LHS EV Tells Century That Electric Car Plant, Jobs Could Go To Flomaton Or Florida’s Space Coast

October 21, 2008

The company behind a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant made it clear to Century leaders Monday night that locating the plant in Century is not a done deal, and they explained the vehicle concept and their plans in a little more depth.

County leaders passed a resolution last week supporting the plan, which could bring up to 1,100 jobs in five years, to be located in the Century Industrial Park. As NorthEscambia.com reported last week, the lack of a building in Century to house their plant has officials with LHS EV considering other locations.

artrocker10.jpg“Unless it is fast tracked here, we are going to be in Space Coast, Florida,” Art Rocker (pictured left), executive vice president of LHS EV, told Century’s town council. “You are not the only ones in the running.”

“Century needs jobs,” Mayor Freddie McCall said. “Let’s get behind this program and make it work for the entire city of Century and the surrounding area.”

When asked by NorthEscambia.com what the town council need to do to fast track the project for Century, Rocker gave little information.

“The council needs to make a decision on a local resolution,” he said. “Other things I will talk to the mayor about tomorrow.”

Rocker did indicate that the company would be interested in acquiring the former Helicopter Technologies building the Century Industrial Park. That building is in foreclosure, with the town attempting to regain the building from Georges Van Nevel. McCall said Van Nevel is in the Philippines as has not returned the deed on the building to the town has he promised.

“If there was some way we could fast track the foreclosure of that other building, that would be a start,” Rocker said of the former Helicopter Technologies building.

Rocker said the company needs a building now in order to being filling over $1 million in orders for EV plugs…the electrical receptacles that will used to recharge the LHS EV car and other brands.

Other options being considered by LHS EV are a temporary location in the former Flomaton Wholesale building and a location in Fort Payne, Alabama. Rocker said the Flomaton Wholesale building would only be a temporary location, and that he felt Florida and Alabama officials could work together and both provide incentives to make that location work, much like Alabama and Florida worked together financially to widen Highway 113 in Alabama.

“It’s more like a partnership with the two areas working together,” Rocker said.

LHS EV officials were shown the former Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company complex in Century, but they said it would take too much time and money to restore it to a usable location for the company.

McCall said that in email exchanges, Van Nevel indicated that  he wanted to deed the Helicopter Technologies  building back to the town, “but he thinks we will sell it to someone that he’s already dealing with”.

McCall said Van Nevel was trying to sell the building to Jay and Nash Patel, the Pensacola hotel owners behind the electric car company LHS EV.

“There’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff I can discuss with you,” McCall told the council.

Council President Ann Brooks asked McCall to contact each council member and discuss the information individually with each. McCall expressed concern that such contact might violate Florida’s Sunshine Laws that call for open meetings, but Brooks told him that it would not.

“I can talk to you to a certain point and I will,” McCall said, not indicated if those conversations would occur individually with council members or at a public meeting.

Comments

2 Responses to “LHS EV Tells Century That Electric Car Plant, Jobs Could Go To Flomaton Or Florida’s Space Coast”

  1. jerry dycus on October 22nd, 2008 8:27 pm

    As an EV builder, daily driver for 12 yrs, this EV may sell some but not as many as they think.
    At 55mph the aero is so bad range will probably be well under 25 miles.
    It’s going to have to pass Fed DOT which for 4 wheels over 500 units costs about $10m just for lawyers/paperwork. I don’t think it can pass as it is.
    A better, faster, longer range, safer one can be done in composites for less money to build while getting a good price and cost much less to start up.
    I’m working on a 2 seat 3wh sport wagon with the 2 wheels in the front with 100+ mile range on lead batteries and a 80mph top speed sportscar. Such an EV will sell much more units with it’s enclosed body than an open jeep type could. Easily 50k/.yr for commuters, retirees, ect. At the cost equivilent of 400mpg vs the jeeps 100mpg at 55mph, short range because of it’s bad aero. As a MC, it easily passes FedDOT.
    EV’s are the future but better designs will be needed than the jeep style.
    Li-ion is still not ready for prime time but will be ready in a yr or 2. at a reasonable price. 100 mile range in my EV is about $7500 now vs in the jeep style, about $20-30k. But by the time your first lead pack dies in 4-7 yrs, li-ion will be about the same cost as lead.
    Yahoo EV Clubs, EVDL Photo Album, EV racing, Plasmaboyracing, Killacycle for good info and links from those who actually drive EV’s every day.

    Jerry Dycus
    FreedomEV

  2. ZAP on October 21st, 2008 5:46 am

    There is such a high degree of interest in electric vehicles right now, that many communities want manufacturing facilities to be set up locally and are doing everything possible to welcome the EV companies. This is not only because it will bring jobs for the local populace, but also because EVs are a way for people to lessen pollution and lessen their carbon footprint.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News