Korea’s CT&T To Manufacture Electric Vehicles in US
06 July 2009
| The e-Zone Electric Vehicle (EV) is a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) that passes international crash test standards and will be one of the vehicle types CT&T will produce for the US market. Source: CT&T United. Click to enlarge. |
CT&T Company, Ltd., a South Korea-based manufacturer of low speed electric vehicles (LSVs) plans to build a range of electric vehicles in the US, beginning with its e-Zone and c-Zone low speed electric vehicles.
CT&T United, the US subsidiary of CT&T Korea, Ltd., will establish a North American headquarters, a research and development center and several manufacturing facilities to produce and market an entire product line of EVs and batteries. Company officials are considering potential sites in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and California.
CT&T United plans to produce and market city drive electrical vehicles (EVs), mid-speed electric vehicles, high-speed electric vehicles, and utility electric vehicles, as well lead-acid, advanced lead-acid, lithium-polymer and lithium-ion batteries for domestic and export markets.
By the fourth quarter of 2009, the company expects to begin selling c-Zone utility EVs for commercial and government applications as well the e-Zone City Drive EVs. Vehicles will range in price from US$8,000 to $16,000 fully equipped.
The e-Zone uses a 72V, 5.0 kW motor and offers either a 72V, 165Ah lead-acid battery (base option) or a 72V, 140Ah Li-polymer battery. It has a top speed of 35 mph (56 kph). The lead-acid battery offers a range of 50-70 km (31-41 miles) on one charge; the Li-polymer battery offers a range of 100-110 km (62-68 miles). A direct-drive wheel motor is optional.
The c-Zone is based on a golf cart chassis and uses a 48V, 3.5 kW motor and six 8V, 240Ah batteries.
In November 2008, T3 Motion, the provider of a three-wheel electric vehicle to the public safety and private security markets, contracted for 4,000 e-Zone vehicles from CT&T for sale to police departments in the US for use in applications such as parking enforcement. (Earlier post.)
CT&T United recently submitted proposals for funding to the US Department of Energy to accelerate the implementation of battery, electric motor drive and electric vehicle technologies. DOE is expected to announce their plans regarding these proposals later this summer.
CT&T works in four battery platforms by co-operatively manufacturing with Korean partners SK Energy, Sebang, EIG Corporation, LG Chemical Corporation, FCP, and Samsung. Specifically, the company works with lead-acid, lithium-polymer, fuel cell (FCP) and lithium-ion battery systems.
The company has also announced a joint venture with PUES Corporation (Japan) for the development and production of inverters and new technology in-wheel motors.
CT&T will use a Regional Assembly and Sales (RAS) system characterized by a network of regional joint ventures that will facilitate manufacturing, assembly and sales activities in specific geographic market areas throughout the US.
In addition to its manufacturing and distribution initiatives, CT&T United will partner with Research and Development teams in the US to supplement and expand upon the company’s activities in Korea. Currently, CT&T Korea, Ltd. works closely with Korea’s leading technology research universities—Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea Polytechnic University, Ajou Motor College, and Soongsil—to develop new cost and energy efficient battery platform, drivetrain system, and electric vehicle technologies.
Young Gi Lee, a former executive of Hyundai Motor Corporation, founded the CT&T in 2002 with a vision of bringing zero emissions transportation options to companies and individuals.
It is not clear if such vehicles can be used on all city streets. Please, please, please build range extender engine-generators into such vehicles even if they are only 1 kw. Build them so that they will run on any mix of ethanol and gasoline. They only need to be single piston. Gasoline and diesel powered vehicles have a limited range, but it is never mentioned, so with range extender engines, the range of these vehicles need not be mentioned. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 06 July 2009 at 03:15 AM
A great find if you're shopping for a golf cart.
Maybe they'll even add a range extender so you can make it to the 18th hole.
Posted by: Mannstein | 06 July 2009 at 05:45 AM
HG:
You are curently right. Batteries performance is not yet ready for full EVs unless you want to drive a e-micro-car or a very expensive e-sport car with a load of $50K batteries. PHEVs could be a good interim option for the new 10 years or so.
The first ICE vehicles were not the 250 Kmh current gas guzzlers either.
By 2020, mass produced BEVs (of all sizes), with the exception of long haul trucks, will compete with gas guzzling ICE vehicles. Ten years latter they will push most pure ICE vehicles off all roads.
Batteries technology will evolve and capacity will progressively go from 100 Wh/Kg to 1000 Wh/Kg with 5000+ cycles instead of 1000.
Partially and totally electrified vehicles are here to stay.
Posted by: HarveyD | 06 July 2009 at 07:54 AM
There are lots of 55+ gated communities where they could probably drive one of these. They drive golf carts and some drive the GEM EVs. If the price was right, this might sell there as well.
Posted by: SJC | 06 July 2009 at 09:03 AM
There are a lot of parents who would rather purchase a "range limited" EV for their teenagers. And, many soccer moms, etc., who only need 40 miles for daily trips.
Posted by: danm | 06 July 2009 at 09:47 AM
There are also people who buy barry manilow albums... but we cant count on barry manilow to fuel the world of the future.
Posted by: wintermane2000 | 06 July 2009 at 11:47 AM
If you can cross correlate Barry Manilow fans with EV fans, you might have a demographic to sell both to.
Posted by: SJC | 06 July 2009 at 01:14 PM
I am with CT&T and I would like to take the opportunity to clarify a point or two. First, eZone is a registered street legal vehicle that can travel on any roadway with a speed limit of 35mph or below. eZone is the only NEV/LSV that has passed the international passenger car crash test standards. It is not anything like a golf car. The fact is, our vehicle can travel at speeds well above 35 mph but NHTSA and local regulations force us to restrict it.
Obviously, a restricted speed vehicle like eZone is not the ideal sole means of transportation for everyone. But for city driving, which for millions of people is the vast majority of their travel needs, it can be a very cost effective ($5 to $10 per month operating cost), safe and fun alternative. I invite you to check out our website (ctntunited.com) and keep an eye out for a dealer near you. Have fun! Be safe! Go Green!
Posted by: Drive eZone | 09 July 2009 at 08:48 AM
Hi Folks! Wow! this is finally happening! ever since the EV-1 (GM electric car that got 100 miles per charge) was (erased) from our streets, we have longed for a solid beginning to the future of transportation. Some one kept stopping it.
Gasoline is a nasty, old, toxic polluting technology and is on the way out.
I drive 4 miles to and from work per day. Such a car would be most welcome indeed. It could even be charged from a few roof top mounted solar panels! (this has indeed been successfully done.)
As for me... I will sell most of my gasoline stocks and get into supporting green! The time is now. No more oil slicks please.
Posted by: peter sul | 29 June 2010 at 08:27 PM