Fast Times in the Slow Lane | Green Energy News

January 27, 2008 – Vol.12 No. 45

FAST TIMES IN THE SLOW LANE.

I have a confession to make. I’m a car junkie. A bit of a motorhead. I’ve owned cars since nearly the day I got my driver’s license at 16.

Then, as now, I like cars that are sure on their feet and quick to steer. To me nimble is it. Light and sure-footed is a whole lot more fun than screaming at breakneck speed down the freeway, or accelerating so fast as to spin a tire. Sometimes I think I’d be just as happy driving a golf car around than a real car. Talk about nimble. And talk about economical from a purchasing and operational point of view, which I like also.

Perhaps you didn’t know this, but golf cars and other low speed vehicles are kind of a booming business. It’s not that everyone is taking to the links. It’s that many are feeling that a low speed vehicle is really all you need to get around. Who needs a full-sized car when the zippy little gas or electric vehicle will get you there and back, safely and with a little bit of fun in between? Where the weather is reasonably good and the land is kind of flat, whole communities have been built where the main mode of transportation (aside from walking) is a golf car.

Apparently the slow vehicle market is growing rapidly. According to a new study from International Market Solutions, current sales of new and used small, task-oriented vehicles (STOV) are in excess of 750,000 units per year. (The study includes golf-car type vehicles, privately-owned small vehicles, neighborhood electric vehicles (NEV), and light and heavy duty utility vehicles.)

Further, the study - Golf Car-Type Vehicles and the Emerging Market for Small, Task-Oriented Vehicles in the United States: Trends 2000-2006; Forecasts to 2012 - say that in the light portage and personal transportation segment annual sales should reach 300,000 units by 2012 with electrically-powered NEVs and golf cars used in gated communities a significant market driver.

Overall, in terms of dollars, total end market sales are expecte to grow from $3.2 billion today to $5.5 billion in 2012. That’s a substantial chunk of change.

The study also makes some predictions for the next 2 - 5 years:

--- There will be new product entries and innovative technologies that boost performance and comfort, including the first adaptation of AC electric power to a major golf car-type vehicle manufacturer’s product line;

--- Sales of electric-powered vehicles in all segments will increase, growing at 11.5 percent through 2012. (Small, albeit significant inroads of electric power in the heavy duty utility vehicles are also likely.);

--- There will also be substantial gains for new, privately-owned vehicle (including neighborhood electric vehicles) and utility vehicle segments, where double-digit growth is forecast.

As if reacting immediately to the report, battery-maker Electrovaya has announced its Maya-300 low speed electric vehicle. Much more than an enclosed golf car (frankly it’s more like an electrified Smart car) the car has some creature comforts needed if the vehicle segment is to expand to colder, wetter climes: real doors and windows.

It’s rumored too that the apparent leader in the NEV market, Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) has something entirely new in their highly-secretive, black-ops vehicle development lab.

There’s certainly room for technical improvement with low-speed electric vehicles. For one, hill climbing ability. I once watched an NEV struggle to climb a long hill with the driver (the head of a well regarded environmental research lab) using significant Body English in an attempt to move the thing along a little faster. This fault seems easily corrected: Use a more powerful motor, but limit the top speed of the vehicle to within legal limits for the type vehicle. In other words, have enough horsepower (or kilowatts) on hand to drive the vehicle up a steep grade at 25 - 35 miles per hour but never exceed those speeds on level ground. An electric motor speed governor mated with an inclinometer might do the trick. (Just a suggestion.)

The baby-boomer generation, of which I am part, was the first to live in the automobile focused economy. And now it seems the first to realize its failings. We often love our cars, occasionally love driving, but hate traffic. As we retire and move to more relaxing places with less congestion, more and more of us might find that the joy of driving might return in low speed electric vehicles. If we give up our big fast beasts for small and slow we’ll be doing the environment a big favor as well: slow speed saves energy.

International Market Solutions (IMS) is a management consulting firm with over 40 associates and more than 800 years of collective global experience bringing companies services in international strategic planning, market research, marketing/sales, operations, finance, knowledge management (IT/HR/Training), government relations, and legal. IMS has particular focus on fibers and textiles across a broad range of markets, as well as small vehicle automotive, personal use, and utility vehicles.

The 186 page study, geared towards professionals, is available for a fee as is a PowerPoint (tm) presentation. A free 12-page summary is also available at the company website.

Links:

International Market Solutions
http://www.internationalmarketsolutions.com

Electrovaya
http://www.electrovaya.com

Global Electric Motorcars (GEM)
http://www.gemcar.com

EZ GO (photo credit)
http://www.ezgo.com