Cree Electric Vehicle

[Derwin]

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=368&stc=1&d=1209831655

I have been watching this company for a couple years now, and it seems they still do not have things really "together" yet, but I think the concept is pretty darn good. The range is not where it needs to be, and the top speed definately needs to be improved, but if they can get this on the market for around $9,000, AND fix those problems, I think we have a winner! Those, of course, are all big "if's", but I think it's a company to keep an eye on.

Here are a few video's:


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Here are a few picture of this electric vehicle:

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=361&stc=1&d=1209831615

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=362&stc=1&d=1209831615

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=363&stc=1&d=1209831615

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=364&stc=1&d=1209831615

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=365&stc=1&d=1209831615

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366&stc=1&d=1209831615

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=367&stc=1&d=1209831655

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=369&stc=1&d=1209831655

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=370&stc=1&d=1209831655

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=371&stc=1&d=1209831655

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=372&stc=1&d=1209831655

Here is a statement by the company:


Statement

“SAM is a Swiss award-winning and patented Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) of a new generation designed and developed by Cree Ltd. SAM is at prototype stage and approved for all public roads. 80 vehicles initially produced for public testing in the cities of Zurich and Basle are currently running mainly on Swiss roads and owned by private consumers.

This website is a reaction to thousands of inquiries from potential customers from all over the world to purchase SAM. Cree’s goal is to find the capital as well as the industry partner(s) needed to bring this vehicle to mass production and realize the market potential discovered during the testing phase in 2001.

Cree invites interested investors, retailers as well as potential license manufacturing partners to discuss how the interests of all parties can best be met and to define suitable strategies for a fast international build-up of SAM.

In 2003 Cree had to close its doors, due to the lack of funding and had to let go all of its employees. In a joint effort the shareholders and financing partners of Cree decided to save the company. This process of restructuring has now successfully been completed. Today Cree is ready to reactivate this project and has access to all data, results and rights obtained during the 8 years of development time of SAM, thus providing an attractive and debt-free opportunity for investment to new financing and industry partners”.

--Marc Frehner, co-founder and CEO

As I already said, this company and vehicle have a long way to go until it is ready to hit the market in a big way, but I do think there is potential.

Derwin

[Victoly]

I like it! It seems like it'd be ideal for my lifestyle.

... and, of course, yet another vehicle that's in development and sales oblivion.

[Keldros]

Looks interesting, but I'll probably still wait for the V1, even if this becomes available sooner. Just a few issues I see with it:
1) From the videos, it appears to lean out in turns like a conventional car rather than leaning in like a standard motorcycle or Carver One. While it appears to have a lower center of gravity to help compensate, I'd prefer the stability offered by DVC.

2) The double-hinged gullwing doors don't appear to seal completely in the middle hinge. You can actually see into the vehicle through it. While this is no big deal on nice days, I imagine this would be a nuisance during bad weather, especially if a bigger vehicle runs through a puddle next to you. Also, the noise created by such a gap combined with the road noises would be annoying for me.

3) With a 50 km range and 85 kph cruise, it's definitely better suited for inner-city/commuter use. I have to take the highway to get to work, so this will definitely not work for me.

Still, if they can get the investment to getting it mass-produced, I'm sure it would be able to find a pretty good niche market and it does still look find of fun. :)

[Victoly]

It's like some kind of Bizarro World situation, but if these hit the streets, I'd use it for my daily commute and save the VV (hybrid) for the weekends and long-distance trips.

I will agree that this would probably not be that great in the rain (and there's a video on youtube of one skidding slowly out of control on a snowy road) but since it's sunny 98% of the time where I live, I'm about 5 miles from my office, and maybe 10~15 miles to the beach, this would be great.

Heck, it looks like it might be able to float. :IDEA: hmm....

[Derwin]

I just got off the phone with the president of the company in Switzerland, and he told me that these are expected to go into production by the end of the year. He also stated that the specs on the website are from 2001, and are NOT current. The new specs he gave me are:

TOP SPEED: 55MPH
RANGE: 60 to 70 MILES

I think with these better specs, this vehicle may be acceptable as an urban commuter. He also stated that they have plans for a hybrid model, which would be simply fantastic.

Derwin

[Keldros]

That's cool, Derwin, but the 55 mph top speed would be death on a TX highway. I'll just wait for the V1. :)

[Derwin]

That's cool, Derwin, but the 55 mph top speed would be death on a TX highway. I'll just wait for the V1. :)

I agree completely. But I still say that this vehicle would make a fantastic commuter vehicle for those that live in urban areas where the speed limit is anywhere from 15mph to 45mph. Actually, this is the very purpose for which they designed this vehicle. It's not meant to be on Texas highways, or even Chicago highways for that matter. =n:

And......NOTHING can take the place of the V1. The vehicle that VV is working on is second to NONE in my opinion. Not only for it's great fuel mileage as a hybrid, but for the fun factor of tiltling. NOTHING CAN REPLACE THE FUN FACTOR! IMHO.

=D

Derwin

[Derwin]

I think it's about time I dig this vehicle out of the back room, and give the company a call. I still really like this little thing. I wonder if they ever developed the hybrid model, or if they made any progress at all. Hmmm.

Derwin

[Derwin]

Well, I'm digging this thread up again, since it's been almost a year since any comments have been made on it.

I really like this little bugger! It doesn't really tilt, but it's unique, and it's economical.

I'm going to contact the owner of the company once again, and see if anything has been happening.

I'll let you all know what I find out.

Derwin

[Derwin]

For those of you lucky enough to already own a CREE vehicle, here is the a copy of the owners manual....


http://flytheroadclub.com/CREE_Owners_Manual.pdf

[jeremymc7]

For $9k it might be fun for around town, especially while we wait for other options. For 2-3x the price I'd much rather have the other options and take it out on the highway though.

[Derwin]

For $9k it might be fun for around town, especially while we wait for other options. For 2-3x the price I'd much rather have the other options and take it out on the highway though.


What I always dreamed of doing with this little bugger, was to "goose it up" a little, and give it more power. Maybe even add a new power source to it to give it an extended range and more power.

Heck, I wouldn't mind just buying this without the power source, and playing with it myself! But I don't think they would let me do that!

Derwin

[MVRacing]

SAM begins rebirth as Re-Volt in Poland (http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/sam-begins-rebirth-as-re-volt-in-poland/)

by Domenick Yoney (http://green.autoblog.com/bloggers/domenick-yoney/) (RSS feed (http://green.autoblog.com/bloggers/domenick-yoney/rss.xml)) on Nov 4th, 2009 at 6:08PM
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-re-volt-630.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/full/)
<SMALL style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">SAM Re-Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery</SMALL>

If you harbor a fondness for bizarre-looking three-wheeled electric vehicles and are looking for a good excuse to visit Poland, this may be your lucky day. The re-engineered (http://green.autoblog.com/2008/07/29/polish-re-engineered-cree-sam-to-roll-again/) SAM (http://green.autoblog.com/tag/SAM/) is now for sale in that Central European Republic and has been dubbed the Re-Volt. Those familiar with the project might remember it was expected (http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/13/angry-sam-electric-locusts-set-to-swarm-out-of-factory/) to be available through the SAM website a couple months back but, for whatever reason, that site is not yet live.

The price to start turning heads (and possibly create panic) on the streets of Warsaw is now set at 60,200 Polish zlotych ($20,780, about 14,000 Euros). That figure includes, among other things, the 7 kWh Kokam (http://green.autoblog.com/tag/Kokam) lithium ion battery as well as an on-board charger, electric locks and heat. For a reasonable number of extra zlotychs you can upgrade the audio system to a Blaupunkt, get heated seats, a reverse camera with LCD display and alloy wheels. If you want to try before you buy, you can sign up on their website (http://www.re-volt.com.pl/) for up to 2 hours of wheel time. If you do go for a test drive, you can expect to get about 60 miles (100 km) of range and a top speed of 55 mph (90 km/h). The Re-Volt also features a two-stage brake regeneration system that kicks in lightly when the foot is removed from the accelerator and more forcefully when the brake pedal is depressed. If you can't make it to Poland in the near future, you can at least content yourself with an ample gallery of pics below. Enjoy!


Gallery: SAM Re-Volt (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/)

<LI sizset="76" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-1_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/) <LI sizset="77" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-2_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/) <LI sizset="78" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-3_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/) <LI sizset="79" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-4_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/) <LI sizset="80" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-5_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/) <LI sizset="81" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-6_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/) <LI sizset="82" sizcache="7">http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-7_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/sam-revolt-8_thumbnail.jpg (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/sam-re-volt/)

[MVRacing]

I really like the way they did the folding door...so it won't hit the garage ceiling.

Wonder how much it leans? Wonder if it could be re-geared for a bit more than 55mph top speed? Or if it would take a rework of the motor/electrical system?

Anyone up for a trip to Poland? Derwin can we import these?

[Derwin]

I posted information about this vehicle over a year ago. Check out this thread...

http://flytheroadclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427&highlight=cree

I absolutely love this little vehicle, although it does need a power boost, and I mentioned this to the owner of the company last year when I was on the phone with him. Back then the company was in limbo and not going anywhere. He told me that they were looking for partners. I guess they found some!

Derwin

[rickb]

Wow! Interesting little three wheeler tilting? or not. It makes me smile. Let's import a few.

[Derwin]

Wow! Interesting little three wheeler tilting? or not.


Not. Unfortunately, this vehicle does not have that all important "fun factor".

But I agree, it is unique, and I like it also.

Derwin

[Derwin]

I've now moved these posts to the original thread to keep things organized.

Derwin

[mamamac]

I noticed how the cabin moves while going through the curves. It moves like a car in the turns. After riding motorcycles for so long, I tend to get a bit queezy with the counter intuitive motion of 4 wheelers.

You can see the advantage of the carver, venture, and persu. For me this vehicle doesn't make the grade.