Club Car introduces the 'Run-a-bout', a new electric vehicle for gated communities

The Run-A-Bout is the first neighbourhood electric vehicle that can be legally registered for road use within the fast growing number of gated communities and private residential complexes in the region.

Colin Baxter, Managing Director of Hyrdoturf International, the Middle East representative of Club Car stated "Club Car believes there is a great potential for a vehicle which is environmentally friendly and fun...a 'Run - A - Bout' vehicle for the whole family located in residential areas in and around the city." Mr Baxter continued "Through Club Car's contract last year with General Motors we were able to launch into the business of producing on-road electric cars to comply with the environmental California State Legislation."

The Run-A-Bout is fitted with all the standard car safety requirements including seat belts, roll-over protection bar, headlights, reflectors, windscreen wipers, mirrors, roof mounted break lights, horn and a space for licence plates. The vehicle will reach up to 40 kms per hour - the maximum speed limit in gated communities. It also has a rear fitted shopping trunk. Hydroturf is also offering extended credit terms for purchasing the Run-A-Bout.

Dubai Police have recently stated that all such vehicles sharing road use with standard road vehicles for example, in hotel grounds, must be legally licensed. This makes the Run-a-bout the only vehicle in its category in the UAE to legally comply with this new regulation. Nick Tarratt, Golf Advisor, Emaar said," I am impressed with the Run-A-Bout'. Now that Hydroturf has received Dubai Police approval to use the vehicles on Estate Communities I am sure that they will prove very popular with residents. Now these communities are taking shape they are ideal for short trips around the Estates of Dubai. Club Car is a reliable and trusted brand and with their safety roll bars and seat belts I am confident they will do very well in this marketplace."

The Run-A-Bout's are powered by Trojan deep cycle batteries, each car contains six 8 volt recyclable batteries which will run for 50 kms on full charge. They are charged overnight using a standard 13 amp household power point. On average a set of batteries will normally last two years.

Currently there are two centres where these vehicles can be serviced, Hydroturf on the Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai the distributor for Club Car in the Middle East and Khalifa General Trading, Hydroturf's dealer in Abu Dhabi.

Baxter concluded, "The Club Car Run-A-Bout has come at a time where demand is on the increase in the region for a vehicle of this type. Large gated communities and private residential complexes are on a dramatic rise in the region and with the introduction of The Run-A-Bout, transportation around these complexes will become safer, easier, environmentally friendly and definitely more cost effective. Governments and inner city planning authorities around the world have been looking at alternative environmentally friendly transport solutions. The initial emphasis has been focused on public transport such as electric buses and trains. However, subsequent research indicates that people prefer to utilise their cars and taxis, which provide them with the convenience that their busy lives demand. The Run-A-Bout has become a perfect and viable solution for this. The future is most definitely electric!"