Club Car’s new line of Carryall utility and transport vehicles are designed to help fleets switch from pickup trucks to gas, diesel, or zero-emissions electric utility vehicles (UTVS). The new vehicles will be available in January 2014.

To bridge the gap between trucks and UTVs, Club Car partnered with Subaru, whose engineers adapted automotive technology to design a new engine for the Carryall utility vehicles.     

The 14-hp-rated, 404-cc, single-cylinder overhead cam engine features electronic fuel injection (EFI), capacitive discharge ignition (CGI), hemispherical heads, and a case-hardened steel timing chain that enhances reliability. A splash lubrication system that eliminates the need for oil filters simplifies maintenance and reduces environmental waste.

The engine warranty on these vehicles has been increased from two years/2,000 hours to three years/3,000 hours limited warranty standard on all new Carryall models.

The new engines boost horsepower by 30% and fuel efficiency by as much as 50% over previous Carryall utility vehicle engines.  

Since there is no choke or carburetor, the engines start right up, even in frigid weather. The new engines also run cooler, last longer, and automatically compensate for altitude, the company stated.

The vehicles retain the rustproof aluminum frame, rack-and-pinion steering, and independent front suspension system of other Carryall vehicles.

Most new electric Carryall utility vehicles will feature an industry-exclusive combination of an on-board, high-frequency charger with an integrated cord retractor as standard equipment. The solid-state, global charger is 92-95% efficient, a 10% increase over the old charger.

To reduce the chances of stranded crews due to vehicles not being charged, it issues an audible alert when charging begins and keeps charging even during power swings.

The charger can be programmed for multiple algorithms, including lead acid or gel/AGM batteries. If customers change batteries, they don’t to buy new chargers.

The vehicle — with plug located on the front of the car — can be plugged into any 110-volt or 220-volt outlet.

Originally posted on Government Fleet