the moment a lithium battery is
fully discharged, it stops dead in
its tracks. It turns out to avoid
this you need to be alerted by an
ampmeter, not a voltmeter. Thus,
a new type of gauge will be fea-
tured on the dash panel.
modate within the gated com-
munity in one sense, because the
community can set its own stan-
dards, regardless of what may go
on outside. Venturing outside our
private communities is anoth-
er matter. Yet it seems highly
probable that the market can only
grow larger when the process of
accommodation reaches beyond
the gates.
Thus, the issues become more
complex, dealing with city and
municipal governing councils, and
pushing for specific planning for
small vehicle access. It should
be noted that while this article is
focused on individual ownership,
shuttle systems, using larger
framed electric vehicles will also
be a factor in market growth.
Four- and six-seater Polaris
GEMs are now being used in shut-
tle systems in several municipali-
ties around the country.
PTVs at the Dawn of Lithium
Power
The new, very big deal is lithium
power. Not only have E-Z-GO
and Club Car introduced lithium
batteries in their fleet and PTV
models, new from the factory,
but now several battery compa-
nies are offering “drop-in” lithium
battery solutions for the existing
stock of PTVs.
Who Will Decide?
E-Z-GO lithium models, Elite and
Express. The power to get beyond the
gates.
The advantages of lithium over
lead acid batterie are numerous.
They are not only substantially
lighter than lead acid batteries,
for the same or greater pow-
er—which means on this account
alone, greater distance—but they
also charge up much, much faster.
Faster charging enables oppor-
tunity charging, and as charging
stations proliferate throughout
communities (yes, it will hap-
pen), range anxiety will ebb and
ultimately be as little as the gas
gauge reading quarter of a tank.
Another amazing aspect of the
lithium battery is that while there
is any charge in it at all, its power
output will not degrade. As we
know, with lead acid batteries
power is constantly degrading
as the battery runs through its
charge. (Watch out, though, at
Given these new enhancements
and more coming, plus wide-
spread market acceptance, which
is sure to come, who will decide
when and by how much the PTV
revolution will spring upon the
local environment beyond our
gated community?
Happily, we are a pluralistic soci-
ety, not only in terms of ethnici-
ties, languages, and culture, but
we are a society imbued with the
concept of individual freedom of
choice and political persuasion.
Most importantly our society is
based on the concept of private
property and free markets. Given
this (God help us should this
change!), it is my belief that the
needed changes in both broad
public acceptance of the PTV, and
the spread of the small, electric
vehicle into broader, outlying
communities, will be a matter up
to us as consumers—and because
public policy is involved, voters.
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.
FEBRUARY 2020
35