Unconquered Sun Introduces Solar Roof for Golf Cars

Unconquered Sun's EV Solar Roof product

Last monthWindsor, Canada based Unconquered Sun introduced a solar roof product for golf cars.  Management states that the 260-watt EV Solar Roof can extend a golf car’s range by 30% and battery life by 25%.  Golf course fleets are the initial target market but NEVs and golf cars for personal use offer additional markets.  Learn more:  Ourwindsor.ca

AARP Releases Study On LSVs/Golf Cars

The AARP Public Policy Institute recently released a research study on LSV and golf car usage.  The purpose of the study is “...to assess current trends and identify key issues and best practices for safely accommodating golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs), particularly neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), within community transportation networks.”  The Institute hopes the study will provide some guidance for municipal planners and law enforcement officials trying to integrate the vehicles into their local transportation networks.  The study includes four case studies of LSV and golf car usage in The Villages, Florida, Peachtree City, Georgia, Western Riverside County, California and Linton, Indiana.  Learn more:  AARP.org

Street-Legal Golf Car Use Up In Florida

According to a recent story, the use of street-legal golf cars is on the increase in Florida.  State records indicate that  there were 6,271 golf carts registered in 2010, up 14 percent from 2009 despite a lower level of government incentives.  The trend is being driven by the desire for people to live/work/play in one area as well as increased fuel prices.  A majority of the vehicle use is centered around gated or master planned communities and golf centered developments, although public road use is increasing as well.  Learn more:  Sun-sentinel.com

Golf Car Safety

While there are often concerns raised about golf car and LSV safety on public roads, there has been little hard data in the form of traffic statistics to suggest they are unsafe.  There are occasionally anecdotal stories about the issue and a recent one from the Myrtle Beach area suggested that safety of the vehicles is not an issue. In Myrtle Beach and some surrounding towns golf cars are allowed on certain public roads but seat belts aren’t a requirement.  Nevertheless, an increasing number of golf car owners are getting them installed.  In nearby Surfside the police chief reports that only one accident in the last three years required EMS.  He attributes most of the accidents to people driving while under the influence of alcohol which, of course, is not related to the type of vehicle but to the drivers themselves.  Learn more:  Thesunnews.com

Road Use Regulations Roundup – November, 2010

Some themes in this latest regulation roundup:

• More municipalities pass ordinances allowing the use of LSVs on public low speed roads.
• Some municipalities rejecting the use of golf cars and mini-trucks on public roads because of safety concerns while another moves ahead on allowing the vehicles.
• Expanded access on-road and off-road for UTVs

Fresno, CA – A bill passed by the Senate and was later signed by the governor that would allow Fresno to develop a neighborhood electric vehicle plan. A similar bill was signed that would authorize the County of Amador and the cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Amador City, jointly or individually, to establish a similar neighborhood electric vehicle transportation plan.

Sicamous, British Columbia – City council voted not to allow LSVs on roads with speed limits greater than 40km/hr stating liability issues and the fact that the province has not endorsed LSVs yet.

Manitoba, CA – The provincial transportation department will be testing an LSV for performance in cold weather conditions as a precursor to potentially allowing LSVs on low speed provincial streets.

Platteville, IA – City council approved the use of LSVs on city streets.

Hudson, WI – City passes ordinance to allow NEVs on certain streets.

Columbia, IL – City council voted to allow the use of LSVs on local roads despite the police chief’s concern over safety.

New Westminster, Canada – The city is amending their laws to allow LSVs on low speed streets.

Madison, GA – City council decided not to allow golf cars on city streets.  the council previously passed an ordinance allowing LSVs on the streets.

Southern Shores, TX – Town council decided against allowing golf cars to be driven on city streets with the police chief citing accident statistics regarding golf cars and the lack of safety features.  The town does allow LSVs.

Faribault, MN – City council is looking to ease restrictions on driving golf cars and mini-trucks on city streets.

Chadron, SD – City council voted to allow UTVs on city streets under the same rules that currently apply to ATVs.

Duluth, MN – City council voted to not allow mini-trucks on public roads.

Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is opening three of their eight off-highway vehicle parks to utility vehicles.

Insurance Company Formed To Serve LSV & Golf Car Markets

Chad Boozer and Jerod Summer have formed LSV Insurance, LLC specifically to offer insurance for the LSV and golf car markets.  The new company offers personal auto protection insurance for the LSV consumer and general liability and inventory coverage for dealers.  Free rate quotes are available on their website, www.lsvinsurancellc.com.  The company currently offers policies in SC, NC and GA with plans to expand into FL and MI.  Learn more:  Golfcarnews.com

Small Town Golf Car Use

A recent story from a small town in Iowa highlights the increased usage of golf cars. As more towns have passed ordinances allowing golf car use within city limits, more consumers are turning to the vehicles as an alternative to highway-speed vehicles for short trips to the local grocery store or cafe. In many cases drivers are motivated by conservation concerns so the golf cars are predominantly electric powered. When it comes to local ordinances, there is somewhat of a domino effect from town to town as officials observe the initiatives of neighboring towns.

Learn more: WCFCourier.com

Golf Car Manufacturers Targeting LSV Market

A local newspaper story in Georgia, home state of the leading golf car manufacturers, recently ran a story about their move into the LSV market.  The story focuses mainly on the leaders in the golf car market, Club Car and E-Z-Go. Club Car introduced their passenger version of the Villager 2+2 late last year and E-Z-Go will be introducing their LSV later this year.

Club Car was able to take advantage of market demand driven by federal tax credits, especially in Oklahoma.  E-Z-Go chose not to rush the development schedule of their LSV to take advantage of the tax credit.  Instead, they are looking to enter the market with a vehicle with distinctive features.  One feature we have learned about for the vehicle is four wheel hydraulic brakes.
Not mentioned in the story is entry of smaller golf car manufacturers into LSV market such as Fairplay.

The move into the LSV market is driven by a number of factors:

• Golf cars are already being sold into the gated community market where LSVs are also sold
• There is growing market opportunity as an increasing number of LSVs are sold outside of gated communities
• The decline in the golf course driven segment of the market is forcing golf car companies to look for new areas of growth

Learn more:  Augusta Chronicle

Garia To Reveal Limited Edition Golf Car In Monaco

Garia Limited Edition Soleil de Minuit Luxury Golf Car

Emphasizing their positioning as a luxurious and high quality golf car manufacturer, Garia is revealing their Limited Edition Soleil de Minuit at  the luxury show Top Marques Monaco in April.  Billed as the “…most expensive and luxurious golf car ever made”, the Soleil de Minuit costs $52,000 and features…

…carbon roof, one-of custom paint tailored to enhance all design features on The Garia, two-colored hand-stitched luxury seats, alcantara roof lining and numerous hand-made details to create a truly unique luxury golf car.

The base price for a Garia starts at $17,499 / €13,999 (excl. delivery and taxes). Luxury upgrades includes a built-in refrigerator and an exclusive personalization program where you can choose to have The Garia painted in your favorite color or matched to your other cars.

Built to the highest standards of the automotive industry The Garia features a double wishbone front suspension similar to those found in sports cars and inspired by Formula 1 cars. The drive train is built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes, and the aluminum profiles in the frame are made by the same company that supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo.

Learn more:  www.garia.dk/limited-edition

Road Use Regulations Roundup – February, 2010

Some trends in this latest regulation roundup:

• A lot of legislative of action at the state level as the new year began
• More public road access for mini-trucks and UTVs
• Legislation benefiting LSVs including increasing speed limits, lowering speed limits, removing legislative roadblocks and equipment requirements
• More public road access for golf cart

Nebraska – A recently introduced bill would permit the use of mini-trucks on all Nebraska roads except interstate highways, controlled-access highways and expressways. The bill also provides definitions for UTVs and mini-trucks. The story notes that mini-trucks would be used not only in rural areas but by lawn service providers in urban areas as well.

Indiana – The Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill which would allow the use of mini-trucks on local roads and state roads if properly titled and registered by the BMV. Mini-truck dealers must also register as a dealer in Indiana. The bill effectively creates a separate classification for mini-trucks which currently fall under the off-road vehicle category which includes UTVs, ATVs and golf cars.

Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Assembly Ag Committee unanimously passed the so-called “Gator Bill” which would allow light utility vehicles to be operated on roadways for agriculture use. The bill is expected to come to a vote shortly.

Mower County, MN – In the last week of December, the Mower County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance to license and allow mini-trucks on county roads. Under the new ordinance, the mini-trucks are allowed on township and county roads, but cities in the county need to pass separate ordinances.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL – A citizen group is proposing that the speed limit for an 18.5 mile stretch of county road 30A be lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph to accommodate the use of LSVs. There is some opposition to the change.

Wisconsin – A bill working its way through the Senate would give municipalities greater ability to permit neighborhood electric vehicles (“NEV”) on roads that connect to highways or cross state highways without obtaining state DOT approval.

Alaska – The Alaska State Legislature today passed a bill that allows expanded access for LSVs on certain roads in Alaska. The bill will allow low-speed electric vehicles on roads with posted speed limits of 45 mph or less. Current Alaska law only allows these vehicles to operate on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.

Fresno, CA – The legislative process has been started to allow the city of Fresno to seek permission from the state to develop a neighborhood electric vehicle plan. The plan would clear the way for special lanes, signs and other upgrades required to allow the mini-cars on more city streets.

Utah – Utah lawmakers will consider a bill that would allow low-speed vehicles go without a speedometer, odometer and braking for each wheel. According to the story Utah and Louisiana are the only states that require speedometers, odometers and brakes on all four wheels.

South Carolina – A House Subcommittee agreed Wednesday to allow a driver to operate a golf cart up to 5 miles from their home or business as opposed to the current 2 mile limit. The bill moved forward despite opposition from the State Public Safety Director but still has several hurdles to overcome before becoming law.

Dunedin, FL – City officials are looking into allowing golf carts on downtown roadways, in part to pro-actively address future parking problems.