ter you’ve put together your individualized package,
the vehicle and all its attributes, delivery to the
dealer is within two weeks.
E-Z-GO is accomplishing the same goal with its
recent acquisition of PRO-FIT™, which specializes
in E-Z-GO vehicle accessories. Notably, the compa-
ny also supplies parts and accessories for E-Z-GO’s
major competitors, Club Car and Yamaha.
The industry will become increasingly more effi-
cient in coordinating product development, sales
and marketing, and aftermarket service—all with
the intent of matching finished product to indi-
vidual consumer. You will be ordering and using
your PTV much like you order and use your laptop,
iPad, and cell phone. In this context of product and
market development, the variety of features will,
assuredly, expand and diversify.
More competition
The fact that the product offerings will be more
and more tailored to individual needs and tastes,
strongly suggests that there will be new entrants
in the market, adding to the variety of product and
increasing competition. This is a phenomenon
seen in many industries, particularly in early stages
of growth.
Focusing on automotive features
There are many aspects of PTVs in the current mar-
ket that harken to the look and feel of a conven-
tional, on-road vehicle. Adjustable seats, custom
upholstery, dashboard displays come to mind. And
of course, the LSV qualifying features mentioned
above. These features were on view in exhibited
vehicles from all manufacturers at the PGA Show.
Automotive features that are coming are more
than skin deep. A hint of what is coming in greater
numbers is seen in STAR electric vehicle’s Sirius
series.
What’s “under the hood” in the coming genera-
tion of PTVs
A visit to the STAR Electric Vehicles booth at the
PGA and discussion Bob Weist, Vice President
Contact Steve at [email protected].
Or check out our website at www.smallvehicleresource.
com, where you will find an extensive database of vehi-
cle models and can make side-by-side comparisons of
vehicles based on a full set of specifications.
of Manufacturing, Product Development, gave a
strong impression that automotive features are not
simply look-and-feel accessories but also entail nit-
ty-gritty, under-the-hood improvements that serve
as the foundation for future product development.
Case in point:
Under Weist’s guidance, STAR’s Sirius models have
unique front and rear end suspensions. The front
end suspension is a double A-arm, coil over shock
construction allowing complete independent action
for the two front wheels. The unique aspect of the
suspension is that it incorporates automotive-type
ball joints. This feature allows adjustment in the
castor, camber, and toe-in of the front wheels. To
what purpose? To give the vehicle greater stability
and better handling qualities through the steering
system.
STAR vehicles will also incorporate a trailing arm
rear-end suspension with coil over shocks, giving
independent movement to the rear wheels. The
combination of the unique front end suspension
and advanced suspension at the rear will give STAR
vehicles an edge in the market and a secure claim
to incorporating automotive technology.
Lithium in the mainstream
If the there was a single outstanding buzzword at
the Show, insofar as golf cars were concerned, it
would be lithium. Commercial introduction of lithi-
um batteries last year by E-Z-GO in their Elite™ line
of fleet vehicles paved the way, very rapidly, to the
company’s RXV and TXT models for the PTV market
and in the utility vehicle market with the Cushman
800X Elite model. E-Z-GO’s success with this revo-
lutionary introduction has put other companies in
the “need to catch up” mode.
With the exception of Yamaha, other PTV manufac-
turers have either introduced lithium or are antic-
ipating a near term introduction. E-Z-GO’s main
opposition, Club Car, introduced at the Show its
lithium-powered fleet vehicle, the Tempo, and in so
doing appears to be following the pattern of intro-
duction taken by E-Z-GO. On good authority from
two sources, it is very likely that Club Car’s highly
successful Onward will be sporting a lithium battery
pack in the May-June time period, if not sooner.
Continued on
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