From the 1975 Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations

Sales Bulletin #2-75

HOW SAFE IS THE CITICAR SV-48 ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE

The CITICAR SV-48 electric automobile has been subjected to all the highway safety standard tests in Washington, D.C., just as any over-the-road vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has granted Sebring-Vanguard’s petition for the necessary exemption to operate legally on the highways in cooperation with various efforts to solve the energy and pollution crisis.

CITICAR had to withstand five mile per hour impacts against walls without sustaining any frame damage. The car has airplane type disc brakes on the front and hydraulic brakes on the rear. It will stop within 20 feet from full speed of 38 mph. It has a turning radius of 11 feet for quick maneuverability. It accelerates to 38 mph in 11 seconds.

The body is built with a Borg Warner material known as Cycolac, many times stronger than fiberglass and the same material used on professional football player helmets or crash helmets.

While the CITICAR weights only 1210 pounds, two passengers are sitting immediately over 600 pounds of batteries and motor. With such a low center of gravity for over half the weight of the car it would take some very stupid driving to tip over in a CITICAR. If a CITICAR were to be tipped over the passengers would be protected by a strong roll-bar frame-cage made of aircraft aluminum and having greater shear strength pound for pound than steel.

During 1974 the CITICAR was involved in three known accidents resulting in NO INJURIES. In fact, the CITICAR came out better in each accident than did the conventional cars with which they were involved.

CITICAR is now being insured as a compact car. However, when insurance underwriting is completed we expect the insurance costs to eventually be much lower than insurance for any other automobile, for some of the following reasons: CITICAR, with a top speed of 38 miles per hour, will not be used on Interstate highways where minimum speeds allowed are 40 mph. It is therefore less likely to be involved in high speed collisions. CITICARS are used primarily during daylight hours for commuting to work, picking up groceries etc. It is usually the family car that goes out at night to a bridge party, dance etc. This means CITICARS are rarely exposed to drunken drivers or in use on the highways during the high accident nighttime periods. The CITICAR simply has far less exposure to a serious accident.

One man cancelled an order for a CITICAR saying he couldn’t get around Los Angeles without using the expressways. He later reordered a CITICAR saying the roads that were there prior to construction of the freeways are still there. He now finds he can get all over Los Angeles without having to use an expressway and a few people are on these secondary roads while the masses fight bumper to bumper traffic on the expressways.

TROUBLE-SHOOTING

Each dealer has or will send at least one mechanic to Sebring, Florida to become proficient in the maintenance of the electric automobile. If a problem were to develop that you can’t diagnose it can usually be cleared up on the telephone by placing a telephone call to either Jerry Delaney or George Aldrich (813 385-5116). If the problem has to do with your order contact Robert Stone, marketing manager, through the same phone number. Our president is Robert G. Beaumont. Robert L. Balfour, vice president and sales manager maintains a sales office at 604 Aumond Road, Augusta, Georgia 30904 (404 736-4065)

Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 895