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Company in Springfield MO makes traveling easier for those in wheelchairs

Josh Schaffer — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:14:06 +0000

by Sara Forhetz, KY3 News
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.– For the first time a person in a wheelchair doesn’t need a large van or bus fitted with a lift to get around. A four-door sedan will now do the job, with a few innovative adjustments to make it a little easier to travel.

Imperial Coach Builders has retrofitted a Lexus E350 to make it easier for the owner to get in and out. At the touch of a button, the car opens up, allowing easier access.
Imperial wants to show war veterans who are back from Iraq and Afghanistan that they have another option, other than a minivan or bus. Workers at Imperial say they’re proud to be a part of the project.
The company hopes to be able to help more people out there with disabilities. If the prototype works, and everything goes well, it could produce several hundred cars a year.
The Lexus conversion costs about $13,000. However, a domestic car will be much cheaper. Also, if they can mass produce the cars, the cost will go down. Imperial is shopping the car to Veterans Administration hospital patients.

Don’t Just Drive…..THINK! Care Free and Clean Mobility

Josh Schaffer — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:08:07 +0000

Think Global the electric car company located in Aurskog, Norway, which manufactures cars under the TH!NK brand. They first started 19 years ago with the name Pivco (Personal Independent Vehicle Company). Ford acquired the company circa 1999 when Pivco’s finances dried up. After being acquired by Ford they invested 150 million dollars, started production of the Think City and marketed electrically driven bicycles as well as golf carts under the same brand. In 2002 production ceased after 1005 unites were made, then Ford decided to drop TH!NK in 2003 due to changes in the California zero-emissions vehicle policy. The company was then sold to KamKorp Microelectronics of Switzerland, owned by Kamal Siddiqi.

In 2004, the company started the development of the TH!NK public, a micro size electric bus that could be rented to customers for inner city travel. By February 2006, prototypes of the vehicle had been developed, but the company went into receivership. At the end of March 2006, Think Nordic was acquired by Norwegian investment group InSpire, which includes the original founder Jan Otto Ringdal as a partner. The company was renamed to Think Global.

During recent years, a wave of environmentally conscience individuals as well as climate change awareness has ripened the market for alternative mobility solutions. TH!NK is here to do just that, offer a new alternative for mobility. TH!NK uses a combination of Scandinavian design and new technology. This enables them to produce practical and modern electric cars that are three times as energy efficient as cars on the road today and produce zero emissions. Using state-of-the-art batteries in the Think City allows you to drive up to 160km or 112 miles on a single charge. TH!NK is also taking full responsibility for the battery if anything should happen. With the top speed of the Think City at 60mph it is perfect for any daily commute.

The Electric Mustang is Here !

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:09:48 +0000

Green American Muscle

When you Google the term American Muscle! The first thing your going to see is sites regarding the Ford Mustang. For as long as Americans can remember the Ford Mustang simply defines the phrase “American Muscle” ! Bigger and stronger, that’s the American way. Unfortunately, when you think of bigger and stronger vehicles another phrase comes to mind, “Gas Guzzler”, a term that’s been used time and time again since the price of gas soared to 4 dollars a gallon! Now, new technologies have arrived enabling consumers to join in our nation’s zero emissions efforts.

Introducing, the Electric Mustang!

The significance of the introduction of the Electric Mustang is that it takes the electric car from a nerdmobile to one of the most stylish all electric cars in America. In addition, no longer do the owners of an electric car have to keep to the right to avoid faster traffic, as this electric Mustang goes 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, beating many full powered gasoline cars in the quarter mile.

On August 24, 2009 Plugin Motors and Imperial Coach Works were acquired by a public company that trades under the Stock Symbol CCUC. Plugin Motors created an electric Mustang that can go 0-60 in 5.6 seconds with top speeds of 105 mph with a range as high as 200 miles to the charge. We are not aware of any electric car company that gets more range for their electric vehicle. Check out the videos showing the Plugin Motors Electric Mustang.

CCUC is not only showcasing the electric Mustang. The Company is also concentrating on providing the livery vehicle market with electric cars. This means CCUC intends to produce electric limousines, taxi cabs, party buses and other transport vehicles. To accomplish this task, Plugin Motors is teaming up with Imperial Coach Works, one of only seven companies operating under a Quality Vehicle Modification (QVM) agreement with Ford Motor Company to provide all electric vehicles for the livery industry, government agencies, and companies that own their own fleet of vehicles.

It is very exciting to see the Electric Mustang being made available to consumers, but CCUC management feels that its largest profits will come from fleet sales to companies and government agencies that routinely purchase hundreds or even thousands of vehicles each year. The company continues to work to lower its cost of production and believes that given the large orders from taxi companies, rent-a-car companies, and government agencies they can significantly decrease the cost of conversions.

The time for green vehicles is now and CCUC has a leg up on the competition. Early signs indicate that this could be the company to soar in the near future. Who knows, maybe CCUC will create a new phrase for American culture to adopt, “Green American Muscle”!

Springfield Limousine Manufacturer Goes “Green” With Electric Powered Limos

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:28:34 +0000

By KSPR News

Story Created: Aug 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2009 at 1:28 PM CDT

Imperial Coach Builders began its stretch limousine conversions years ago, but the company is about to lead the way with new technology.

“We plan on converting our limousines to full-electric power, which will provide about 100 high-tech manufacturing jobs to the Springfield area,” said Tom Catterson.

And that’s a big deal considering even this company felt the recent economic downturn.

But company higher-ups say making the move to electric, now, is smart for the business.

“The gasoline engine is going to go by the wayside eventually. It is our belief that pure electric power is going to be the ultimate way to go,” said Catterson.

The new electric engines are also made just up the road in Kansas City by a company called Plug-In Motors.

The first electric engine was put in a Ford Mustang with impressive results.

“It does zero to 60 in just over 5 seconds. It has more power and more torque than a conventional Mustang engine,” said Catterson.

That makes it ideal for use in limousine manufacturing.

Obviously for someone operating a limousine service, it’s going to be a little more costly up front, but down the line, there are some big savings.

Here the things you have to think about. You are taking maintenance out of the equation.

Plus, a gas-powered vehicle costs around 25 cents per mile to operate, versus the only 3 cents per mile operating cost of an electric one.

The engines are also expected to last much longer.

“There’s no moving parts in them. There’s no brushes. They are pure alternating current electric motors. So, there is no end of how far they can go,” said Catterson.

It’s estimated the electric engines can run for more than 200 miles on a single night’s charge, and can travel up to 85 miles per hour.

Imperial Coach Builders says it will begin converting the limousines to electric-power in January.

Again, up to 100 new jobs could come as a result of this initiative.