The Best of Today

Thisselectionof39electricvehicles(EVs)representssnapshotofwhatisavailableintheworldtoday.Here,wehaveselectedthreevehiclesfromeachofthesectionswithinourEVWorldGuide,thefullversionofwhichyou’llfindonthewebsitesoon.Thesevehicleshavebeenchosenfortheirparticularlyinterestingdesign,theiruniquedeploymentoftechnology,or,insomecases,simplybecausetheyareapopularchoiceintoday’sEVmarket.

RecreationalElectricVehicles

Segwayi2Foundedin1999,thecompanylauncheditsfirstvehicledesignin2001asasingle-riderbalancingscooter.ThemajorproblemwiththeSegwayisthatitwas--andinmanyplacesstillis--illegaltouseinpublicareas.TheMarkIIwaslaunchedin2005andfeaturesalean-to-steersystem.Thereisalsoanoff-roadversion,aswellasaheavy-dutyversionforcommercialapplications.

EasyGliderThisSwisscompanywasformedin2003tomarkettheideaofapoweredsinglewheelasanEVtug.Launchedin2004,theEasyGliderisnowavailableinthreedifferentstyles--withorwithouttheridingunit.Thereisalsoanewchildren'sversion.

IKOOTransporterTheIKOOTransporterisdesignedfortheurbanjungle.Itiscompletelyfoldable;boththeseatandthehandlebarsfolddown.Itcantransportariderof240lbsupto18milesandreachaspeedof18MPH.

ElectricBicycles

OHMCyclesOHMCyclesLtd.isbasedinVancouver,BC,Canada.Theirfirstlineofbicycles,theUrbanandSportseries,istheresultoffiveyearsofresearch.Thecompanyoffersfourbikes,eachofwhichcombinesalargebatteryandmotorwithlightweightaluminiumframesforbetterrangeandperformance.

Kronosport/TaxiBasedintheUS,Kronosportdesignsandmanufacturesinnovative,low-speedelectricutilityvehiclesforuseintransportingpeopleandproducts.Theyhavethreevehiclesintheirline-up:atwo-seattaxi,acargocarrier,andapick-upstylevehicle.

Yamaha/PasLithiumYamahainJapanhasbeenproducingelectric-assistedbikesformanyyears.TheycurrentlydominatethemarketinJapan,andofferarangeof14differentdesigns,rangingfromcommuterbikestotwo-wheeledtransportationformotherandchild.

ElectricMotorcycles

VectrixVectrixwasfoundedin1996andproduceditsfirstscooterin2007fortheUSandEurope.Ithasatopspeedof62MPHwithaccelerationof0-50in6.8seconds.Thescooterishighwaylegal,andcarriestwopeoplecomfortably.

ElectEVTAmerica/R-30ElectricVehicleTransportationofAmerica,Inc.wasformedin1993inFlorida.Theyproducedtheirfirstmotorcyclein2001andmanufacturetheirproductsinChina.

DoranElectricVehicles/e-ATVDoranElectricVehiclestookovertheGorilla,whichhadbeeninproductionsince1999.Nowcalledthee-ATV,itisarear-wheeldrivemachineonwhichtheridersitsastride(likeabicycle),controllingthevehiclewithahandlebar.Useofahelmetisstronglyrecommended.Thee-ATVcarriestwopeople,andcanbefittedwitharearcargoarea--orevenaroof.

3WheeledAuto-cycles-“Trikes”

BlueSkyDesign/BugETheBugEisacollaborationofcommunity-basedsmallbusinessestocombineexpertiseinasustainablenewproject--theBugEPersonalElectricTransporter.Thisisakitvehicle,soldfor$3,500,plusalightingkit($325),apowerkit($1412.30),andshippingcharges.

MyersMotors/NmG(Sparrow)MyersMotorshasproducedtheNmGsince2006,whichoriginatedinadesigncalledtheCorbinSparrow,createdin1995andmanufacturedfrom1999to2003.TheNmGisAmerica’sfirstall-electric(110-voltoutletcharging),highwayspeed(76MPH),lithiumbattery-powered,sub-$30,000vehicle.

SECMA/QpodElectricSECMAisaFrenchcompanythathasbeenmakingleisurevehiclessince1995.Thismodel,aroad-legalelectrictrikewithstabilizers,offersseatingfortwopeople.SoldastheQpodElectricintheUK,itfeaturesanautomatictransmissionandhydraulicbrakestomakeiteasytodrive.

LSV/Quadracycle-Open

CT&T/3c-ZONEEVCT&TisbasedinSeoul,SouthKorea,andhasbeeninvolvedwithEVssince2002.Thecompanyproducesbothgolfcartsandcar-typeLSVswithatotalrangeofsixvehiclesstyles.ThisyearCT&TsuppliedEVstotheBeijingOlympics,andsignedcontractswithseveralChinesecompaniesforthedesignandsaleofnewvehicles.

ToyotaAutoBody/COMSAutoBodyisaseparatecompanyfromToyota;itisnotunderthecorporateumbrellafordesignanddevelopment.TheCOMSwasoriginallyproducedbyAracoin1998andwentintoproductionin2000.Itisstrictlyasingle-seatvehiclewithanaluminumchassis,plasticbodywork,andrearin-wheelmotors.

DynastyElectricCarCorporation/ITDynastyElectricVehiclesLimited,basedinBritishColumbia,Canada,designs,manufacturesandmarketszero-emission,electricLowSpeedVehicles(LSVs)forurban,recreationalandlightcommercialmarkets.Thecompanyhasbeenbuildingvehiclessince1999andcurrentlyoffersarangeoffivebodystylesfortheirITvehicle.

LSV/Quadracycle-Enclosed

GEM/e2BasedintheUS,GEMhasbeenproducingEVssince1998.Thee2isatwo-passengervehicle--idealforshort,everydaytrips.Itsstandardsix12-voltfloodedelectrolytebatteriesprovidearangeofupto35milesonacharge,anditsmanyoptionsoffergreatversatility.

ElbilNORGE/BuddyElBilNorgeAS(Ltd.)isbasedinOslo,Norway,andboastsmorethanfifteenyears’experienceinmanufacturing,marketing,andmaintainingelectricvehicles.TheBuddyislicensedtocarrythreeadults,andprovidesarangeof30-60mileswithlead-acidbatteries,or60-90mileswithLi-ionbatteries.

AIXAMMega/MegaCityAIXAMisaFrenchcompanythathasbeenproducingquadracyclessince1983.Currentproductionis14,000vehiclesannually.TheMegaCityisavailablein2and2+2seatingcapacity.

LSV/Quadracycle-Enclosed[continued]

ZENNHeadquarteredinToronto,ZENN("ZeroEmissions,NoNoise")isanotherNEV,whichofferssuperiorcomforttoitsdriverandonepassenger,consideringitssmall,3-doorhatchbackdesign. Itsaluminum-alloychassishasbeenwidelytestedunderavarietyofreal-worldsettings,anditslightweightexteriorABSpanelsarerustproofanddentresistantforlong-termdurability. Driversget30-50milespercharge. 

AIXAMMega/MegaCityAIXAMisaFrenchcompanythathasbeenproducingquadracyclessince1983.Currentproductionis14,000vehiclesannually.TheMegaCityisavailablein2and2+2seatingcapacity.

MilesZX40SeriesMilesElectricVehicleswasfoundedin2004,andboastsacurrentpruductlineoffully-provenneighborhoodelectricvehicles(NEVs)--low-cost,low-speedall-electriccarsandtrucks,soldprincipallytocorporateandpublicsectorfleets. Thecurrentproductline-up,theZX40series,includesdifferentconfigurationsoflightvehiclespoweredby3-phaseACinductionmotors,atapricepointwellunder$20,000US.

HighwaySpeedElectricVehicles

TeslaMotors/TeslaUnveiledin2006,theTeslaisnowonsaleinmanycountries.Withacarbon-fiberbodyandanaluminiumchassis,itprovidesrangeof200milesonasinglechargeandaccelerationof0-60MPHinaheart-stopping3.9seconds.

Th!nk/CityTh!nkwasfoundedinNorway17yearsago.Thecompanynowhasitsfourthowners,andisproducingitsfifthgenerationEV.ThislatestversioniscurrentlyonsaleinNorway,andisdueinotherpartsofEuropeandinAmericasoon.AninterestingfeatureofthecaristhatitsABSnon-paintedplasticpanelsare100%recyclable.

BMWMINI-EUpto500two-seatMINIE’swillhitthestreetsintheUSshortly,eachpoweredbyafront-mountedelectricmotor,providingseamlessaccelerationto62MPHinjust8.5seconds,andatopspeedof95MPH.BMWhassaidtheMINIEisonlyatestprogramtohelpthedevelopmentofamass-producedEVinthefuture.

HighwaySpeedElectricVehicles

PhoenixMotorcarsSUTIn2010,PhoenixMotorcarswillmakesitssportutilitytruck(SUT)available.Thisfour-passenger,advancedall-electrictruckwithamplecargospaceintherear,willcomeequippedwithalithiumtitanatebattery,andwilltravelover100milesonasingle10-minutechargefromaquick-chargestation.

Mitsubishi/iMiEVMitsubishihasbeendevelopingElectricVehiclesforalongtime.TheiMiEVcomesfromthecompany’s2005programthatstartedwiththeuseofwheelmotors,thensettledonasinglemotordrivesystemthatpowerstherearwheels.Thevehicleisstillinitstestphasebutwillmoveintoproductionin2009forsaleinJapan,withfullproductionayearlater.

SubaruR1eSubaru'selectriccar,theR1e,isatwo-seaterminicarcapableofdrivingspeedsupto65mph,utilizinganeasily-recycledlithium-ionbatterytechnology.Partofthisuniqueapproachtolithiumbatteriesisits"quickcharge"capability;itcanreach80percentcapacityinaslittleas15minutes.SubaruclaimsthatafleetofR1eshasbeentestedaroundTokyosince2006,soperhapstheR1ehasajumponallthosewhohavebegundevelopmentmorerecently.

CrewBusLSV/Quadracycle

GEM/e6Thee6isGEM’sbiggestvehicle,seatingsixpeoplebothinopenandclosedconfigurations.Thee6providesdrivingrangeofupto40milesonachargeandanoptional"S"Packageforextracargo-carryingcapability.

CruiseCar/Kudo14ManufacturedinChinatoAmericanspecifications,theKudo14accommodates14peoplewithinagatedareaorthemepark.

CruiseCar/KudoX6Foundedin2005,CruiseCarhasbeensteadilyincreasingthebreadthofitsproductlinethroughdealswithitspartnersinChina.TheKudoX6canbemadetobefullyroad-legal.

LSV/Quadracycle-EnclosedAixam-MEGA/MegaMultiTruckAIXAMMEGAenteredthelightutilityvehiclemarketin2002withtheMEGAMultiTruck,leveragingthetechnicalexpertiseofitshighlysuccessfulAIXAMbrandoflightvehicles--theEuropeanmarketleaderofQuadracylesforover25years.Availableinthreedifferentbodystyles,itisaversatile,awarding-winningvehicle,whichprovidesarangeofbetween25-60milesdependingontheamountofbatterieswithwhichit’sfitted.

DYMACVehicleGroup/ElectricMiniTruckDYMACUSAoffersafullarrayofall-electricutilityvehiclesforfleetuseandpersonalapplications.TheAC-poweredMiniTruck(three-phaseACinductionmotor)carriesapayloadcapacityof2000pounds,andprovidesarangeof25milespercharge.

Alke/AXTEAlkewasfoundedinItalyin1992andenteredtheutilityvehiclemarketin1995.TheelectricATXEserieshasbeeninproductionsince2000andisdesignedtobeusedinthemostdemandingconditions,withloadcapacityupto2200poundsandtowingcapacityupto6600pounds.

HighwaySpeedCommercialElectricVehicles

SmithElectricVehicles/EdisonSmith,anotherEnglishcompany,hasbeenleadingtheelectriccommercialvehicleindustryforover80yearsandranksastheworld'slargestmanufacturerofroad-goingcommercialelectricvehicles.TheEdisonisbasedonanexistingFordofEuropeTransitVanandhasbeenfittedwiththecompany’sproprietaryelectricdrivesystem.Itisavailableinthreedifferentbodystylesandtwodifferentlengths.

SmithElectricVehicles/NewtonTheNewtonisthelargestproductfromSmithElectricVehicles:a12-tontruckwitha7.4tonpayload.Ithasalsoarangeofover150milesandamaximumspeedof50MPH.TheNewtoncomesinfourdifferentbodystylesandthreedifferentweightspecifications.

ModecUK/ModecBoxVanWhenitwasfoundedin2004,ModeccommittedtodevelopanEVconceptandtakeitthroughtoproduction.ThissmallEnglishcompanyhasachievedsignificantsuccessrecentlyinsupplyingvehiclestomajorlocaldistributioncompaniesandsupermarkets.TheModecproductisavailableinthreedifferentbodystylesandhasarangeupto100mileswithatopspeedof50MPHandatwo-tonpayload.

CommercialWorkingVehicles

Husqvarna/HUV4210TheAmericandivisionofthisSwedishmanufactureroffersalineofcompactyetheavy-dutymulti-purposeutilityvehicleswithtwoseatsandarearcargoarea.TheHusqvarnaisidealforestateowners,nurseries,farmers,landscapers,andmanyothersmallbusinessneeds.

Jacobsen/E-plexIIJacobsenhasarichheritageintheturfcareindustryandhasbeenproducingequipmentinAmericasince1902.TheE-plexllwaslaunchedin2003andprovidesthequietestgolfgreensmoweronthemarket.Itisalsoenvironmentallyfriendly,asthereisnochanceofhydraulicfluidleaks.

BlazingTechnology/BUVTheBUVisanelectricmulti-functionalvehiclethatcanbeusedforrecreationalaswellasranchwork. Itispoweredbytwomotors--oneforeachofthefrontwheels;reducingthepowertoonesideturnsthevehicleinthatdirection.Therearisfittedwithadumpbox.

Coming Tomorrow

Thisisselectionof20EVsthatrepresentsasnapshotofwhatiscomingtotheEVWorldinthenextfewyears.Again,wehaveselectedthreevehiclesfrom

eachofthesectionsofourcompleteEVWorldGuide.

ElectricMotorcycles Future

Honda/EVDuein2011,theHondaelectricmotorcyclewillget31milespercharge.Alreadytheproducthasreceivedagreatdealofinterestfromdeliveryservices,e.g.,theJapanPostService.ThisbikecouldbeadirectreplacementfortheHondaCub50cc.

Yamaha / EVYamaha’selectricbikeisduein2010,andwillofferarangeof60milesperchargeusingLi-ionbatteries.ThiswillbeYamaha’sthirdattemptatanelectricbike;theirfirstwasthePassolin2002,followedbytheEC-02in2005.

BramooEEM/CarbonLtdFoundedin2002,BrammoMotorsportshasapplieditsexperienceinracecardesigntothedemandsofcreatinganultra-efficientbattery-poweredvehicle.Thebikeisavailabletoordernowandisduefordeliveryearlyin2009.

3WheeledAutocycles-Trikes Future

GreenVehicles/TRAICTheTRAIChasan80MPHtopspeed,a100milerange,andcanberechargedinfivehours.Thecompanypredictsthatitwillofferthistwoseattrikeforsaleinearly2009.

ZAP/ALIASA“three-wheeledenclosedmotorcycle”isthebestwaytodescribetheAliasfromZAP.Intendedforlaunchinthemiddleof2009,thetrikeisajointventurebetweenZAPandChinaYoungmanAutomotiveGroup.TheAliaswillboastarangeof150milesandatopspeedof100MPH.

Aptera/Type-2eTheApteraistheresultofapplyingfullaerodynamictheoryandboatconstructiontechniquestoathreewheeledvehicle--anditcertainlydoeslooklikeit’sapartoftheEVfuture.Withcomfortableseatingfortwoandplentyofluggagespace,thisuniquevehicleisduetobecomeavailablein2009.

LSV/Quadracycle Future

Venturi/EclecticVenturifromMonacohasbeenproducingcarssince1984,andlauncheditsfirstEV,theFetish,in2004.TheEclecticwasfirstseenasaconceptcarattheParisMotorshowin2006.Nowinitsproductionform,itretainsthecentraldrivingposition,withspaceforanothertwopassengersintherear.ProductionwillstartinFranceinOctober2009.

BGAutomotiveGroup/BGElectricCar‘BeingGreen’(BG)willhaveitsnewEV,theElectric,forsaleintheUSandCanadainthespringof2009.TheElectricisafour-door,five-seatcarthatwillofferarangeofbetween60-120milesonacharge.ThisisthefirstvehiclefromBG,butthecompanypromisesmanymoredifferenttypesinthefuture,forbothprivateandcommercialuse.

EuAutoTechnologyLimited/MyCarEuAutoTechnologyisaHongKongcompanyfundedbyagovernmentcommission.Thefirmspecializesinthedesign,manufactureandsaleofenvironmentallyfriendlyvehiclesforglobalmarkets.“MyCar”isEuAuto’slandmarkproject,originallystyledbyItaldesign,withatopspeedof40MPHwitharangeof40miles.

Pininfarina/B0(B-zero)Thepre-productionversionofthePininfarinaEVwasshownatthisyear’sGenevaMotorShow.ItsmechanicsareprovidedbytheFrenchcompanyBollore,incorporatingbothabatteryandsuper-capacitorsthatwillgivethevehiclearangeof150milesandatopspeedof80MPH.Thecompanyintendsthevehicletogointoproductionattheendof2009.

Nissan/EVNissan’sfirsttruemassproductionEVisduetobeunveiledinpre-productionformatthe2009TokyoMotorShow.Thefullproductionvehiclewillgoonsaleinearly2010,initiallyinJapanonly.Thiswillbeatotallynewvehiclefromthegroundup,fromitsplatformtoitsstyling.

HighwaySpeedElectricVehicles-Future

SmartEVSmartfansfromaroundtheworld(37countries)havemadethegasolineversionsofthesetinycarsquitepopular.Now,parentDaimlerhasbeguntoofferanelectricversion,releasedintheUKasleasevehicleonalimitedbasis.DaimlerrepresentativeshavesaidthatthecarwouldbeforsaleintheUKin2010,andwillrampupforfullworldwideproductionby2012.

HighwaySpeedElectricVehicles-Future

OptimalEnergyJouleOptimalEnergy's"Joule"isalargercar(sixpassengers)which,whenfullyequippedwithtwolithium-ionbatterypacks,willgetarangeofupto250miles,accordingtothecompany. OptimalsaystheJoulewillcomewithoneoftwopotentialdrivetrains:anelectricmotorturningthefrontwheels,orindividualelectricmotorsturningtherearorallfourwheels. LikesomanyotherEVs,theJouleispromisedin2010.

Th!nkOxThink,theNorwegiancompanythatspecializedinsmallEVs,planstoofferitsnewconceptsoon--theOx--asmallfour-doorsedanwithrange124milesonafullcharge.Itcanbechargedviaanormalhouseholdoutletin12hours,though80%offullcapacitycanbeachievedinjustanhourusingaspecialcharger.

CommercialLSV/Quadracycle Future

Nemo/MUSTHD2DesignedandmanufacturedinQuebecCanadabyNemo,theMustHD2hasanaluminumtubechassisandABSpanels.Therearcargoareahasacapacityof300poundsandcanbefittedwithdrop-downsides.A6-12hourchargegivesarangeof115milesatagovernedspeedof25MPH.

Zap/EVTruckXLCalifornia-basedZAPplanstointroducetheXLinearly2009,withapayloadof700pounds,anddesignedtomeetalloftheworld’slegislationonLSVs.TheXLwillbeavailablethroughadistributionnetworkusingYoungmanAutomotiveGroupofChina.

DuraCar/QuiccDuraCarisaDutchcompanythatdesignsanddevelopssustainableautomotiveconcepts.TheQuiccisDuraCar’sfirstautomotiveproduct,andisbuiltaroundanewmanufacturingprocess.Itusesstrong,lightweightthermoplasticsthatarecompletelyrecyclable,andreducethecostsinthemanufacturingprocess.

HybridVehicles-Series Future

Mindset/E-MotionMindset is a Swiss company founded in 2007 that plans to begin production of a hybrid carin2009withaprojectedoutputof10,000unitsannually.Rangewillbe60milesonacharge,buttheMindsethasa24hpgasolineenginetochargethebatteriesifthedriverisunabletoplugthecarintoanexternalsource.

ChevroletVoltThisistheproductionversionoftheconceptcarthatmadeitsinitialimpactatthe2007DetroitMotorShow.Itisduetobeavailableinlate2010intheUS(2011inothermarkets).TheVoltwillhaveanelectric-onlyrangeof40miles,witha1.4-litergasolineenginetochargethebatteriesasrequired.

FriskerAutomotive/KarmaDuetobelaunchedattheDetroitAutoShowinJanuary2009,theKarmaistheresultofajointventurein2007ofFriskerCoachbuildandQuantumTechnologies.TheKarmahastwodrivemodes:“StealthDrive”forsilenteco-running,and“SportDrive,”inwhichthefullperformanceofthedrivesystemcanberealized.Accelerationfrom0-60islessthan6seconds,andtopspeedisover125MPH.

Surprised by how many electric vehicles there are?

Iwas--andwe’venoteventouchedonthemanyhybridsorfuelcellvehiclesontheroadorindevelopment.Nearlyeverylargeandmedium-sizedautomakerhasanelectriccarprogramofsomesortintheworks,manywithrolloutdatesstartingin2009through2012. Tostay‘pluggedin’tothisintriguing“FutureinMotion,"besuretoreadEVWorld[http://evworld.com].

BillMoore-Publisher

Questions or Comments?

Writeto:cshields@evworld.com

PreparedforEVWorldbyStephenClemenger

Copyright2008EVWorld.Com,Inc.

http://evworld.com