1975 Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
AUTHORIZED SALES AND SERVICE
4532 U.S. HWY. 27 SOUTH
P.O. BOX 1963
SEBRING, FLORIDA 33870
PHONE (813) 385-1283

Southeastern Sales Manager
Robert L. Balfour
604 Aumond Road
Augusta, Georgia 30904
404 736-4065

The fully legal and licenseable electric automobile you have been reading about in Reader’s Digest, Esquire, Popular Mechanics and newspapers is now a reality. Over 500 of Sebring-Vanguard’s SV-48’s are in operation on U.S. Highways and the Nov. 4 issue of AUTOMOTIVE NEWS tells how Genser-Forman of Union, N.J., importers of 42% of British Leyland’s automobile production, have ordered $30 million worth of SV-48s on behalf of 135 automobile dealers from New England to Carolina’s.

The SV-48 is practical and economical second or third car transportation obtaining speeds of up to 38 miles per hour and distances of up to 50 miles on a single battery charge. It is charged overnight on ordinary house current with a built-in charger and can be charged up to 800 times before replacement of its 8 6-volt batteries is required at an electricity cost of from 13 to 25 cents a day.

The SV-48 does not require any gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, points or plugs and one SV-48 has operated on NYC streets for over 10,000 miles on a total maintenance cost of only $3.83. It has the least expensive sticker price of any automobile made anywhere in the world today and operating costs are on your electric bill.

Not intended to compete with Detroit automobile manufacturers for a family’s first car, the SV-48 takes care of the 54.1% of all automobile trips that are less than five miles. It is for doing the family shopping, commuting to work, trips to the beauty parlor, the college campus, retirement areas, for meter maids, reading water and gas meters, military compounds, airports etc!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation has granted Sebring-Vanguard’s petition for the necessary exemptions to operate legally on the highways in cooperation with various efforts to solve the energy and pollution crisis. SV-48s carry a full 1 year warranty parts and labor. It is the only legal electric car in production anywhere.

Joe S. Byrd, research engineer, DuPont, Savannah River Laboratory, says his wife in Aiken, S.C. has used her SV-48 everyday for over six months for commuting to her school teacher’s job, loves the car and hasn’t had the first problem.

The Nov. 1 issue of the Atlanta Consitution pictures Mrs. Walter Pinder driving her SV-48 in Jesup, Georgia to various schools where she teaches piano. Mothers say they would sleep much better if they knew their children had transportation on the college campus and couldn’t go faster than the 38 miles per hour. The minimum speed on expressways is 40 mph. SV-48s will not be operated on expressways.

The SV-48 was born in Augusta, Georgia and is now being produced in Sebring, Fla. at the rate of up to 20 a day. A shipping priority has been established enabling immediate delivers in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Automobile dealers know showroom traffic is the lifeblood of their business. SV-48 dealers tell us the electric automobile is the greatest showroom traffic builder they have ever known. When the dealer announces SV-48’s availability for demonstration rides and delivery the crowds pour into the showroom. Every newspaper, radio and TV station is anxious to give its arrival free publicity.

Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18, 1975
Page 888