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Examines potential changes in the sales and distribution of small, task-oriented vehicles.
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Exploration of what the concept of "smart-cities" means for gated communities and the type of vehicles that will be needed. Discusses new vehicle trends for the transport of both people and goods.
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Club Car has taken a turn that could be strategically significant: Going outside the confines of Augusta to partner with AER Technologies in bringing AER’s 4ll to market under the Club Car brand name. I interviewed Brian Rott of Cart Mart (based in San Marcos, CA) who is introducing the 411 into his product lineup, with regard to market segments he foresees as fertile ground for sales growth.
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Lithium batteries are, of course, featured prominently is several golf car type vehicle models at this point, but the question remains, will the industry and the companies we more or less identify with it, build on this technology to venture into the much broader personal and urban mobility market?
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Growth through acquisition in the small-vehicle industry also requires an eye toward building new markets
Published:
10/29/2018
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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What is clear at this point is that small, electric vehicle developments in the United States and in Europe have taken different paths. In Europe, the emphasis has been on complete vehicle designs—in other words, designing a full vehicular system, from body and frame to powertrain. In the United States and Canada, the process of change has been incremental—essentially upgrading PTVs with permanent magnet motors and lithium batteries. The reality is, however, that there are major opportunities for urban mob
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Shared vehicle fleets will be a natural evolution of ride-sharing in gated communities
Published:
8/26/2018
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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Electric-powered mobility will transform local transportation over the next decade, leaving golf car dealers in a prime position to service new and expanding markets.
Published:
8/18/2018
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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A recurrent theme in these columns has been the evolution of small vehicles and charging systems that could well take place in gated communities and planned municipal communities. Following are some technologies and vehicles leading the way.
Published:
6/30/2018
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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Gated communities could be the ideal laboratory for experimenting with diverse mobility concepts.
Published:
3/26/2018
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, Llc
Category:
Market Insights
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The market for Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTVs), common in gated communities, is growing quite strongly according to a recent report by Small Vehicle Resource. This is expected to continue through 2021. The use of lithium battery powered PTVs is on the rise and gated communities may be a good starting environment for self-driving technology.
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We at SVR see the STOV industry as an industry in transition: First, in the extension of traditional markets with a host of product improvements and upgrades; second, via the introduction and adaptation of radically new technologies that complement solutions to urban congestion and pollution; and third, growing interest by U.S.-based companies in global markets.
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We have witnessed a product evolution for at least two decades that has positioned the golf car-type vehicle for playing a major role in urban transportation solutions.
Published:
7/10/2017
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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PGA Show highlights the potential for artificial intelligence and sensory system applications in upcoming autonomous vehicles
Published:
7/10/2017
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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While hugely successful in asian markets, lack of interest in small, 3-wheeled, task-oriented vehicles in the US shows there is no predominant design that applies to global markets
Published:
6/8/2017
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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I have been writing what has become a series of articles, this being the third or fourth, that in summary are intended to present some ideas for new directions for corporate strategy in the golf car industry. It is quite clear that over the past few years, industry leading companies have diversified their product line, moving progressively from a unique focus on golf cars, to low-speed vehicles (LSVs), to utility and off-road vehicles (UTVs). Thus, it is not altogether appropriate to identify our industry
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Recently I received a McKinsey and Company newsletter which had the provocative title, "An integrated perspective on the future of mobility". Upon reading it I began to ponder the future of what we at Small Vehicle Resource call small, task-oriented vehicles (STOVs). Some of the relevant aspects of the McKinsey piece are reviewed here, but what gets your attention right away in the article are the factors, according to McKinsey, which will shape the future transportation network on a global basis.
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Martex's new Warhorse hybrid electric UTV with ICE range extender points to the rapid evolution of extended range electric vehicles in the 4x4 market
Published:
8/24/2016
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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In all cases, with exception of the golf segment, the market for small vehicles is considerably larger than what we have in the United States. Whether this represents an opportunity for U.S. manufacturers remains to be seen.
Published:
4/22/2016
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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Ford Motor Company made quite a splash at the latest Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, presenting a detailed overview of what the company calls its “Ford Smart Mobility” strategy. A component of this strategy is the development of an autonomous vehicle; that is, a vehicle that drives itself.
The concepts developed so far by Ford, and for that matter, many, if not most, of the major automotive manufacturers, seem to me to have implications for the small, task-oriented vehicle (STOV) product and ma
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The utility segment of the small, task-oriented vehicle market should see significant growth, according to the recently published study of the market by Small Vehicle Resource, LLC.
Published:
5/1/2015
Author:
Steven Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource, LLC
Category:
Market Insights
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Long-lasting lithium iron phosphate batteries in electric golf cars from LiV Golf Cars may cause a big shift in fleet operational costs and maintenance.
Published:
3/12/2015
Author:
Marc Cesare, Managing Director, SVR
Category:
Market Insights
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Existing EV technology could be rapidly embraced by consumers if the conventional paradigm of one-vehicle-for-all-purposes was changed
Published:
5/15/2013
Author:
Stephen Metzger, Managing Director, Small Vehicle Resource
Category:
Market Insights
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