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 Canada they can be operated on the roads where the posted speed limit is 35mph 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.
NEWS:
GEM have shown a six passenger vehicle called the E6 at the 2006 LA Auto
Show. They tell me that this vehicle,
which is identical to the four passenger GEM in performance, will go into
production starting in March and should be available in early spring. The
E6 will be fully street legal in all areas that have low speed vehicle
legislation in place.
They are also going to produce an 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
Also look for a whole new set of accessories for the 2006 GEM line, including a flat bed attachment for the GEM 4 seat and a lock for the steering wheel.
Global Electric Motor Cars is the maker of the GEM. They were recently acquired by Daimler Chrysler and are now being sold through a limited number of Chrysler dealers as well as through the old GEM dealer network..
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
LA Brea Chrysler Jeep
*GEM* Electric Cars.
Come See the future.
Available Immediate Delivery.
(323) 933-5501 401 S. La Brea Ave. LA
Check out this new Connecticut dealer ActionGemCars
View
the UK web site
In
Europe they are sold under the Matra GEM name to locate a European dealer check
out the GEM
international Dealers page
NEV Accessories has lots of add on products for the GEM including hard doors.
Gemcardoors.com also sells doors for the GEM.
See video of the GEM courtesy of youtube
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 Southern California they can be found at The Long Beach Car Company
In Northern California they can be found at Green Motors in San Francisco
Florida Electric Vehicles currently have vehicles in stock
Address 4413 Martin Highway, Palm City, Florida 34990
phone 772-286-5254
toll free 888-619-6090
fax 772-286-5860
In Seattle, Spokane and Portland they can be found 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
In Fayetteville, NC check them out at Bleecker Electric Cars
In Austin, TX find them at Electric Cars of Austin
In Elmhurst, IL check them out at Electric Avenue Auto
In Canada check out
Enviromotive
Inc.
9 Codeco Court
Toronto, Ontario M3A 1A1
(416) 432-7067 (cell phone)
Email emotive@sympatico.ca
For other dealers check out the IT Dealer Locator
See this news report on Dynasty courtesy of youtube
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.
Powered by 8 six volt batteries
On board charger that plugs into any 110V outlet
Regenerative Braking
Top Speed 25mph
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 California they can be found at The Long Beach Electric Car Company
and King Carts in Yucaipa, CA
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
Blockbuster Golf Cars in Florida also sells them Phone (954) 977-4131
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
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
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 Carsandcars
In Indiana they can be found at Electric Cars and Carts
In California then can be found at The Long Beach Electric Car Company and at Green Vehicles in Los Gatos
In Florida check out Star Electric Cars
In Oregon they are being sold by Electric Wheels Inc.
In Texas they can be found at Golf Cars of Houston
Or check out the list of dealers at American Custom Golf Carts
Also sold at Ride-on-Toys, Phone (888) 886-6245,
Check out my Test Drive
ZENN Motor Company
Breaking News 3/28/2008 - In their Annual shareholder meeting ZENN announced they plan to put a 4 seat and a utility NEV on the market in 2009 and are also working on a highway capable city EV
When the owner of Feelgood
Cars bought a 1960s vintage Henney Kilowatt he was so impressed that he
decided to put them back into production. He began buying old Renault
Dauphines (the base vehicle for the Henney) and converting them to electric
drive. The company is based in Canada and, while it has received
permission to sell them in that country they couldn't get approval from the NHTSA
to sell them in the USA so these plans were eventually abandoned.
They have since developed the ZENN a 2 seat, 3 door Hatchback NEV, based on a French built micocar. At the ETI conference held in Florida in December 2002 they announced that they were starting production of the Zenn. I
t has been a long haul for Feelgood Cars, now renamed to ZENN Motor Company, to get an electric car to market, but the Zenn is now in dealerships in the US and Canada with plans to start selling in the UK later this year.
Top speed 25mph Range 30 - 35 Miles
6 12V PbA flooded cell batteries
The 110V charger will reach 80% SOC in 4 hours and takes 6-8 hours for a full charge.
The last information I had is that the ZENN will retail for $11,000 - $13,000 US ($17,000 CDN to $20,000 CDN)
The ZENN is now available through MC Electric in Seattle or Portland.
In Seattle, Spokane and Portland they can be found 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
And at Grants Pass Electric Vehicles 145 Redwood Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527
Phone (541) 218-8850 Email Grants Pass Electric Vehicles
or MC Electric in Beaverton, OR and Seattle, WA
In Northern California it can be found at Davis Electric Cars, Green Motors in San Francisco, and Green Rides in Campbell
In Southern California they are on sale at Environmental Motors in Glendale and the Electric Car Company in Long Beach
In Fayetteville, NC check them out at Bleecker Electric Cars
In Bozeman, MT check out Ecoauto inc.
In Parker, CO they can be found at the Colorado Auto Center
In Elmhurst, IL check them out at Electric Avenue Auto
In Ohio then can be bought at North Central Zenn
In Janesville, WI you can find them at Green Autos
Or check out their Dealer Locator
Read Mark Chapmon's test drive
Read Tim U's report on his first month of ownership
The
Dymac Vehicle Group currently
have a group of vehicles that include a Mini Truck, a Cargo Mini Van that can be
configured to seat two or four people, and a seven passenger Mini Van.
These vehicles are based on a 5KW DC motor driven by six 6 volt Lead Acid
batteries (48V). Top speed is 24 mph and range is given as 50 miles
although I would expect the actual range to be lower in real world driving
situations. These vehicles have a maximum carrying capacity of 1800 lbs.
This collection of vehicles continues the trend of bringing NEVs to market that look like normal vehicles rather than pumped up golf carts. The truck and van options will appeal more to fleets but the seven passenger Mini Van will appeal to families who need a vehicle to shuttle the kids to soccer practice or do a quick run to the market.
The Dymac Vehicle Group has completed its NEV certification for these vehicles so for now they are selling them for use in both off road applications such as Campus settings and park maintenance and for on-road applications. More efficient AC versions are also in the works. They also offer a range of shuttle vehicles that will seat 8, 11, or 14 passengers in 48V and 72V configurations.
The Pohl group of dealerships in Arizona sells them at three locations
They can be bought at Electric Vehicles of Long Beach
Also at Ecomotion In Portland, OR. Phone (503) 244-5658
For more information contact them at (760) 735-9748 or email Dymac Vehicles
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.
A
company in Michigan, American
Electric, brought it back to the US as the Kurrent
but have recently ceased opperations.
Start Lab have just started selling in the UK but I don't currently have dealer info.
Tonino Lamborghini Group
Italian Tonino Lamborghini Group produce a line of electric micro cars called the Town Life. They produce two models, the Ginevra and the Helectra. The cars come with a 48V system that gives a top speed of 45 kph (30 mph). Range on the web site is quoted as 500 Km (310 miles) but this appears to be for a version that has a diesel engine, the EV version appears to have a range of around 60 Km (35 miles) and I expect that real world range will be somewhat less than this.
To locate a dealer please check out their dealer page.
See video of this car at Holland-Bikes
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.
Miles
Automotive have begun importing two NEV models, the ZX40
and the ZX40S, from China. Unlike most of the NEVs produced here in the US
they are fully enclosed vehicles 11.1 feet long and 4.8 feet wide and weighing in at 2491
pounds. It seats two but there is a 4 seat option.
The ZX40 is powered by a 48V battery pack that drives a 4KW motor for a top speed of 25mph and a quoted range of 40 miles. I would expect real world range to be more like 25 -30 miles in US traffic.
The ZX40S has a 72V battery pack which increases the range while keeping the top speed at 25mph. Range for the ZX40S is quoted as 60-70 miles but again I would expect quite real world range to be more like 40 miles.
They also have the ZX40ST which is a two seat pick-up truck with a top speed of 25mph driven by a 3 phase brushless AC motor and a 72V, 150 amp hour traction pack.
For availability of the ZX40 and ZX40S contact Miles Automotive.
In New York at
42 W 39th Street, New York, NY 10018
and In Californian at
24955 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B201, Malibu, CA 90265
Telephone (866) 742-6274
FAX (310) 456-6238
Email info@milesautomotive.com
In Southern California Environmental Motors of Glendale will be selling them
Also at Ecomotion In Portland, OR. Phone (503) 244-5658
or MC Electric in Beaverton, OR and Seattle, WA
In Pennsylvania check out Ferrante Motor Cars 601 Jackson Ave. Vandergrift, PA. Phone (724) 567-5675
In Fayetteville, NC check them out at Bleecker Electric Cars
In New York find them at Motorworks Clean Vehicles, Inc. (516) 997-4382 or (866) 527-2669
Check out my Test drive of the ZX40s at EVS 23
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 will initially offer 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.
This will be followed in 2007 with an aggressive looking two seat utility called the Anvil
In Loomis, CA you can find them at Electrick Motorsports Inc. Phone (916) 652-2222
In Hendersonville, NC check out Golf Cart Center of Hendersonville and at Bleecker Electric Cars in Fayetteville, NC
Or check out their Dealer Finder
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
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 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.
B.I.G. Man introduced the Barton NEV at the ETI conference held in Florida in December, 2002. This NEV appears to be the same vehicle that used to be offered for rental at various locations around the country by HarlandEV.
The vehicle is looks similar to the GEM. It is powered by a 48V DC motor. On their web site they claim a 10 hour charge time gives up to 75 miles of range. This seems to be very high but as there is no indication of the battery configuration we will have to wait to see what real world performance is.
They have recently added a utility vehicle, called the Shorty, to their range.
The B.I.G. Man is now available but the company is targeting fleet operators like cruise lines and resorts. For more information on how to purchase on of these NEVs contact Barton Investment Group Manufacturing LLC at"
P.O.
Box 486
800 Westlake Drive
Alva, OK, 73717
Local: 580-327-5100
Toll Free: 1-877-4BIGMAN
Fax: 1-580-327-5800
They are currently available in Austin, TX at South Coast Auto and at Electric Cars of Austin
See the Barton at ETI on Electrifyingtimes
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:
Princeton, MN 55371
Phone: (763) 389-9169
Fax: (763) 389-2417
In California they are available at Electric Vehicle Emporium
1550 Frontage Road, Building 3, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Phone (760) 201-7543
They can also be found at Electric Wheels Inc, 1555 12th Street SE, Salem, OR Phone (503) 485-0588
or MC Electric in Beaverton, OR and Seattle, WA
In Austin Texas they can be found at South Coast Auto and at Electric Cars of Austin
Read my test drive of the EXV4
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
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
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
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 and 18 miles depending on load and driving conditions. 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 Cleveland they can be found at Baker Vehicle Systems
In Phoenix, AZ they are sold at Mobile West
In Elmhurst, IL check them out at Electric Avenue Auto
For a dealer near you check out their Dealer page
Florida based GatorMoto sell a line of NEVs, dubbed the Buddy, that is produced in China at the same factory that makes the Cart-Rite. They have a range of vehicles that, are obvious copies of the Th!nk Neighbor and GEM. They also have a range of vehicles that look similar to the Columbia ParCar golf cart. Vehicles vary from a 2 passenger up to a 15 passenger. GatorMoto told me that they are spending a lot of time in China working with the manufacturer to make sure that the vehicles are built to acceptable quality levels. Their full range of NEVs are also designed to travel at speeds up to 25mph. All of their vehicles are DOT certified as Low Speed Vehicles.
The vehicles are based on a 48V system and use Curtis controllers along with Trojan 6V batteries which should give these vehicles decent range. On top of all the usual safety equipment these vehicles also come with wood grain dashboards and CD player.
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 eBay store.
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.
HiLine is another company that seems to be selling a line of GEM clones. These cars have a different look to the headlights and have a different shaped trunk, but are sufficiently similar to have fooled me when I first saw a picture of them.
The NEVs use a 48V pack made up of 8 6V maintenance free batteries to give a quoted range of 50 miles. I would expect the range to be more like 30 miles in real world driving. Top speed is 25 mph but given that these vehicles appear to be the same size as a GEM I would expect hill climbing ability to be less than stellar.
The cars come in 2, 4 or 6 passenger configurations and they also offer a Long Bed Utility.
For the six passenger vehicle they are offering an upgrade to a 7.5 hp motor and 72 volt battery pack for an additional $995 which should provide much better range and hill climbing ability and will be well worth the money unless you live in a really flat area. They claim to have driven the new 6 seat with 8 miles with six people on board and an additional 56 miles with 2 people before the NEV needed to be charged.
They are also in progress increasing the standard motor on the 6 passenger to 6hp to help improve hill climbing ability and they are also committed to address this issue on their other models.
These NEVs can be ordered through their web site or by calling (770) 783-2797
Cruise Car
Yet
another company selling the Chines Th!nk Neighbor and GEM clones is Criuse
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.
To find out where to purchase one of these NEVs, please use there contact page
Champion Electric Vehicles
Another line of Electric Vehicles that appear to be Chinese built clones of the Th!nk Neighbor and GEM are the ones sold by Champion Electric Vehicles. They market a whole line of electric vehicles, most of which look like the Th!nk Neighbor but are based on a 48V system.
Models include the Champ Mini Express which is a clone of the 2 seat GEM, and the Champ Cruiser, Champ Cruiser EX and Champ Security all of which appear to be clones of the 4 seat Th!nk Neighbor. In addition they offer the Champ Rover which looks like a Jeep, seats 4, and also has a pick-up bed. The Champ Rover also appears to be based on a 72V system.
In addition to the NEVs they also offer 11 and 14 passenger shuttles, and the Champ Safari off road vehicle.
These Th!nk Clones are also sold via Planet-EV in Lincoln, CA under the names Mercury EV 200 for the 2 seat, Atlas EV 400 for the 4 seat, Venus EV 600 for the 6 seat, and Neptune Hauler for the short bed Utility.
Also sold at Mobile West under the brand name IMP-e
See video of the Champ line 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.