GatorMoto Utility Vehicles is pleased to announce something new in the Low Speed Vehicle world … The Electro Bubble Buddy Mountaineer LSV!

Designed to look like a classic sport vehicle, it is rugged and extremely powerful — perfect for rough and hilly terrain.  With an optional 6.3 kW motor, it can handle more inclined surfaces than any other electric vehicle!  Street legal up to 25 mph, it will climb up to a 20% incline effortlessly. 

With a 72 volt engine with DC converter to 12 volts, 5 speed electric transmission, front axle independent suspension, integrative rear axle with leaf spring and vibration absorber, rack and pinon steering with automatic rocker compensating function and front disc brake and rear drum brake with hydraulic system, this vehicle is the choice of municipalities, police, EMTs, fire departments and other applications which require more torque in the engine.  It can also be ordered with optional LED emergency light bars.  Other available options include custom graphics, custom body color, storage cover, quick charging system, DVD player with monitor, and back up cameras.

The Electro Buddy Mountaineer LSV features a Curtis Controller, Trojan 105 batteries, 12:49:1 axle ratio for climbing, AM/FM/CD with speakers, two-tone paint scheme, rear lockable trunk, DOT approved seat belts, AS-1 certified windshield, and 2 on board charger units.  Black vinyl captains chairs with adjustable backs and adjustable formed arm rests provide comfortable seating for up to four passengers.

The price for this amazing vehicle is only $17,900.00 plus shipping and handling, if required, and the 5 kW model is eligible for the federal 10% tax credit!

Earth Day 2010 is April 22, 2010.  Forty years after the first Earth Day, it seems the world is in more trouble than ever environmentally.  Climate change continues to be the biggest challenge we deal with, but issues like air and water pollution are still major problems and are of concern for the health of all of Mother Earth and its inhabitants. 

Ecologists and environmental activists are hoping that Earth Day 2010 will become a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and “green” jobs.  More than 1 billion people in 190 countries world-wide will be actively participating in projects to preserve and protect the environment this Earth Day. 

It doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult!  Did you know that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star-rated light bulb, such as a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year? It would also save about $700 million in annual energy costs and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emission per year (equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars). 

April 17th and 18th have been designated as Global Days Of Service, during which millions around the globe will work to make their communities and the world cleaner and more sustainable.  Make a commitment to change one light bulb to a CFL during that time! 

Earth Day 2010 Events will be held on The National Mall in Washington, DC, including exhibitions and performances between April 17^th and 25^th.  There will be Earth Day 40^th Anniversary Events on April 22^nd, and a Change The Climate Rally on April 25^th.  More information on Earth Day is available from the Earth Day Network at their website http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010). 

GatorMoto Utility Vehicles supports all “green” initiatives and feels that their electric vehicles help contribute to improving air quality because they are powered with efficient Trojan batteries.  Our electric vehicles also improve water quality by eliminating gas and oil leaks that contaminate our waterways.  GatorMoto Utility Vehicles is proud of its eco-friendly commitment to producing clean, efficient and practical electric vehicles for personal and commercial use.  We urge everyone to support “green” practices not only on Earth Day, but every day!

Curtis Instruments, founded in December, 1960, began in a one-room office in Mt. Kisco, New York.  Today, fifty years later, with locations in New York, California, The United Kingdom, Puerto Rico and France, they are world renowned as a technology leader in electric vehicle instrumentation and controls, serving a global marketplace.  Curtis Instruments is an ISO 9001:2008 registered company, actively working toward ISO 14000 certification. 

The company’s commitment to quality subjects each component to a series of stress and reliability tests.  Components undergo severe stress, shock, vibration, temperature and humidity tests and in case of defect, they subject all in-warranty returns to an exacting Failure Analysis and Root Cause Analysis allowing systematic corrective action to prevent future failures.

GatorMoto Utility Vehicles chose the Curtis PMC Model 1268 SepEx (Separately Excited) Electronic Motor Speed Controller for use in most of their electric vehicles because of their reputation for quality and the thoroughness of their testing programs.  This controller is specifically designed for use in heavy-duty golf/utility vehicles and is programmable and microprocessor-based, with an advanced MOSFET power section for smooth and seamless control of separately excited motors. 

 MOSFET technology provides smooth, silent, efficient and cost-effective operation.  Adjustable parameters allow custom optimization of speed, torque and braking control.  The system uses a Hall effect speed sensor on the motor or drive train to control vehicle speed.  There is also a tow switch to enable free rolling during towing .  The anti-rollback function provides improved control when throttle is released on hills and the anti-stall function helps prevent motor commutator damage. 

This controller also provides extensive fault detection and diagnostic reporting using a Curtis Programmer (not available on shuttles), including (partial list):  main contactor weld check and driver check; throttle and wiring faults; open or shorted motor field winding; over-temperature; missing or failed speed sensor; armature drive failure; battery voltage; throttle input; direction and throttle switch operation; motor field and armature currents; and controller heatsink temperature.

For more information, data sheets and an online manual can be found at their website at:  http://curtisinstruments.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cProducts.dspProductCategory&catID=9.

With over 80 years experience, Trojan Batteries is the leader in the manufacture of deep-cycle battery technology.  Known worldwide for long-lasting, clean and reliable batteries, Trojan has long been the choice for  delivering superior power for golf carts, recreational vehicles, marine applications, etc.  The company invented the golf cart battery in 1952, and have manufactured excellent products ever since.  More than 98% of American golf courses use their batteries in their carts.  Trojan’s proprietary Maxguard Advanced Design Separator and exclusive Alpha Paste  formulation combine to increase battery life, extend run time and decrease maintenance.

This well-deserved reputation is why GatorMoto Utility Vehicles chose them as the power source for all of its electric vehicles.

Our two-passenger vehicles run on six T-875 8-volt batteries.  With a weight of only 63 lbs. each, and its compact size (10-3/8″ long x 7-1/8″ wide x 10-7/8″ high), it is the perfect choice to power our smaller vehicles.

Our larger vehicles (4-, 6- and 9-passenger) utilize eight T-105 6-volt batteries.  Weighing only 62 pounds each, they boast the same compact size and reliability as the T-875.  We use sixteen of this same battery in our largest 12- and 15-passenger vehicles, supported by two chargers.

Trojan also provides excellent technical support.  Basic maintenance information is available online at their website at http://www.trojanbattery.com/Tech-Support/BatteryMaintenance.aspx.  They also provide a battery users guide on their website at http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/UsersGuide_English.pdf.