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CycleElectric Newsletter 12/31/2001
Light Electric Vehicles in 2002
This newsletter is edited by Ed Benjamin of CycleElectric International
Consulting Group and should be regarded as editorial – all of our
material is influenced by the opinions and business relationships of CycleElectric
associates.
Contents of this issue:
What will 2002 bring?
Our Favorite Companies and Why
CycleElectric’s New Project
Taipei Pedelec and E Bike Conference
Advertisements
What will 2002 bring?
Small electric vehicles are an inevitable success. Most of the world moves
on two wheels, and most cities have unacceptable air pollution. The price
if oil will continue to increase (despite the last few months), and electric
vehicles are simpler, more efficient and eventually cheaper than internal
combustion vehicles. These facts are simple and they endure. These facts
are the backbone and foundation of the industry.
The lessons learned in 2001 will help us dramatically in 2002. In the
US, the confused market created by Total EV’s collapse will be history.
The distribution channels have benefited from the low priced product and
many customers have been introduced to electric bikes and scooters at
the expense of TEV.
Specialty retailers will have an opportunity to sell better quality products
at higher prices – the market is learning that cheap equals cheap
in electric scooters.
There will be lots of opportunity to sell service work and parts for the
many inadequate scooters sold in 2001.
2002 will see a number of lawsuits and legal actions. Suits over distribution,
broken business promises, injured consumers, and warranty issues exist,
but more are coming. The CPSC will likely take actions to improve scooter
safety.
Confusion among legislators and consumers over electric scooters vs. gasoline
powered scooters (The Go Ped is an example of this group) will cause unfavorable
legislation to be passed as the public tries to rid itself of noisy gas
scooters rocketing down streets. Electric will be caught up in the definitions
of such vehicles by accident.
HR 727 will pass the house again, and finally pass the Senate. Electric
bicycles will have a definition and a niche.
The industry will continue to improve the products. And these better products
will be able to sell profitably – as some of the low price makers
will fail due to cancelled orders and large percentages of returns.
Segway gave us a PR boost. But is an unknown force force for the future.
Zap is likely to give us negative PR as their stock price has plummeted
and the company appears to be struggling.
Our Favorite Companies and Why:
Alphabetically…
Aprillia -- the most exciting ride on the market today. And now entering
the USA market.
Agile Systems – controllers that work. Good work Peter McDonald.
Bikit – simple, reliable products and a determined leader in Roi
Shenhav.
BROCO – Roy Schlovinck has a new paradigm in small vehicles.
CETRA – the Pedelec and E Bike Congress is a pivotal event for the
industry.
Extra Energy – The tireless promotion of Hannes Neupert has been
of huge help to the industry.
ETC -- Warren Dennis may have the clearest picture of what the consumer
wants.
EV Global Motors – Lee Iacoccoa’s vision is first rate. The
bike has improved dramatically.
EV Rider – Dennis Sauve and Horst Albrecht know more about making
money in this business than anyone else. Good products, sensible business
all the time.
EVS+S – Jean Chen has built a chain of retail stores in Shanghai,
and an international reputation.
Electric Wheels – Gary Coffrin is distributing Merida, HCF, and ETC,
with 2002 as the first real business year. Good products, smart people.
Fairly Bicycle Company – builder of the excellent EVG bike. Percy
Chien works smart, and is a gentleman.
Craftsmen Gmbh – Norbert Haller and Johannes Cremer are the best
designers in this industry.
Global EV Marketing – Distributing good scooters in a sea of junk.
James McClean is getting the word out.
HCF – Anyone who has ridden them knows that Sam Cheng builds the
world’s best small scooters.
Heinzmann – The best hub motors, and the most experience at building
electric bikes. Now and exciting new scooter and distribution business.
Good work Anton and Marcus Gromer, Manfred Glockner.
Ideation – Ben Tan has repeatedly earned our respect for good product
and good business.
Light Electric Vehicles Technology –Phil Leavitt has kept dealers
and consumers happy with friendly service during a very tough year.
Long Battery Company – Lead Acid for electric vehicles. Real interest
in this industry from Y.M and Tina Lee.
Louis Shih Inc. – is there anyone Louis does not know?
MAC BMC – Builders of exceptional motors for scooters and bikes.
Evan Ballman and his company deliver the real thing, and have high personal
integrity.
Merida Bicycle Company – builders of top quality electric bikes for
themselves and others. The Tseng family understands the promise of this
market.
Moltec Power Systems – Focusing on small electric vehicle battery
systems.
National / Panasonic – Mark Inoue is tops at listening to his customers.
Peace Bay Battery Company – Seal Wong is the best in the world at
follow-up.
Prima – the best looking advanced vehicles, Forno and Gironi have
done a great job in Europe and are now entering the USA with a new distributor.
Rad2Go – Unabashed seller of anything with an electric motor and
wheels. John Wang has done the most to get product into mainstream America
retailers.
Sharper Image—Thank you for the great positioning and continued advertising.
Sunpex / Tomb Raider – good scooters, very well made in Taiwan.
Su Zhou Small Antelope Electric Bicycle Co.—Yang Yong Qing has continued
to build a company with a sterling reputation in China.
Taiwan UQM – Jeffrey Ho has found ways into the small scooter motor
business that no one thought existed.
Yamaha – The founder of our industry, and working constantly to improve
and grow.
Zap – Pioneers who taught the Chinese to build sub 100-dollar electric
scooters, and has tried and publicized almost any thing that could work
in our business.
CycleElectric’s New Project:
Many of the resources of CycleElectric International Consulting Group
are now engaged in working on small electric vehicles destined for the
US military. We are proud to be involved in this effort at a critical
time. This effort is consuming almost all of Ed Benjamin and Sid Kuropchak’s
time. Other CycleElecrtric Associates are available for new projects.
Taipei Pedelec and E bike Conference
CETRA has announced that they will not be holding the Pedelec and E Bike
conference at this year’s Taipei Cycle Show. The event may adopt
an every other year calendar.
Advertisements:
Global EV Marketing Group, sales agent for quality electric scooters is
hiring inside and outside sales representatives for the US market. GEVM
currently distributes products of five manufacturers from Taiwan, Israel
and Germany. These companies produce the highest quality products with
proven global market success. All products are service supported by the
venerable Light Electric Vehicle Technologies. GEVM is teamed in North
America with United Sales Force of the Americas sales company. USFA represents
in addition to GEVM other outstanding makers of cutting edge products.
They include off road mountain scooters, ski bikes, 2 and 4 stroke gas
powered mini scooters and a high tech indoor training bike compatible
with Sony Play Station game software. USFA sells to but is not limited
to mass merchants, clubs, sporting goods retailers, bicycle dealers, auto
dealers, auto after market, hardware, motor sports, RV, marine, aviation,
PEV/NEV, rental, cruise line, catalog, on-line e-tailers and mobile sales
agent channels. USFA compensates its sales force with above
industry standard commissions. If you enjoy selling the best and are motivated
to earn unlimited income from multiple revenue sources e-mail your resume
to bikehyp@yahoo.com or call (310)
245-0730 today. To see the product selection visit the website: www.GlobalEVmarketing.com
and http://home.earthlink.net/~james777/.
bicycle business, as Sales Manager to sell their extensive line of scooters
from HCF, EV Rider, JD Components and others. Prima (Electric Bicycles
from Italy) has a new distributor – Matrix, the USA motorcycle helmet
powerhouse will be selling these handsome and high tech bikes. First showing
of the new models Joe Fly, Joe Guy, and Light at Interbike. Heinzmann
has a hot, really hot, new scooter built in cooperation with HCF. Distribution
in the USA is still being determined – but this scooter is the best
ever shown, and will not be cheap. Heinzmann retrofit kits and bicycles
are now being sold by the LEVT service center. (LEVTUSA@AOL.COM)
Rad2Go is looking like the Chinese Scooter powerhouse. A wide array of
scooters and an aggressive sales effort is making them a powerful player.
A recent purchase of sophisticated controllers from Agile has created
an interesting mix of North American and Chinese technology. MAC BMC,
maker of high quality brushless DC motors has introduced a new hub motor.
Light weight and sleek in appearance, no test rides are available yet.
Big Roc Tools of California is selling the HCF Cute 2 and 4 Wheel. Panasonic
is entering the USA market with a folding bike. Now available from Electric
Vehicles Northwest in Seattle.
Aprillia’s exciting fuel cell prototype made the cover of Popular
Science – and rumors are that some Aprillia motorcycle shops will
have the battery version of this bike soon. There were almost no Americans
at the IFMA show in Cologne. No surprise as most Americans traveling to
the show were trapped in various airports on Sept 11. The author made
it 40 minutes before the show closed. Extra Energy was there in force,
of course. EICMA in Milano was well attended, and the main event for the
electric bike and scooter people were the many distributors and retailers
exploring the possibility of selling small stand up and sit down scooters
in Europe. In most places, these are not yet legal – but progress
is being made and the market seems promising.
Next Show for Electric Bike and Scooter people: Tokyo Cycle Show, and
next spring the Taipei Bicycle Show (with another Pedelec and E Bike Conference
scheduled at the same time.)
Advertisements (2):
Salespeople wanted for telephone sales of electric scooters. Send resume
to eBenjamin at CycleElectric dot
com
Dealers wanted for the Tomb Raider Scooter, call 1-208-478-5388
For Replacement batteries for all types of electric bikes and scooters,
call 1-208-478-5388
Copyright October, 2001, by CycleElectric International
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