Business
Over almost a decade, we have developed technology that is more efficient, more powerful and more flexible but less costly than the competition.
We are now designing, manufacturing and distributing a line of electric bikes, trikes and Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) to the American market through our relationships with existing specialty retailers, our own retail operation and through the rapidly expanding EV sales in big box retailers like Best Buy.
Many of our products are also targeted at the B2B market where we will concurrently be executing our fleet sales go to market plan.
In cases where a product is outside our field of expertise or doesn't match our supply chain, we will partner with other manufacturers.
Our first vehicle has entered production and our next three are fully prototyped and tested ready to follow on within 2 months of further financing.
We have already prototyped and tested all vehicles in our first 5 years model of financial projections
Bootstrapping COMPLETE
10 model product line developed, prototyped and tested
3 core patents filed or granted
Initial Retail channels researched
Initial Fleet channels identified. First 3 researched
Supply Chain established
Primary staff identified
Seed Round IN PROGRESS
Fleet go to market research and strategy for 8 (of 12) segments
Fleet Agreements (x2)
Fleet Segment Ambassadors signed (3)
Retail product in 2-6 Independent Bike Dealers with 50 more researched
3 additional patent filed
Field Testing on first OEM component unit
First 3 products fielded
Series A
Complete executive team (already identified)
Engage full fleet strategy
Expand IBD retail channels
Develop Big Box retail Channels
Identify further OEM partner opportunities
Open flagship store to tighten customer feedback loop and shorten development and testing of new products
Cash burn is currently approximately $18,000 per month
We anticipate a total target raise of $2,000,000 which lets us reach profitability and sustainability.
In the consumer market we have 4 products which each target specific demographics which have proven receptive to light electric vehicles in the past and have established sales channels.
In the B2B market, we have identified 10 markets so far (Academic Campuses, Delivery, Ports, Malls, etc) and have matched our product line to specific transportation applications and needs we have identified in our research on those individual markets.
In all cases, our primary selling point is not "Green" but a straight value proposition: our vehicles cost less to buy and to use. Green is a bonus.
With $4 gasoline back in much of the country, many businesses and consumers simply cannot afford to be limited to two transportation options: walk or drive a two ton vehicle. There are clearly times when cars are the best choice. They cannot, however, continue to be the only choice. For many applications, cars are too expensive and really impractical.
We don't propose to eliminate cars or turn the U.S. from a car culture. We do propose alternatives that make sense from a financial perspective as well as offering a significant quality of life improvement.
We are executing MOUs to place initial units with NBC/Universal, Westfield Malls, and several local college campuses in the next 45 days.
On the consumer side, the U.S. market for electric bikes in 2011 is predicted at 350,000 units and growing to 500,000 in 2012. With an average price of over $600, that makes the market over $200 million in 2011. These numbers don't include trikes, scooters or other LEVs.
On the B2B side, we have identified over 10 quadrants that are each at least $200 million dollar markets. Initially we will focus locally on Malls, Film Studios, Academic & Corporate Campuses and Ports.
Our first year distribution plan will focus on fleet buyers, wholesaling to regional shops specializing in light electric vehicles and our own retail location. Initial marketing will be through online sites focused on LEV enthusiasts and local advertising near retailers carrying the products.
In year two we will expand distribution targeting at least one big box retailer like Best Buy which is currently running regional test marketing for LEVs.
A restaurant near a college campus needs fast, inexpensive product delivery. An electric trike travels on sidewalks as well as streets and parks right next to a dorm or campus office. The driver requires no license and the vehicle requires no vehicle liability insurance.
A mall manager needs to survey the entire property at least twice a day. Currently that is done on foot or in a car which is difficult to get though traffic, isolating and expensive. Our trike lets the manager conduct a more thorough survey more quickly and efficiently.
A senior citizen can no longer drive a car but needs to get to the grocery store and post office in their retirement community. They have also been advised that they need more exercise. They don't feel stable on a bicycle. An electric, recumbent trike is comfortable to sit on, stable to ride and provides as much or as little exercise as necessary while running errands or visiting friends.
In the consumer bike market, Currie is the biggest e bike seller in the U.S. with a mix of low cost units sold through big box retailers and higher cost units sold through IBDs. Ultramotor has one model (A2B) being sold through Best Buy and IBDs. Several other companies are selling units designed for the EU market which are underpowered for the U.S. All of these companies rely on the traditional hub motor drive and have no unique drive technology of their own.
On the B2B side, we won't so compete with existing golf cart and similar companies, we will identify partners to whom we can license our technology.
Santa Monica EV designs, partners, markets and sells e-vehicles up to and including compact car size, embodying its patented G3™ and AutoTurbo™ gearing technology platforms. These provide 50% more torque and 40% better efficiency than competitors with generally lower BOMs.
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Our revenue will come from product sales (both wholesale and retail, consumer and B2B) for the vehicle classifications in which we have expertise and in which our supply chain is already set up.
For larger or specialized vehicles we will partner with manufacturers already experienced in the field (in several cases already identified) with existing supply chains and either build OEM components or directly license our technology.
We will deliver an entire product line which provides specific, affordable transportation solutions for both consumers and corporate fleet users.
Unlike most LEV companies who launch with one or two products, we are able to meet the varied needs in the market with superior performing products.
Our technology can also be licensed to other manufacturers of electric vehicles to provide a more cost effective solution for their drive systems.
Technology
Not only do we have patents on our IP but we have development and manufacturing access & control that no other competitor can match.
Our years of experience also give us better contacts in the sales channels. Our builder OEM'd for Lee Iacocca's EV company starting in 1998 and has been supplying companies around the world since.
In addition, 4 years ago, they launched a sales and distribution division in the US which was sold profitably within 10 months.
We know exactly how many US vehicles have been sold and by whom.
We have two drive technologies that are covered by several patents which are either granted or pending. Both rely on off the shelf components which cuts development costs and speeds deployment. Both provide more efficiency and more power than competing drives and at a lower price.
Unlike most electric bikes, G3 Drive runs an electric motor into a standard, bicycle derailleur. This means a single speed motor now has 7 speeds giving much greater power and efficiency but adding little or no cost. It also means that if you choose to pedal, you can increase your range by 40%.
AutoTurbo applies to a wider range of vehicles. Instead of one big expensive motor, AutoTurbo uses a series of small, low-cost motors, each of which acts as its own gear. The computer changes gears automatically. Not only is this much more efficient, but also less expensive. It has already been successfully installed and tested on vehicles as large as a cargo truck.
Most LEV companies that have proprietary technology are either developing electric motors or batteries. Both of these are very capital intensive and require long lead times to production. We use mechanical advantages with off the shelf motors and batteries. If a new, better, cheaper motor or battery comes along, we can quickly integrate it in our systems.
Also, our drives are flexible. Performance parameters can be adjusted quickly in software or by changing a few gears.
Most importantly, our drives are scalable. We have already successfully applied AutoTurbo to vehicles as large as pick-up trucks. While our business plan starts with bikes and trikes, we have already prototyped and tested our second and third acts.
Our recumbent electric trike with AutoTurbo drive has already entered production. We have several clients ready to place evaluation units as soon as possible.
We have also negotiations for our first license for AutoTurbo technology.
The rest of our initial product line has been fully prototyped, extensively tested and is ready to start production within a couple of months of financing.
All of the vehicles in our five year projections have been prototyped and tested as well.
• Lawsuits: Any time you have wheeled vehicles you have the potential for lawsuits.
• Better capitalized competitors: If the Company does establish a substantial market, there are always larger companies that will come in and try to outspend on advertising and marketing even if their products are technically inferior.
• Ever dropping price points: Since the influx of Chinese bikes a few years ago, price points have steadily dropped. On a positive note, this is possible because component and assembly costs have decreased which will lower G3 and AutoTurbo production costs even as wholesale prices have to fall.
Available on request.
Team
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Britton Jackson | CEO |
| Tom Boyle | CTO |
| Steve Clark | CFO |
| Ben Constable | DIRECTOR |
| Carl Bressler | DIRECTOR |
Financials
Sales & Marketing
Production Start-Up Costs
Inventory
Operations
A full breakdown is available on request.
| Funding Round | Funding Type | Funding date | Funding Source/ Investors | Amount | Pre-Money valuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ME | 0 | 0 |
