Korean E-Zone Neighborhood Electric Car

CT&T, the leading electric vehicle manufacturer in Korea, offers a line of c-Zone electric golf cars and multipurpose utility EVs that are sold worldwide. Now, CT&T has developed and is marketing the e-Zone EV low speed vehicle (LSV).

The two-seat e-Zone EV features a fiberglass body over a rigid aluminum frame that’s designed to protect driver and passenger in case of a collision. The NEV has been successfully crash tested to 30 mph and meets U.S. FMVSS301 as well as European safety standards. An airbag is optional.

The e-Zone EV has a four-wheel independent McPherson suspension system using four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes and electromagnetic regenerative braking. Power comes from a 72-volt AC motor. Three battery options are offered: Flooded electrolyte, lead-acid batteries provide a range of 35 miles, while two versions of lithium-polymer batteries are also available that provide a driving range of 45 and 75 miles. Being a low speed vehicle (LSV), this neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) features a top speed that’s limited to 25 mph. The 103 inch long e-Zone EV has a tight 12-foot turning radius.

Some of the first e-Zone EVs have been shipped to the Island of Fiji where they will be used as environmentally friendly sightseeing vehicles. As part of the deal, CT&T will set up an assembly plant in Fiji that could produce up to 10,000 units annually. Output could also be exported to nearby Australia and New Zealand.

CT&T is also targeting the LSV at the law enforcement market. It has delivered patrol vehicles to city of Daejon, Korea as part of a ‘Green City’ project. The vehicle is also being used by public peace police in China, and were used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

T3 Motion recently contracted for 4,000 e-Zone EVs in the U.S. The company already offers its Korean-built, three wheel stand-up personal transport vehicle (PTV) to law enforcement. T3 Motion will market this new NEV as the CT Series Micro Car in the public safety and private security markets. One obvious application is parking enforcement, thus a right-hand-drive version is planned.

According to T3 Motion, the company received orders for 100 of these vehicles already during the recent International Association of Chiefs of Police Convention in San Diego, California, including an order for 25 from the Santa Monica, California Police Department. To supply these vehicles for the North American market, CT&T says it is building an assembly line in conjunction with Royal Laser Mfg. in Toronto, Canada. With a capacity of 15,000 units per year, mass production could commence in March 2009.