The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

An electric golf cart provider says The Bahamas now hosts the "first full-fledged plant outside the US" where the vehicles are assembled.

Jason Higgs, co-owner of Icon Golf Carts, told this newspaper that the company is bringing environmentally-friendly transportation that reflects "Bahamian living" to the Family Islands and gated communities.

“Icon here in The Bahamas is actually the first full-fledged assembly plant outside of the US," he explained. "Our product is a 100 percent electric, high performance golf cart in a variety of coloyrs, styles, as well as a utility line. We have a full factory. We assemble, we cover all maintenance and service, as well as a fully-stocked parts department. We're trying to bring an alternative means of transportation to primarily our Family Islands and our gated communities.

“We are trying to provide transportation that encapsulates Bahamian living. You go to the Out Islands and you're rolling around in the golf. That is the typical island life, really fun and carefree. We have some very vivid colours, very tropical colours, very Bahamian and we’re trying to provide that island lifestyle.”

Mr Higgs said electric vehicles such as the golf carts are better for the environment and can decrease The Bahamas dependence on fossil fuels. He added that the electric carts are also low maintenance and can hit speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, covering a distance of 30 miles on full charge.

“We have to consider the environment and climate change. If you look at the way the world is going, everything is moving towards electric. Technology is moving towards solar panels and better sources of battery power. We can eliminate having to keep up with the demand with the gas pump, and shipping fossil fuel into the country, and we get into a neat, sustainable power source," Mr Higgs said.

“Our vehicles come standard, doing a top speed of 25 miles an hour, which is a lot higher than your typical golf carts. It gives you about a 30-mile range on a full charge. We have a wide variety of tropical colours so they will look different than your average golf cart set-up. It's basically a maintenance-free vehicle outside of tyre wear and brake pads. There's nothing to do on it apart from just making sure that electrical connection and battery power is up to standard.”

Mr Higgs said he has had a “mixed response” from Family Islanders, who are apprehensive about purchasing an electric vehicle and increasing their electricity bills, or not being able to charge their vehicles due to unreliable service and power outages from Bahamas Power & Light (BPL). He has had to "reassure" clients that the golf cart charging systems are "smart" and will shut-off once the vehicle is charged with the same amount of power as a small refrigerator.

“It's been a little bit of a mixed response. I have been able to send a couple of them to Harbour Island as well as Staniel Cay, Exuma," Mr Higgs said. "The big debate among the Family Islanders is that they are so accustomed to gas that they question electric because of fluctuating power, and power cuts, and stuff like that. And a lot of islands have those problems so they are nervous about being able to charge,and they are nervous that their light bill will go up more.

“So I've been trying to reassure them that our charging system is a smart charging system. You can charge anywhere that you can find a normal household socket. It will only be on charge for as long as it needs to charge, and then it shuts itself off. And the power source fuels about the same amount of power as a small refrigerator. So there isn’t a lot of demand on power from BPL.”

Mr Higgs said his company is developing a solar attachment for the carts that will elliminate the need to use electricity from BPL. He added that some golf cart models can be used by small construction firms and landscapers, and that medical assistance golf carts are available.

He added: “All charges come built in, so they're not like the old electric golf carts where you had to have the heavy load charging box. Ours are completely built-in and programmable by computer. But, you know, they have their motivations. You know, they like the fact that they run out of gas. It's a gallon of gas and they are back up and ready to go.

"So we are trying to be very competitive in the Out Islands. We're in the process right now of getting a solar system designed that we will be attaching, or have the ability to attach, to the roofs of our golf carts, which will hopefully enable them to utilise their golf carts without actually not having to plug into BPL at all.

“That particular unit is good for holding up to around 1,000 pounds of weight. So it is very efficient for small-time construction or even a landscaper. We also carry a fully-enclosed cargo box which could be used to store supplies, and they will be locked in secure versus a typical golf cart where everything's wide open. And we also have wheelchair-assisted vehicles or medical assistance vehicles.”