We have known all along that the “Big 3” of Club Car, E-Z-GO & Yamaha have dominated the industry, however the likes of Star EV, Tomberlin, ICON EV and Evolution EV (just to name a few) have capitalized on the growth in the marketplace and consequently, in recent years the industry has taken notice of these manufacturers that have laid the groundwork and undeniably gained some market share as the Golf Car/LSV industry continues to grow year over year. In GCA’s 2022 Golf Car Directory, we will be discussing some of these manufacturers who have become more prominent in the industry whether by competition or improvements in quality control offering a dizzying array of automotive features.
Tomberlin continues to produce some of the most sought after LSV’s, due in part to the high standards and high-end options that just aren’t available elsewhere. The 2023 Special Edition Tomberlin Beachcomber is a perfect example. Taking design cues from high end boats with a bit of retro flair, the Beachcomber is designed for customers with a maritime state of mind, whether you live on a beach or just wish you did. Featuring a new for 2023 color “Ultramarine”, Flamingo or Banana colors, custom upholstery with CoolTouch technology to keep you comfortable on hot sunny days, custom non-slip teak style flooring, and featuring an industry leading EVOLVE® Lithium Battery pack, the Beachcomber will transport you on long trips in style. For the 2023 model year the Beachcomber now is available in an 2+2 and 4+2 configuration and features the XL rear seat for even more room for your crew – or flip it down for coolers, beach chairs or other gear, 6” Lift with A/T tires for a commanding view of the road and ability to go off the beaten path and a headliner with integrated audio, logo dome light, map lights and rear seat lighting.
Advanced EV no longer produces just personal transportation vehicles (PTVs), as they have officially entered the commercial vehicle space. Following the drastic growth of the personal transportation industry, Advanced EV invested marketing dollars into the commercial space. Their new line-up, Advanced HD, offers an array of industrial vehicles ranging from simple cargo movers to more complex units with features such as drop-down rails and hydraulic dump-beds. The company plans to keep inventory on hand to support its push with 2022 model year vehicles. Prior to the launch of Advanced HD, Advanced EV refreshed its original PTV offerings. With the rebrand of the EV1 and introduction of the Advent, its new luxury model, Advanced EV has made quite the splash in the market recently. The Advent is the company’s focus moving forward, with its aesthetically pleasing design, Advanced EV controller, and best in class ride quality. Advanced EV believes this wide range of vehicle offerings will provide instant value to its dealer network. The Advent line-up gives dealers a premium option, the EV1 line offers economical value, and the Advanced HD line offers a new stream of revenue for dealers that have never been able to penetrate the commercial space. On top of Advanced EV’s product offerings, additional benefits such as DLL Floorplan, Sheffield Financing, & a website redesign with a dealer locator, are positioning them to be a strong OEM partner. With industry growth expected to continue into the next decade, Advanced EV has positioned itself to be a major player.
Vivid EV, headquartered in Fort Myers, FL is a bit like the “new kid on the block” with a line-up of lithium powered NEV’s featuring 4-passenger and 6-passenger lifted and non-lifted vehicles. However, unlike the “new kid on the block”, the principals of Vivid EV have years of extensive experience in the Automotive, Golf Car/LSV Industry as well as other related-industry sectors. The Vivid EV approach is unique and unlike that of the competition, bringing a fresh approach to selling these vehicles by creating a connected dealer network that allows the customer to build the car they want and buy it online in minutes. Vivid EV then works with their dealers to fulfill the order. All Vivid EV vehicles are powered with Eco Battery lithium battery packs.
Recently, VIVID EV partnered with a private equity group consisting of investors Alan Fudge, Michael McAfee, and L. Walter Quinn. “By partnering with this private equity group, it has allowed VIVID EV to expand at a rapid pace. This has allowed us to deliver cars to match the demand of our dealer network”, says Brett McNeilly (CEO). VIVID EV has moved into a 26,000 sq ft interim facility and this Fall they will be moving into their new 46,000 sq ft headquarters based in Fort Myers, FL.
Kandi America of Dallas, TX is primarily engaged in the wholesale of off-road vehicle products and distribution of electric vehicles. Throughout the years, Kandi Technologies has become a name for pure electric vehicles manufacturing and its subsidiaries are known as specialists in making parts and batteries for electric vehicles.
Now with its U.S. operations launch in 2020, Kandi America is “Factory-Direct” and well positioned to distribute its vehicles through dealer partners nationwide so consumers who want environmentally conscious transportation have access to affordable options for electric vehicles along with service and support from their local dealership.
Kandi America recently introduced the Kandi Kruiser 4 Passenger Golf Car with a heavy duty UTV frame and chassis. An attractive, rugged looking vehicle featuring an AC motor with an estimated range of 50 miles, top speed of 25 MPH and a 300 lb. towing capacity. To smooth out the bumps, all Kandi Kruisers come standard with Independent MacPherson Strut front suspension and hydraulic disc brakes. Available in blue, red, silver and white and a 12-month limited warranty.
Bintelli continues to build brand name recognition and has developed its vision of a new line of electric vehicles, the Bintelli Beyond. Packed with more standard features than any other brand of street legal golf cars in its price point, the Bintelli Beyond has made a name for itself. Each Bintelli Beyond is built in South Carolina and includes an aluminum chassis, Bluetooth sound system, reverse camera, AC motor, 3-point seat belts, 14” wheels, premium two-tone seats, LED lighting, 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, onboard smart charger… and more. Bintelli President, Justin Jackrel adds, “As an LSV manufacturer for the better part of two decades now, we knew our newest lineup had to wow not only our dealer family, but also their retail customers… and I couldn’t be happier! There isn’t a single cart in our current price point that has all of these standard features. The aluminum frame is really important to us because most of our customers live within driving distance of the water. Additionally, over the last several years we have seen that customers wanted sound systems, reverse cameras, and larger wheels… so we just decided to include them with each cart. After all of the hard work our team has put into this project, it’s exciting to finally be able to start shipping the Bintelli Beyond line-up to dealers and customers across the country!”
Evolution EV has been driven by innovation and the shear desire to deliver the best quality, and most cost-efficient electric vehicle in the industry. CEO Tony Dai says, “Like most manufacturers, we wanted to design and build quality-driven electric vehicles that took on the industry’s top brands. However, we also wanted to take it up a level by delivering our product at a price point that most would pay for refurbished vehicles.” It is that kind of bold thinking that has allowed Evolution to build and deliver the cars of the future, today. From golf to hospitality, to leisure and landscaping, Evolution has a powerful lineup of cost-efficient electric vehicles guaranteed to fit your needs.
Built for the long haul, Evolution’s engineering and vehicle production all happens within their 290,000 square foot facility. Located in the picturesque coastal city of Xiamen, China, Evolution’s state-of-the-art facility provides a fantastic work environment for the company’s 500 plus employees. Evolution’s workforce is dedicated to consistently deliver on the company’s value-added proposition. That customer commitment crosses oceans, and is found throughout Evolution’s USA product warehouses, sales, and service arms located from Florida to California.
Evolution produces around 20,000 units a year. The mass appeal of the company’s PRO and PLUS lines have been an outstanding success for Evolution. Due to the success of the PRO and PLUS lines, the company is currently gearing up to increase their production capacity. Both the PRO and the PLUS lines offer exceptional construction throughout, and in keeping with Evolution’s desire to exceed expectations, they deliver an array of standard features that are usually considered upgrades by the competition.
Star EV, a division of JH Global Services, entered the PTV marketplace about four years ago with the highly regarded Sirius model. After inspecting the Sirius PTV you can begin to imagine how much thought and R&D went into this top-tier vehicle. Right away you notice the high-end design and elements, laden with automotive-grade features such as the tasteful touches of the LED Lighting with daytime running lights, the beautifully designed ergonomics of the body, back-up camera, detailed automotive-style LCD display, featuring an AC motor with plenty of torque, customized paint and at the same time featuring the golf car essentials needed for the golf course.
Aetric of Anaheim, CA is a golf car manufacturer on the rise with some of the newest and most innovative NEV’s available. Aetric’s are stylish, powerful and reliable with industry-leading standard features that are usually optional features elsewhere. The products used in the manufacturing process are high quality components such as Curtis controllers, Toyota controllers, Delta Q chargers and Trojan Batteries with low to no-maintenance brushless AC motors. In addition, all vehicles are assembled in the Aetric manufacturing facility in Orange County, CA with globally sourced parts and two distribution centers located in Los Angeles, CA and Birmingham, AL.
PilotCar Electric Vehicles continues to create brand-name recognition in the US marketplace by offering the PC-2 model, a unique driving experience with superior comfort, attractive, utilizing high quality components, convenient on-board charger and very competitive pricing, Pilotcar EV’s entry in the market is a welcomed solution to give customers exactly what they need and Dealers are liking what they see as we have taken notice at Golf Car Advisor with the number of dealerships nationwide that have become distributors of the increasingly popular PilotCar EV line-up. The introduction of their luxurious model PC-2 golf car with a sporty presence provides optimum performance with speed, silence and functionality. With integrated production lines comes excellent care and attention. Pilotcar models are designed and produced according to specific customer needs and requests.
ICON EV, based out of Tampa, FL has become a rising star over just the last three years, catapulting themselves into the forefront of the Golf Car industry, courtesy of Roy Williams, Founder of ICON EV. What started out as a singular distribution center in Tampa, FL, has morphed into the fourth largest Golf Car manufacturer in the United States with production facilities throughout the U.S. stretching from the East Coast to the West Coast, specializing in a wide range of LSV’s.
And who does this? ICON EV provides free airfare for two and hotel accommodations for interested Dealer reps and a guest to visit one of the ICON EV production facilities for a personal tour where you will be able to examine the assembly process, assess QC and further discuss pricing and delivery options to your Dealership.
All ICON EV’s incorporate state-of-the-art AGM batteries, typically an option with other LSV’s and a slew of other upgraded features – again, standard with ICON EV’s. With this strategy, it’s no wonder that the ICON brand has been knocking it out of the park. Standard features include Icon 450A controllers, a 5kw motor, AGM batteries, 12” aluminum wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes, powder coated tubular steel chassis, LED lights, turn signals, high-speed rear ends, durable front and rear bumpers, color-matched rooftops, horns, digital gauges and more. And ICON EV stands behind every vehicle they sell with a two-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
