U.S. BATTERY TEAMS WITH COLUMBIA PARCAR AND DRIVE FOR VETERANS TO RAISE MONEY FOR WOUNDED VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
U.S. Battery manufacturing is “powering” an effort by Columbia ParCar Corp of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in sponsoring Drive For Veterans, a cross-country fundraising trip to provide support and awareness for wounded American veterans. The Drive For Veterans is scheduled to begin October 19, 2013 in San Diego, California, and end approximately 45 days later at The Villages in North Central Florida.
Columbia ParCar has set this entire event up from start to finish, and as the organizing sponsor, the company is providing four vehicles that will be powered by U.S. Battery US2200 deep-cycle golf car batteries. Another two vehicles will tag along as support, with one utilizing eight U.S. Battery AGM2224 batteries. “We’re extremely happy that Columbia ParCar chose U.S. Battery products to power its electric vehicles across the country in this important fund raiser,” says Don Wallace, U.S. Battery CMO/Executive Vice President. “Because U.S. Battery products carry maximum amperage for longer periods of time, and reach peak capacity sooner, our batteries will give the vehicles the performance necessary to help achieve their daily mileage goals.”
The participants will stop at various cities and events across the country, in an effort to raise $500,000 that will be donated to the Fisher House Foundation and Semper Fi Fund. The Fisher House Foundation provides “comfort homes” at major military medical centers to enable family members to be close to a loved one during hospitalization. The Semper Fi Fund provides financial support during hospitalization and recovery. “This cross-country trip will highlight the needs of wounded veterans nationwide while also helping to provide the financial and emotional support and care our heroes need to heal and rebuild their lives,” says Todd Sauey, President of Columbia ParCar. In addition to the various stops, the teams will give presentations to teach young students about how electric vehicle technology can help conserve energy, the environment, and the economy.
For more information on Drive For Veterans, visit www.driveforveterans.com. For additional information on U.S. Battery products, visit them online at www.USBattery.com.
CLUB CAR INTRODUCES NEW NAME FOR EFFICIENCY, RELIABILITY IN ADVANCED ELECTRIC CHARGING SYSTEM
E.R.I.C. ensures reliable charging through voltage spikes and sags
Club Car’s new advanced electrical charging system is designed around an intelligent long-term storage algorithm that continuously monitors changes in voltage and charges the golf car’s batteries when needed.
E.R.I.C., an acronym that stands for efficient, reliable, intelligent and connected, draws a maximum of 7.5 amps (lowest among major golf car manufacturers) and is designed to operate with AC input voltages of 85-270 VAC, which ensures reliable charging through voltage spikes and sags.
“E.R.I.C. makes the charging process more efficient and more reliable,” said Randy Marquardt, Club Car’s vice president of global marketing. “It’s a tool that enhances the health and performance of our customers’ golf car fleets.” One of E.R.I.C.’s most anticipated features is a system of visible and audible indicators that communicate to cart barn staff that a car is charging.
“E.R.I.C.’s status lights and buzzers practically eliminate the possibility that anyone thinks cars are being charged when they’re not,” Marquardt said. By allowing system updates and battery status to be transferred by plugging a flash drive into a USB port in the charger, E.R.I.C. saves staff time and keeps cars on the course, instead of in the cart barn waiting for maintenance.
Additional features and benefits of ERIC include:
Efficient
• Efficiency increased to 91 percent from 75 to 80 percent (previous model) based on 120 VAC.
• Maximum amp draw reduced to 7.5 amps, allowing two chargers to be safely connected to one 20-amp circuit if needed. (Club Car recommends that each ERIC charger is connected to a dedicated 15 or 20 amp separately protected single phase circuit.)
Reliable
• Lightweight (weight reduced from 22 lbs./10.0 kg to 8 lbs./3.6 kg), solid-state design withstands dust and moisture and operates between minus 40° (40° C) to 149° (65° C).
• Charger monitors battery pack voltage to send the proper amount of electricity to fully charge the batteries.
• The charger has an intelligent long-term storage algorithm that continuously monitors changes in voltage and charges when needed.
• Charger will turn on if voltage in the battery pack is as low as 8 volts, compared to 30 volts previously. This feature was incorporated as a safeguard for customers who do not properly charge and store cars during winter months.
• Operates across an 85-to-270 voltage range, accommodating voltage spikes and sags and providing the flexibility for the same model to be used globally.
• External connections for AC and DC cords prevent damage to internal charger components when charger cords are snagged in the cart barn. Cords are easily replaced if damaged.
Intelligent
• Utilizes an intelligent DV/DT charging algorithm that can modify the charge cycle depending on the batteries’ needs.
• Features simple visual indication of AC power connection, battery charge status and faults.
• The car is equipped with a dash light to communicate when charging begins in the cart barn and when the batteries are below 20 percent and below 10 percent state of charge while the car is on the course.
• The car also provides an audible alert when charging begins by sounding the reverse buzzer three times.
Connected
• 2-way communication via USB port, enabling the upload and download of information and updates via a USB flash drive.
• The new controller accompanying the ERIC charging system continuously monitors battery status. When equipped with Visage, the car communicates battery status, location and other information via the Internet.
MANIKANDAN DUNAMIS TO SUPPLY TROJAN BATTERIES IN INDIA
Trojan Battery Company, the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries, today announced Manikandan Dunamis Pvt. Ltd will distribute Trojan’s deep-cycle batteries in India. Manikandan Dunamis will sell and service Trojan products for a wide range of applications, strengthening Trojan’s brand name in the country.
The formal announcement will be made today at 3 p.m. at a press conference at the TAJ Club House in Chennai, India. Executives in attendance from Trojan Battery include Jeff Elder, president and CEO, and Mat Segal, senior vice president of international sales, as well as executives from Manikandan Dunamis. In addition, special guest and government dignitaries attending today’s event include Jennifer McIntyre, consul General, and James Golsen, principal commercial officer from the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai.
“Trojan has taken a comprehensive look at the Indian subcontinent and has strategically targeted geographic regions and premium market segments that have a demonstrated need for Trojan’s deep-cycle battery solutions,” said Jeff Elder, president and CEO at Trojan. “Trojan is excited by the potential to continue growing market share in the country through our alliance with Manikandan Dunamis.”
Manikandan Dunamis’ distribution of Trojan batteries will focus initially on southern India, primarily the states of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Pondicherry with plans to expand further in the Asian subcontinent based on market demand.
Manikandan Dunamis is a leading supplier of premium products in the region and will offer Trojan’s broad line of deep-cycle flooded, AGM and gel batteries to support all market segments with a particular focus on electric vehicles, inverter, telecom, floor machines, golf and utility vehicles, marine/recreational vehicle, and various renewable energy applications. The company will maintain an extensive stock of Trojan battery models to ensure product availability to meet immediate customer needs.
“Being named as a Trojan master distributor provides Manikandan Dunamis opportunities to supply advanced Trojan battery technologies to a variety of emerging markets in the region including golf and renewable energy,” said S. Sivakumar, managing director of Manikandan Dunamis. “Working closely with Trojan Battery to develop programs, define markets, and service customers will ensure our overall success of supplying batteries to power our customer needs in the region.”
The official signing of the contract was executed in the presence of Jeff Elder president and CEO of Trojan Battery Company and S. Krishnakumar joint managing director of Manikandan Dunamis.
Trojan Battery Projects in India
Trojan batteries have been successfully used in recent years throughout India in the harshest tropical conditions. Applications include golf cars, off-grid solar energy, rural telecom and boats. Notable projects include two off-grid eco-resorts which were nominated for Intersolar “Solar Projects in India” awards. Both the Spice Village and Hibiscus Villa eco-resorts were developed in conjunction with TeamSustain, and are powered by off-grid renewable energy solar applications with Trojan batteries as the energy storage solution — making the resorts immune to power failure or grid quality.
For more information on Trojan Battery Company, visit www.trojanbattery.com.
CORRECTION:
From page 38, January/February issue the Bat Mobile should be credited to Carts on 12, from New Buffalo, Michigan. We apologize for the error.
