A year ago we introduced you to the Bad Boy electric utility vehicle which made its debut at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga. At the time it was one of the first all-electric Ute's around and made quite an impression on folks despite the fact it was a pre-production model with a number of refinements yet to be made.

So, we're back in Moultrie this year looking for new products on the grounds at Spence Field and figured we'd check out what the year had been like for Bad Boy -- particularly since the federal government's tax credit for electric vehicles has spiked interest in "street legal" battery powered machines.

The Bad Boy LSV is aimed at the "street legal" and off road markets as a machine that qualifies for federal all-electric vehicle tax credits. Some states even tack on another tax credit which, combined with the one from the IRS, can make a huge dent in the purchase price of electric power.

Bad Boy had a good year. The Batesville, Ark. company reps indicated they sold more units than predicted and are looking for even more interest this year. In fact, street legal machines qualify for double tax credits in some states. There's a $5,600 federal credit and in states like Oklahoma, for instance, another one-time credit equaling up to about $5,000, which makes a big dent in a $10,000 range price tag for the Bad Boy LSV and comparable competing machines.  (That's possible, of course, only if you're in one of the 53% of U.S. households which actually pays any federal income tax!)

Catering to the "street legal" requirement for federal and many state tax credits for non-point-source pollution vehicles Bad Boy is introducing the LSV version of its machine with a new transaxle with a low and high range for a top speed of 25 miles per hour. The required ROPS, lights, braking capability and street tires put the LSV in the league with "golf cart" machines for the tax credit, but the LSV's clearance, torque and load carrying capacity make it a very capable off-road vehicle for outdoor enthusiasts.

The 48-volt (Four deep-cycle 12 volt batteries wired in series) LSV plugs into any 115VAC outlet to recharge and carries circuitry to prevent overcharging. A new longitudinal motor arrangement (2009 models sported a transverse-mounted motor) and new transaxle add to power efficiency and maintain the push-button 4WD capability of the 2009 models. The LSV also has a hydraulic dump bed as standard equipment.

A new two-range transaxle makes the Bad Boy LSV more civil for use on streets with speed limits of 35 miles per hour and less. With a top speed of 25 mph, the LSV also has lights, ROPS, street-approved brakes and "go-anywhere" street tires.
 

For more information on the new Bad Boy LSV, click on www.badboymtv.com. For more information on how you might take advantage of the "street legal" all-electric vehicle tax benefit, check with your tax accountant.