Monthly Archives: January 2010

Company News

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Nivel Holdings – At the end of 2009 Nivel Holdings completed their acquisition of Jake’s Carts, a leading provider of lift kits for the golf car market.  The company has become a subsidiary of Nivel Parts.  Learn more:  Golfcarnews.com

Kandi Technologies Corporation –has entered into an alliance with China Potevio/CNOOC New Energy and Power, Ltd. and Tianneng Power International, Ltd with a goal of mass producing electric vehicles. The alliance combines the IT equipment and service of CNOOC, battery production from Tianneng Power International, vehicle production from Kandi as well as governmental support.  Kandi produces the COCO LSV.  Part of vehicle concept focuses on easy battery removal and replacement and battery rentals.  Learn more:  Worldmarketmedia.com

Ameritex – will supply canvas doors for GEM vehicles.  The company is a division of Taylor Made which designs and manufactures windshields.  Ameritex is trying to diversify their business which has suffered from the downturn in the marine industry and is investigating the resort, consumer, recreational vehicle and golf cart industries.
Learn more: Tampabay.bizjournals.com

A Basic Utility Vehicle For The Developing World

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I recently came across a story about a Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV) developed by The Institute for Affordable Transportation.   The organization’s mission is  “… to improve the lives of the world’s poor by providing simple, low-cost vehicles to facilitate community transformation.”  The BUV is a no frills but practical utility vehicle.  The institute has developed a whole turnkey type program that allows local entrepreneurs to become a local distributor or assembler of the vehicles. They typically will assemble, sell and service the vehicles.  Some parts are expected to be sourced locally and the vehicle can use 20 different engines without modification.  A starter kit for six vehicles can be shipped in one twenty foot shipping container.

BUV at work in Honduras

The first overseas BUV factory is in Honduras and five other groups are planning to launch in Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Haiti, Ethiopia and D.R. Congo.  Learn more:  www.drivebuv.org/

Illinois LSV Goes Into Effect

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On January 1 a new LSV law went into effect in Illinois.  There are two basic parts to the law:  first LSVs will now have to be titled and registered with the state; the second and more interesting part is that LSVs will be allowed to travel on any roads with posted speed limites of 30 mph or less unless specifically prohibited by a municipality.

This essentially creates LSV road access as the default policy.  I believe this is the first state to do so.  Other states have allowed similar access but with the added step that municipalities had to pass ordinances to explicitly allow LSV access.  This requires a certain level of initiative and interest by local officials to write and pass the ordinances.  The law should provide a boost to LSV sales in Illinois and may spur other states to adopt similar legislation. – Marc Cesare

Learn more:  www.connecttristates.com

Company News

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Polaris – The Ranger HD has been named the “Best of the Best” by Field & Stream magazine. Learn more:  UTVWeekly.com

Nemo Motors – As part of a pilot project started in early 2009 Nemo Motors recently delivered an electric truck to the Quebec government.  The company is headqurtered in Redwood City, CA but produces vehicle in Quebec.  Learn more:  Sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com

CPSC Extends Comment Period For Recreational Offhighway Vehicles

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The Consumer Products Safety Commission is extending its comment period for 75 days related to the advance notice of proposed rulemaking for Recreational OffHighway Vehicles (ROVs).  The extension comes at the request of Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki and the Recreational OffHighway Vehicle Association.  The original deadline was December 28, 2009 and the new deadline is now March 15, 2010.  Learn more:  Federalregister.com

ZAP Forms Joint Venture In China

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ZAP has announced that it has entered into the China Electric Vehicle market with Holley Group.  The two companies have entered into a joint venture in China from venture capital firm Better World International.  The joint venture company is named ZAP Hangzhou, and is intended to design and manufacture electric vehicles, in addition to developing infrastructure technology for the Chinese market. Learn more:  transworldnews.com