Neighborhood Electric Vehicles

   

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Introduction

Neighborhood  Electric Vehicles or NEV is a vehicle that is capable of traveling at a maximum speed of 25mph.  They come  with safety features like headlights, turn signals and seat belts.  In most States and in some Canadian provinces they can be operated on the roads where the posted speed limit is 35mph or less and can cross streets posted at 45mph or less.   They may also be referred to as Low Speed Vehicles or LSVs.  Some states, such as Washington and Montana have also passed Medium Speed Vehicle legislation allowing some NEVs to be modified for speeds of 35mph and allow them to run on roads with a posted speed limit of 45mph or less - check with your State's DMV to see if your state allows LSVs of MSVs in your state.


GEM

 

Global Electric Motor Cars is the maker of the GEM. They were acquired by Chrysler in 2000 and were then sold to Polaris.  The NEVS are now being manufactured by WaEV are sold through a limited dealer network.

 

GEMS come is a variety of models including 2 4 and and 6 seat versions and two utility versions, a long bed and a short bed.  They are all based on a 72V lead acid battery pack that drives the vehicle at a top speed of 25mph.  The vehicles also come with a turf mode for use on the golf course that limits the top speed to 18mph. 

 

GEM also  produce the E6S version which is a six passenger that also has a short bed attached to the back.  This vehicle exceeds the weight limits in the current Federal LSV legislation however so it won't be street legal

 

GEM also launched a whole new set of accessories in 2006, including a flat bed attachment for the GEM 4 seat and a lock for the steering wheel..

Check out the GEM dealer list to locate a dealer near you    

The following AD appeared in the LA Time on Sunday, 30 December 2001

 

View the UK web site

 

NEV Accessories has lots of add on products for the GEM including hard doors.

 

Gemcardoors.com also sells doors for the GEM.

 

Ride-4-fun sells accessories including parts required to increase top speed


Columbia ParCar 

Columbia ParCar has been a maker of golf carts for over 50 years.  They have  been making a NEV, the Columbia ParCar NEV Commuter, for several years now.  They now have two model ranges, the Summit and the Eagle.  

 

The Summit comes in four different body styles, a two seat, a four seat, a short bed utility and a long bed utility.  The Summit Brochure Gives a range on these vehicles as between 35 and 40 miles.  

 

The Eagle NEV comes in two body styles, a 2 seat and a four seat.  This vehicle uses the same power platform as the Eagle golf cart range which has been tried and tested over many years.  For more information check out the Eagle Brochure.  

 

Both of these NEVs come in a variety of colors and can be bought with custom designs.

 

The vehicles meets National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration

requirements for low speed vehicles with a reverse warning alarm, horn,

safety glass windshield, digital battery discharge indicator, 5

panel rear view mirror, head, tail & brake lights, turn indicators,

emergency flasher, drivers side view mirror, retractable seat belts (2 sets)

and red reflectors. 

 

In Arizona check out Electric Car Outlet of Scottsdale, AZ

In California they can be found at The Long Beach Electric Car Company,

King Carts in Yucaipa, CA, and Yamaha Golf Cars of California with locations in Livermore, CA and Anaheim, CA

Blockbuster Golf Cars in Florida also sells them Phone (954) 977-4131

In Georgia see them at Peachtree City Golf Cars in Peachtree City, GA

The Summit is available In Seattle, Spokane and Portland  at MC Electric

1200 S. Dearborn St. Seattle, WA 98124 

Phone: (206) 328-1750

East 10310 Buckeye lane #1, Spokane, WA 99206

Phone: (509) 922-6677

19099 NE San Rafael, Portland, OR 87230

Phone (503) 667-5093

They can also be found at MC Electric in Beaverton, OR and Seattle, WA

Also available through Advanced Electric Vehicle Center Phone: (800) 714-2278

In New Jersey they can be found at South Jersey Electric Vehicles based in Egg Harbor Township, NJ

In Wisconsin they can be found at Ozee Cars 516 E Main St. Stoughton, WI.  Phone: (608) 877-1020

 

To locate a dealer near you use contact Columbia Par Car using their dealer locator page

 

Check out my test drive of the Par Car Mega at EVS 23

 

The Mega. made by Aixam, is available in France and the UK also see the Mega-Vehicles.com


American Custom Golf Cars Inc. California Roadster

The California Roadster,  produced by American Custom Golf Cars Inc, is a four seat NEV that comes in a choice of Red, Yellow, Blue or White.  The car has two bucket seats for the driver and front passenger and a rear facing bench seat at the back.  The vehicle comes with an 11HP motor powered by a 48V battery pack that can be built using six eight volt batteries or eight six volt batteries.  The car comes equipped with the usual safety features such as head and tail lights, turn signals, horn and seat belts. They claim a range of up to 70 miles although I would expect the usual 25-30 miles of range from this NEV with the 8V battery option and somewhat better range with the 6V battery option.  They also offer a 6 seat version with a slightly more powerful motor.

 

Another offering from this company is the Hummer H3, which is usually offered as a custom golf cart ,but can be fitted out as a NEV for use on the streets.  They also produce a NEV that looks like a Cadillac Escalade.

 

They can be ordered directly from the Chino, CA based company using their order page or by calling (866) 287-9747

 

Find them at Carsandcarts

 

In California then can be found at The Long Beach Electric Car Company, Golf Cars LA in Los Angeles, Park Place Cali in Toluca Lake, Cute Carts in Brentwood, CA, and Saddleback Golf Car in Laguna Woods, CA

In Colorado they are sold at Electric Cars of Aspen

In Florida check out Southern Custom Carts in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Star Electric Cars

In Indiana they can be found at Electric Cars and Carts

In Oklahoma find them at ADA Electric Cars in Ada, Edmond, and Matill, OK and at Justice Golf Car in Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, OK 

In Oregon they are being sold by Electric Wheels Inc.

In Texas they can be found at Golf Cars of Houston and Cool Carts of Texas in Austin, TX

In Washington State Find them at Electric Wheels in Salem, OR

In Wisconsin they can be found at Ozee Cars 516 E Main St. Stoughton, WI.  Phone: (608) 877-1020

 

Or check out the list of dealers at American Custom Golf Carts

Also sold at Ride-on-Toys, Phone (888) 886-6245,

 

In Europe Check out MiniHummer Europe

In Australia check out Mini Hummer Australasia

 

Check out my Test Drive

 


E-Z-GO

E-Z-GO has been one of the largest manufacturers of golf cars for many years and they have now released a pair of NEVs under the name 2Five, a 2 seat and a 4 seat.

 

The 2 seat is powered by 4 12V deep cycle Lead Acid batteries that drive a 4.4 hp electric motor via a 235 amp AC controller providing a top speed of 25 mph.  There is also a turf mode that limits speed to 14 mph for use on the golf course.  Stopping is done with 4 wheel disk brakes and full time regenerative braking.

 

The 4 seat appears to the be same as the 2 seat with the addition of a rear facing seat.  E-Z-GO does provide three point seat belts for the rear seat passengers as well as the front seat passengers.

 

Price is expected to be around $8,300 for the two seat and $9,000 for the 4 seat

 

So far I haven't found any indication of range for these NEVs but I would assume about 25 miles in real world driving

 

To purchase a 2Five check out their Dealer Page

 

In Arizona get them at Pohle NV Center in Sun City, AZ, Sun City West, AZ, and Mesa, AZ

In California you can buy them at EZGolfcarCart.com in Rocklin, CA

In Florida they can be found at All Star Golf Car in Deerfield, FL

In Georgia check out Augusta ATV in Augusta, GA

In Mississippi they are being sold at Ben Nelson Golf and Utility Vehicles in Pearl, MS and Gulfport, MS

In Ohio they can be found at Eagle Golf Cars in Carrol, OH

In Iowa check them out at Leisure Time Golf Cars in New Hampton, IA


Tomberlin automotive Group

The Tomberlin Group has been a leading manufacturer of off road vehicles like ATV for some time.  They have recently forned a new subsidiary, Tomberlin Automotive Group to sell NEVs.  

 

They initially offered line of NEVs called the E-Merge, a two seat called the E-Merge E-2 and a four seat version called the E-Merge E-4.  Both are based on a 48V system and offer a top speed of 25 mph and a range of about 30 miles.   

 

A more aggressive looking two seat utility called the Anvil is also now available in Tomberlin dealerships

 

In Brentwood, CA they are sold at Cute Carts 

In Los Angeles, CA they can be found at Golf Cars LA (818) 779-8900

In Frederick, CO they can be found at Mile High Golf Cars

In Florida find them at Southern Custom Carts in Fort Lauderdale, FL, or Fairway Golf Carts in Palm Harbor, FL, A+Carts in Fort Myers, FL, or All Star Golf Car in Deerfield, FL

In Kentucky they can be found at Cunningham Golf Cars with locations in Louisville, KY and Calvert City, KY

In Louisiana get them at Golf Cars of Louisiana in Bossier City, LA and Baton Rouge, LA

In Michigan they are sold at Lakeshore Electric Cars and Carts in Holland, MI

In Mississippi they are sold by Coast Cart Works in Gulfport, MS

In New Jersey they are available at Vic Gerard Golf Cars in Farmingdale, NJ

In North Carolina check out Bowmans golf cars with branches in Mooresvillle, NC and Hickory, NC

also in Hendersonville, NC check out Golf Cart Center of Hendersonville and at Bleecker Electric Cars in Fayetteville, NC

In Ohio they are sold by Brown Automotive Group in Toledo, OH, and Mid Ohio Golf Carts in Heath, OH

In Oklahoma find them at ADA Electric Cars in Ada, Edmond, and Matill, OK

In South Carolina you can find them at Old Town Golf Cars in Bluffton, SC

In Texas you can find them at Adventure Golf Cars in Southlake, TX, and at Metro Golf Cars in Fort Worth, TX

In Washington State they can be found at NW Golf Carts Inc. in Burlington 

In Costa Rica they can be found at Electric Cars of Costa Rica in Heredia, Costa Rica

 

Or check out their Dealer Finder


Club Car

Club car is one of the largest manufacturers of golf cars in the world and its chassis is often used by NEV manufacturers as the basis of their vehicles.  Now Club Car has launched a line of NEVs which include both passenger and utility vehicles.

 

The Villager 2+2 LSV has two forward facing seats with a rear facing bench seat that will allow two additional passengers.  The canopy of the NEV only covers the two front seats so the rear passengers are exposed to the elements.  The front seats also come equipped with three point seat belts while the rear facing seat has lap belts.

 

The car is driven by a 48V Lead Acid battery pack consisting of 6 eight volt batteries driving a 5hp DC motor via a 350amp controller.  This gives the car a quoted range of between 20 and 30 miles but I would assume 20 miles in real world driving.  Top speed is 22 to 24mph.  Stopping is accomplished by drum brakes on all four wheels.

 

Carryall 2 LSV is a short bed utility vehicles that is driven by a 48 Volt Lead Acid pack consisting of 8 six volt batteries that drives a 4hp 3 phase AC induction motor via a 400amp controller.  Top speed is 25mph and there is also an economy mode that limits top speed to 15mph.  Stopping is accomplished with disk brakes on the front wheels and drums on the rear.  Real world range is expected to be around 20 miles.  

 

The Carryall 6 LSV is a long be utility vehicle that is driven by a 48 Volt Lead Acid pack consisting of 8 six volt batteries that drives a 4hp 3 phase AC induction motor via a 400amp controller.  Top speed is 25mph and there is also an economy mode that limits top speed to 15mph.  Stopping is accomplished with disk brakes on the front wheels and drums on the rear.  Total carrying capacity is 1,250lbs.  Real world range is expected to be around 20 miles.

 

In California they are sold at Nick's Custom Golf Cars in Benicia, CA and Roseville, CA, and Electric Car Sales and Service in Long Beach, CA

In Kentucky find then at Cunningham Golf Cars who have locations in Louisville, KY and Calvert City, KY

In Louisiana get them at Golf Cars of Louisiana in Bossier City, LA and Baton Rouge, LA

In Michigan try Michigan Tournament Fleet, INC in Commerce twp, MI

In New Jersey they are available at Vic Gerard Golf Cars in Farmingdale, NJ

In New York they are available at Orange County Golf Carts in Port Jervis, NY

In North Carolina go to Carolina Carriage in Pinehurst, NC

In Oklahoma they are sold at Justice Golf Car which has branches in Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, OK

In Texas get them at Metro Golf Cars in Fort Worth, TX, or Golf Cars etc. in Braunfels, TX

 

Or to find a local dealer use their dealer locator



e-ride Industries

e-ride industries started life in 1990 as a manufacturer of custom golf carts.  They now manufacture a NEV which is designed to look like an SUV and is about the same size as a Jeep Wrangler.  The vehicle is made in two configurations, the EXV4,  a four passenger sedan, and the EXV2 utility vehicle.  These vehicles are based on a 72 volt flooded cell battery pack that provides a top speed of 25 mph and a claimed range of 55 miles although I would expect range to be somewhat less in real world driving.  In tests they have achieved 60 miles range on a flat surface and a 48 mile range in a mile long loop designed to simulate city traffic.  

 

To keep down weight the vehicle is built around an aluminum frame while the hood, doors and rear cargo area are all fiberglass.  The vehicle comes with an on-board charger and provides regenerative braking to increase range.  It also comes with all the safety features needed to make it road legal, such as turn signals, headlights and seatbelts. 

 

For more information of to purchase one of the NEVs Contact:

3032 92nd Ave.

Princeton, MN 55371

Phone: (763) 389-9169 or (800) 950-4351

Fax: (763) 389-2417

 
  •    To find a dealer please see their Dealer Info page
  • Email e-ride

    Read my test drive of the EXV4


    Vantage Vehicles

    Vantage Vehicles, based in Yorba Linda, CA, has been selling off-road gasoline powered vehicles since 1999.  Their vehicles are built in China by China First Automobile Group.

     

    They have now begun to offer the same vehicles as NEVs.  There are four models to choose from.  The GreenTruck Extended Cab seats two The GreenTruck Crew Cab seats up to 5, the GreenVan Cargo Van seats 2 and the GreenVan Passenger Van seats up to 7.  All the vehicles are powered by a 72 volt battery pack.  The GreenTruck Extended Cab uses 6V batteries while the others all use 12V batteries.  Power is supplied to the wheels through a Curtis Controller driving a three phase brushless induction motor.  The vehicles all have a top speed of 25mph and can accelerate to that speed in around 5 seconds.  Range is quoted as up to 60 miles but in real world driving I would expect about 30 miles.  The vehicles also come with a dual volt charger.

     

    The Vantage Vehicles web site is oriented toward their sales of off-road vehicles so it isn't clear that these vehicles are street legal.  However, I have been told by dealers that they are able to register these vehicles for street use as NEVs.  

     

    You can purchase the Vantage Vehicles line of NEVs in Iowa through the VanWall group

     

    In Colorado they are sold in Frederic through Mile High Golf Cars.

    In Florida find them at Suncoast Electric Vehicles in St. Petersburg, FL

     In Amityville, NY find them at Motorworks Clean Vehicles, Inc. 111 Sunrise Highway, Amityville, NY 11701,    Phone (631) 608-4380 or (866) 527-2669 and in Ossining, NY they can be found at Electric Cars of New York

    in Minneapolis, MN they can be found at Cushman Motors 

    In Fort Worth, TX they can be found at Metro Golf Cars Inc.

    They can be found at MC Electric which has locations in Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, or Vancouver, WA

    They can also be found on the Clean Vehicles NY in Amityville, NY

    In Bermuda you can find them at thegreenhousebermuda


    LC3

    LC3, based in Fort Wayne, IN took over the Lafayette County Car Company after they went out of business.  The company now manufactures a line of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles that includes a 2 seat and a 4 seat vehicles.  

     

    The cars are powered by a 72 volt lead acid battery pack which gives the car a range of between 46-50 miles between charges although I would expect the usable mileage in real world driving is somewhat less than this.  The batteries are charged using the on-board charger from a standard household 110V source.  Stopping is accomplished with hydraulic disk brakes on all four wheels.  Speed selection is available to allow 25mph for use on city streets or 15mph for use on the golf course.  The cars some with all the required safety features required for NEV certification.  

     

    The LC3 is a golf cart style NEV and comes with a removable hard top.  They are available in red, white, or blue.

     

    LC3 golf cars can be found at Villages Golf Cart Man in the Villages, FL


    Canadian Electric Vehicles

    Canadian Electric Vehicles make the Might-E Truck which can be ordered in a variety of configurations including pick-up, Van, Flat Bed or Tipper, or can be ordered as a cab and Chassis for addition of a customized body.

     

    The Might-E Truck is full NEV certified with a top speed of 25mph and all the safety equipment such as seat belts, lights, horn and turn indicators, that are required to meet NEV regulations.

     

    The heart of the Might-E Truck is a 72V 225ah battery pack made up of 6 12V lead acid batteries that drives a 16HP Sepex motor via a 400 amp Sepex controller.  Range is quoted at 50 miles although you will obviously get a much lower usable range when hauling loads in real world traffic.  Load capacity is 900lbs with an option to boost this to 200lbs.

     

    Stopping is accomplished by hydraulic drum brakes on both front and rear wheels.  All wheel disk brakes are also offered and an option.

     

    To locate a dealer near you check out their dealer page


    ITALCAR

    Italcar is a manufacturer of low speed electric vehicles, utility vehicles, and golf cars.  Their street legal line of vehicles is called the Attiva and comes in a variety of 2 and 4 seat models based around a 48V electric power train.  These golf car style NEV are powered by 8 six volt 230 amp hour batteries and Curtis controller offering a top speed of 38kph (24mph) and a range of around 80Km (50 miles) although I would expect a lower range in real world driving.  

     

    For safety the cars come equipped with a roll bar and three point safety belts.  Stopping is accomplished with front disk brakes and rear drums. 

     

    To locate a dealer near you go to the Attiva page and click on the "dealers" button 


    SECMA

    French company SECMA build a line of low speed vehicles called the Fun, which are mostly powered by a standard internal combustion engine.  They do make one electric version however; the Fun Electric which is sold in the UK as the QPOD City Electric which is an open topped teardrop shaped vehicle with the rear wheels placed close together in a design reminiscent of the BMW Isetta bubble car.  A 36V lead acid battery pack drives a 1.9 KW Permanent magnet motor giving the car a top speed of 45 kph (28 mph) and a range of about 40 Kilometers (25 miles).  The body is a single piece of high resistance polyethelene mounted on a tubular steel frame.

     

    The design of the QPOD City Electric is intended to as a safer alternative to a moped or scooter.  Prices start at around £5000.

     

    To locate a dealer in France contact SECMA at:

     

    Rue Denfert Rochereau - F - 59580 Aniche

    Phone 33 (0)3 27 92 46 46 

    Fax      33 (0)3 27 95 46 46 

     

    The QPOD City Electric is distributed in the UK by The Unique Motor Company.  Contact them at 0870-2414804 to locate a dealer.


    LIDO

     Lido motors was founded by Lee Iacoca but was subsquently taken over by Western Golf Cart  who continue to build this NEV. They manufacture several different models of NEV including a 4 seat version and a two seat runabout with a short truck bed.  The design of the lido gives it a look similar to the Chrysler PT Cruiser.  The vehicles have a top speed of 25 mph and a range of about 30 miles.  They come equipped with seat belts, turn signals, and headlights.  They are available through several dealerships including one in Palm Desert CA and one in Henderson NV.  Check out their Dealer Locator for a dealer near you

     

    In Rancho Mirage, CA they can be found at Electric Car Distributors, Inc.

    71-441 HIGHWAY 111

    RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 92270

    TEL: 760-346-5661

    FAX: 760-346-7006

    Email sales@electriccardistributors.com

     

    Or you can buy online at Luxurycars.com

     

    For more information check out this EV World article on the Lido


    Western Golf Cars NEV

    Western Glof Cars builds a variety of 2 and 4 seat NEVs based on the EZ-GO Golf Cart chassis.  There is the Elegant, Model 100, Model 300, Model 400 and a Flat Bed Truck.  These NEVs look very much like a conventional golf cart.

     

    Their latest vehicle is the Anthem which is currently only available in California

     

    They can be found at Electric Car distributors in Ranch Mirage, CA

     

    The vehicles are available in Arizona through Pohle


    Tiger Truck

    Tiger Truck sells a line of electric trucks called the Electric Tiger Star that includes a standard pick-up along with an extended cab and crew cab versions.  They also sell an electric van called the Electric Tiger Star Van.  They are all come with a 48V pack consisting of 8 X 6V batteries giving a top speed of 24mph and a quoted range of between 52 to 18 miles when fully loaded in stop start traffic.  The range quotes actually seem close to what I would expect from a vehicle like this.  They come with all the usual safety equipment so they are classified as NEVs.

     

    In Texas they can be found at Golf Cars etc in New Braunfels, TX

     

    For a dealer near you check out their Dealer page


    Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles

    Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles has been making off-road electric carts for many years.  They now offer two NEV vehicles along with LSV packages to make all their vehicles fully street legal

     

    The two NEV models are the NEV2 which provides two forward facing seats and an optional rear facing bench seat, and the NEV4 has 4 forward facing seats with an optional rear facing bench seat.

     

    The NEVs are powered by a 3.8KW DC motor driven by a 400amp Curtis controller for a top speed of 25mph.  Power is supplied from a 48V battery pack made up of six 8V maintenance free lead acid batteries.  The NEV2 and NEV4 come with all the safety items like turn signals, headlights, seat belts, horn etc. required to comply with DOT Low Speed Vehicle certification.  

     

    In Alabama check out Bama Buggies in Tuscaloosa, AL

    In California they are sold at Mesquite Custom Carts in Visalia, CA

    In Florida find them at Southern Custom Carts in Fort Lauderdale, FL

    In Georgia you can find them at Ruff and Tuff of Marietta in Marietta,  GA

    In Illinois find them at Scotts Power Equipment in O'Fallon, IL

    In Mississippi they are sold by Coast Cart Works in Gulfport, MS

    In Missouri find them at Scotts Power Equipment with branches in St. Louis, MO, Arnold, MO, and Wentzville, MO

    In North Carolina check out Bowmans golf cars with branches in Mooresvillle, NC and Hickory, NC

    In Texas find them at Rick's Golf Cars in College Station, TX 

     

    To locate a dealer near you go the RTEV web site, enter your ZIP Code, and click on the Locate Dealer button


    Verdek-EV

    Verdek-EV have started to import the Italian Built Tazzari Zero electric microcar into the USA.  The car, which is nine and a half feet long, five feet wide, and four feet seven inches tall, is a two door, two seat.

     

    The car is powered from a Lithium battery pack driving the rear wheels via a three phase asynchronous motor has a top speed limited to 25mph to comply with US NEV laws.  Range is of about 87 miles in economy mode and I would expect that you can come close to this in normal driving.  

     

    Stopping is accomplished by disk brakes on all four wheels.  Regenerative braking is standard.

     

    The car can be charged from a regualr 110V outlet  in about 10 hours.

     

    The car also comes with most modern conveniences such as power door locks and an CD/MP3 player.

     

    In Texas look for them at EV-Car-Co in Fort Worth, TX


    Gorilla Vehicles

    Gorilla Vehicles markets electric ATVs.  They have now made a version of their 36V vehicle street legal and are selling it as an NEV.  They have a body built of tough dent resistant color impregnated plastic and comes in three colors, red green and yellow.  The vehicle seats two people has a rated range of 20 to 35 miles.  This is a great vehicle for anyone who wants a NEV that doesn't look like a golf cart.  

     

    Top Speed 25mph

    3 12 volt batteries

    Built in 110V battery charger

    17' turning circle

     

    Order at their web site or email Gorilla Vehicles for the location of a dealer.

     

    EV finder had a chance to test drive the Gorilla Vehicles NEV and enjoyed every minute of the ride.


    Taylor-Dunn

    Taylor-Dunn have long been know for building quality electric utility vehicles for industrial use.  They have not entered the NEV market with the Electruck which has a full sized deck giving a capacity of 147 cubic feet of cargo space.  It has a 72 volt battery pack that gives it a top speed of 25mph and a range of up to 40 miles.  The vehicle comes with all the safety feature such as headlights, tail and brake lights, turn signals, horn, windshield wipers and seat belts that allow this vehicle to be registered for use on city streets with speed limits of 35mph or less.  It has a fiberglass cabin with aluminum doors comes equipped with both rear view and side view mirrors.

     

    In Cleveland, OH they can be found at Baker Vehicle Systems

     

    To find a dealer near you use the dealer locator on their web page or call their Toll Free Number (800)-688-8680.


    OKA

    Oka Auto USA is a division of Mirox Corp and is the exclusive importer and US representative of "Small Car Plan" the Russian manufacturer of the OKA mini car.  The NEV is based around a Fiat transmission, with final assembly done in the Mirox Corp facility in Nevada.  

     

    The car features a 48V DC motor driven by two parallel strings of 4 12V lead acid batteries.  More advanced battery chemistries are also available.  It can be recharged from any standard 110V outlet. 

     

    The Oka NEV has a top speed of 25mph and complies with all US safety standards for low speed vehicles.  This car would be a good candidate for a medium speed vehicle in those states that have MSV legislation.

     

    The Oka is priced at around $8,000 for the base model with the Luxury model selling for around $10,000.

     

    Telephone (702) 683-8292

    FAX (702) 368-4132

    Postal address

    OKA AUTO USA

    5015 West Sahara Ave.

    Unit #125-130

    Las Vegas, NV 89146

    Email OkaAuto

     


    MDEKFL, Inc

    MDEKFL makes an NEV called the Sprint, priced around $6,000.  I don't have many details about this vehicle but it is apparently available.

    It is built in Florida

    601 West 20th Street

    Hialeah, Florida 33010

    phone (305) 925-1259

    fax (305) 925-1273

    email: MDEK_FL@MAIL.COM

    or order online

     

    In New York they are available at Electric Transport Solutions

    Seth Leitman
    Electric Transportation Solutions, LLC
    9 North West Street
    Mount Vernon, NY 10550
    914-844-4809


    Start Lab  

    The Startlab Open is a two seat car built in Italy.  The street legal vehicles come in two versions, the "street" and "Hobby".  

     

    The Street has a maximum speed of 45 kph (28 mph) and they quote a range of 68 kilometers (42 miles) per charge.  

     

    The Hobby is slightly slower at 38 kph (25 mph) which gives it a slightly higher range.  

     

    The car is powered by a 210V lead acid battery pack that drives a 4KW brushless DC.  Weight is kept down by using an all aluminum chassis while the McPherson Strut suspension should provided a better than average ride. 

     

     

    For Dealers in Italy contact Start lab spa


    Viale Forlanini 73 - 20024 Garbagnate Milanese (MI)
    Tel. 02 99021137 02 99029760

    Fax 02 99022612

    For dealers in Germany check out the dealer page on the German site.

     

    In Italy they can be bought from Elghe

     

    In the US it was sold through ZAP dealers as the Intimidator L.U.V. but ZAP have had to suspend sales due to a week dollar making the car uneconomical.

     

    Start Lab have just started selling in the UK but I don't currently have dealer info.


    Kandi Technologies Corporation

     

    Chinese company Kandi Technologies Corporation, which builds a line of ATV and Utility vehicles, has just started shipping an electric version of the Coco, which can be registered in the US as a NEV.

     

    The Coco Electric is one of the Chinese built smart clones and looks very similar to the Flybo and it’s variants from the front.  However, the car comes as a two seat convertible with a small open storage space in the back.

     

    This NEV is powered by 4000W AC motor driven by a 72V AC Motor powered by 6 12V 105AHr Trojan batteries which can be charged from empty in 6-7 hours from a standard 110V receptacle.  Top speed in 25mph and range is quoted as 60 miles on a charge although I would expect somewhat lower range in real world driving.  

     

    Four wheel disk brakes provide plenty of stopping power.  The car comes with all the safety features that are required to meet DOT NEV certification and structural integrity is enhanced by a roll cage.

     

    The car comes equipped with an AM/FM radio and MP3 player.

     

    The cars will be sold in the US through Solus International Corp who is currently looking to establish a dealer network.   

    To purchase one of these cars contact go to the Solus International dealer locator

     

    In California you can find them at Go Green Mobility in Newport Beach, CA or at Good Stuff Auto in Santa Rosa, CA

    In Texas look for then at Houston Electric Cars in Houston, TX


    Road Rat Motors

    Florida based Road Rat Motors. sell a line of NEVs, branded as "citEcar" electric vehicles. All vehicles are assembled in their Gainesville,  Florida assembly plant. They have a wide variety of electric vehicles including street legal golf carts, low speed vehicles, utility vehicles, and passenger shuttles. Their models range from two to twenty ninepassengers, with many models in between.  

     

    The vehicles are based on a 48V system and use Curtis controllers along with Trojan batteries that give these vehicles a range of 50 miles, although I would expect a somewhat lower range in real world driving.  All of their vehicles come fully loaded with features such as aluminum wheels, a cd player with sound system, and an on board charger.

     

    All models can be retrofitted with solar panels and rain enclosures which are available in both hard and soft compounds.

     

    Prices start at about $4500 and go up to $15,000 depending on model.

     

    You can purchase directly from their web site or from their Store in Gainesville, FL


    TIO

    Tio is another company that is selling the Chinese made Th!nk  Neighbor and GEM clones that look identical to the NEVs offered by Cart-Rite and some of the range offered by GatorMoto.  Their range has four and six seat versions of the Th!nk Clone and a 2 seat version of the GEM clone.  All are based on a 48V system using 6V batteries.  The four and six seat versions have a top speed of 25 mph  The 2 seat has a top speed of 20 mph.  All three NEVs have a quoted range of 50 miles although I would expect somewhat less range in real world driving.  Like many Chinese built vehicles they come with US made Controllers and batteries.  In this instance they use Curtis Controllers and Trojan batteries.  Prices range from a little under $6,000 for the two seat to about $9600 for the six seat.

     

    These NEVs can be ordered through their Order Page, or by calling (954) 239-1929. 


    Cruise Car

    Yet another company selling the Chinese made Th!nk Neighbor and GEM clones is Cruise Car inc.  They are also selling 2 and 4 seat NEVs along with a short bed utility vehicle that looks like cross between the Th!nk Neighbor and the GEM.  They also offer a line of golf carts and shuttles of various sizes from 6 seat up to 14 seat.

     

    The cars are all based around a 48V lead acid battery pack using 8 6V Trojan batteries which they claim will give a range of 49 miles.  While range is almost always overstated by EV manufacturers, this range doesn't seem too far out and is probably achievable at low speed in a campus setting.  Driving around town at 25mph however I would only expect a range of about 35 miles.

     

    They also use a Curtis controller as standard and offer an optional SEVCON controller.  

     

    The other big difference in Cruise Car's offerings is that the vehicles come equipped with solar panels on the roof.  The company claims that these panels can increase range by up to 15 miles per day but the usual experience is about 2 miles per day, with perhaps 5 miles per day if you can keep the car oriented towards the sun all day long on a hot cloudless day.  The biggest benefit that most people find with solar panels is that the constant trickle charge helps prevent sulphation within the batteries increasing battery life. 

     

    Available at Electric Car Sales and Service in Long Beach, CA

     

    To find out where to purchase one of these NEVs, please use there contact page


    Dynasty Motorcars

    Dynasty Motorcars , based in British Columbia, Canada, launched their IT NEV amid much Fanfare.  They built a small number of these vehicles and started to put together a dealer network, but unfortunately ran out of cash and were forced to shutdown operations.  They were subsequently bought out by Commercial Body Builders, a Vancouver based company who has restarted production.  They showed some of their vehicles at the EVI conference held in Florida in the middle of December 2002.  They are now shipping vehicles to their dealers.  

     

    I had a chance to talk to Dynasty Motorcars at EVS 20 and the good news is that they are selling vehicles as fast as they can build them which looks good for the long term health of the company.

     

    The IT is a four seat sedan that reminds me a little of the new beetle.  Unlike most NEVs it does not look like a golf cart.  It is powered by an advanced DC motor and features regenerative braking.  six twelve volt Trojan flooded cell batteries give the IT a quoted range of 30 miles (expect about 20 in real world driving) at the top speed of 25 mph.  It also features a turf mode which limits the top speed to twelve mph for  use on the golf course.  An additional twelve volt battery is used to power the auxiliary electrical system.  

     

    There are several other body styles that are also available including a van and a convertible.  The Sport is a four seat vehicle that uses the same drive train as the IT but has a look that is more like a golf cart.  They also have the Tropic which is basically the same as the Sport but has a more open body design, the Utility which is designed as a pickup truck, and the Van.

     

    Check out my test drive of the Sport

     

    In Canada check out

     

    Enviromotive Inc.
    9 Codeco Court
    Toronto, Ontario M3A 1A1
    (416) 432-7067 (cell phone)
    Email emotive@sympatico.ca

    See this news report on Dynasty courtesy of youtube


    If any owner out there would like to email evfinder  and tell me their experience I would love to pass on the information to prospective buyers.  I would also like to hear about any NEVs that are not listed here, or send any questions you might have about EVs.


    Now for the fine print - remember always read the fine print

    The information contained in this web site is based on information I have received about the availability of vehicles both new and used.  I attempt to keep the information here as current as possible but I would appreciate being notified of any inaccuracies you may find.  The appearance of a vehicle on this site does not imply any endorsement of that vehicle, or any implication that the vehicle will be suitable for your needs.  As always you should investigate the vehicle and the seller before shelling out your hard earned money.