Low Speed Electric Vehicles

My interest in electric transportation took root in 2008.  After I sold my marketing services company that I had run for more than 20 years, I functioned as the VP Marketing for EVWorld.com and a senior consultant for EVWorld and Associates.  I attended tons of EV trade shows, mostly in the Bay Area, as well as the tradition auto debut venues in Los Angeles and Detroit.

One thing that was clear at the time: there was a huge market for low- and medium-speed EVs.  OEMs from all over the U.S., Europe, Japan, and China were throwing themselves into the market.  Those trade events were packed with vendors with cute little guys like the one shown here.

Scarcely a decade later, though, this market is dead, lifeless, hard as a carp.  The problem, and I saw this coming, is that no one wants a car that has gross limitations associated with it.  Do you know anyone who wants a car to drive around the neighborhood, and then another one for speeds over 40 MPH?  If you want a golf cart, get one, but no one’s going to spend $15K or $20K for a golf cart with doors, windows, and a radio.

Another issue here is that LSEVs don’t really solve any problems that drivers face.  Want one to commute to and from an inner-city job?  You’re still in traffic, and you’re still going to need a parking space.

Here’s a brochure from people who believe otherwise, but I believe they’re dead wrong, and that automotive history has already proven that.