicles. We offer a 2 Door Truck, 4 Door Truck, Passenger Van, and Cargo Van. Each model comes standard with our 100% plug in electric Marathon HP drive.

Learn more: prlog

What’s Cooking On The STOV

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

Unmanned Military Vehicles: John Deere recently demonstrated its R-Gator standalone, autonomous mule, which is based on its M-Gator model at the Army sponsored Robotic Rodeo.

Applications include reconnaissance, patrol, hauling supplies (up to 1,400 lbs.), casualty evacuation, and the “marsupial” capability–namely the ferrying and remote deployment of smaller, specialized robots.

The Robotics Rodeo is sponsored by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and by the U.S. Army’s III Corps.  Learn more:  CNET.com

Campus Maintenance: Shenandoah University recently replaced a gas powered maintenance vehicle with a Vantage electric truck.  The electric truck meets LSV standards and is powered by a 72 volt battery system.  The vehicle will be used by the university’s physical plant department for general maintenance and contributes to the goals of reducing the carbon footprint and reaching campus sustainability.  The university expects to save on fuel and maintenance costs while reducing emissions and noise.  Learn more:  Shenandoah University

Tiger Truck Lands $11M Air Force Contract

Tiger Truck Vehicle line

Tiger Truck of Oklahoma recently won an $11 million GSA contract to supply the US Air Force with 863 mini-trucks.  The purchase is funded by the recent federal stimulus package since the mini-trucks will be replacing less fuel-efficient vehicles.  All the vehicles will be fueled by either gas or a gas/ethanol mix and are slated for delivery in about four months.  The recently opened Tiger Truck assembly plant employs 90 people and can produce approximately 35 vehicles per shift per day.  The company assembles the vehicles from a mix of US and foreign sourced parts.  Learn more:  www.newsok.com

Road Use Regulation Round Up

Ocean City, NJ – Police urge city council to keep golf cars off city streets for safety reasons.

West Baraboo, WI - Passes ordinance allowing NEVs on low speed streets and certain crossings of state highway.

Charleston, NC – A limousine service with two Tomberlin E-merge vehicles as part of their fleet had to cease using the LSVs when the city attorneys determined the vehicles violated city code and zoning ordinance. The owner hopes the city will revisit the issue later in the year.

Wausau, WI – City amends ordinance to allow NEVs to be driven on some city streets.

Massachusetts – Legislation bans the use of NEVs on roads with speed limits above 30 mph and requires that they follow the same licensing and registration rules as cars. Additional legislation allows the Registry of Motor Vehicles to register as “motorcycles” three-wheeled electric vehicles that have standard safety equipment and travel no faster than 40 miles per hour. (i.e. Zap Xebra) Such vehicles could be registered at the discretion of the Registrar, and would be limited to traveling on public roads having speed limits of 40 miles per hour or less.

Pittsfield, IL – Ordinance proposed to allow the use of NEVs and golf cars to operate on city streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less and cross streets with higher speed limits.

Indiana – Legislation proposed to allow mini-trucks to be licensed and titled. Apparently the state’s motor vehicle department has been inconsistent in their approach to these vehicles. The department plans to title them as off-road vehicles, which allows owners to drive them on secondary roads in some Indiana counties.

Vantage Vehicle International Introduces New Electric Vehicles

Vantage Vehicle International has introduced four new electric vehicles, two utility mini-trucks and two vans. The LSVs have a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 55-65 miles. The vehicles operate on 72-volt systems using either six 12-volt batteries or twelve 6-volt batteries. The vehicle chassis are imported from China and the electrical components are installed in the company’s facility in Corona, CA.

Air Force Base Takes Delivery of Mini-Trucks

Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan took delivery of 49 mini-trucks from California-based Mag International. The delivery is part of a $7 million contract that Mag International was awarded in February, 2008. The vehicles will replace standard-size utility vehicles and is part of an overall goal of the Pacific Air Forces to replace 50 percent of their general purpose fleet with LSVs. This is expected to happen by fiscal year 2010. The vehicles are replacing panel vans and pickups. The Air Force estimates that the gas powered mini-trucks with a top speed of 25 mph will save about $200 per vehicle. More….

ZAP Introduces LSV Electric Truck

ZAP recently announced the addition of the ZAP Truck XL to their line of vehicles. In a departure from their existing top sellers, the truck has four wheels and is classified as a low speed vehicle. The Truck XL has a payload of 800lbs, a range of 30 miles and can be recharged in 6 hours from a standard 110 volt outlet. Faster charging is available with an optional 220 volt upgrade. The vehicle is targeting industrial and utility fleets and has a MSRP of $14,950.