Is There No More Than Going with the Flow?
Right now, the Big Three that are the major
suppliers of golf car-type vehicles, including
our PTVs, seem quite content to go with the
flow. So I ask, were do we find the effort to:
1. Increase speed, and at the same time,
2. Enhance safety features up to the threshold
of on-road crash tests?
Yes, There Are Innovators Developing Ad-
vanced Small Vehicles
So, where do we find the innovative pioneers
that addressing the questions posed above?
Having asked this question, it planted the
seed for the idea of an annual prize for in-
novative product development. Thus, an-
nouncing (drum roll, please) the Small Vehicle
Resource (SVR) 2018 Prize for Outstanding
Product Development.
This will mark the first year in which this
coveted industry prize is awarded. The pur-
pose is to recognize companies that have
4. Install battery packs that assure a range of taken measurable, clear cut steps to bring
innovative products to market. This year
150-200 miles?
three companies are being singled out for
5. Build drive trains that incorporate permanent their contributions. It is not surprising that
all are start-ups. None are in large-scale
magnet motors, which are more efficient
production, but all have produced prototypes
and more powerful?
and are taking advanced orders for product
6. Outfit small vehicles with level 3 or level 4 delivery in 2019.
self-driving features?
Here are the winners and the categories in
which they excelled (see table next page)
7. Styling that incorporates full enclosure
protection?
3. Develop versatile small vehicles for both
“in-gate” and “out-gate” travel?
Let’s be honest. If you could get all these fea-
tures in a sleek-looking package for around
$20,000-$22,000 (and allows travel beyond
the reservation), you’d be interested would
you not? After all, after you shell out for a
lift kit, custom upholstery, a lighting package,
and various sorts of trim and accessories,
you are already looking at $14,000-$18,000,
and you still have no more than the basic
cart—lipstick on a pig, as they say.
Such features and innovations would con-
verge for expansive growth in urban, subur-
ban, and gated community mobility. Basical-
ly, however, you don’t see any sort of product
development of this nature emerging from
the Big Three. This, despite the fact they
have the manufacturing facilities, the techni-
cal know-how, and fully developed network
of sales and service dealerships.
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.
The Uniti from
Sweden—The
Urban Mobility
Vehicle
Arcimoto
FUV—Commer-
cially viable for
on-road travel
The Baro
One—A golf
car with Level
3 self-driving
capability.
JANUARY 2019
21