Club Car has often noted that it can customize its utility and transport vehicles directly from the factory, rather than the customer having to add a modification later or take care of it at the dealership level.

“We do anything from changing the color of the car to building from scratch to a specification that a customer may have,” said Rick Whitfield, custom solutions manager for Club Car, an Augusta, Ga.-based manufacturer of small electric vehicles.

While offering this service over the years, Club Car officials noticed developing patterns for different markets. The company studied those patterns and created predefined packages, called the Carryall Fit-to-Task series of vehicles, to make a vehicle that is ready to be put in use for that specific task.

Facilities Engineering

Club Car named its facilities engineering package for its use at colleges and universities, but the package on the Club Car Carryall 500 or 700 platform is geared toward many government applications. Both platforms offer features such as a choice of locking toolboxes or a locking van box. Other features include dual ladder racks, tie-downs, and rear receivers that skilled mechanics would use at different facilities.

Ambulance

Designed to help government entities meet requirements for emergency medical services (EMS) at municipal-­run sites or events such as concerts or other public gatherings, Club Car offers three different ambulance platforms that increase in size: Carryall 300, Transporter, and Carryall 1700 with automatic four-wheel drive.

Each is configured to include a space for the patient, but seating accommodates additional EMS attendants as the vehicle goes up in size. All the platforms feature a stretcher with mounts, safety rails, a storage box, and a medical-attendant seat. The 1700 is also equipped for off-road transport.

Refuse Removal

The Fit-To-Task series includes two classes of refuse removal vehicles that can carry trash and recyclables: One is designed to dump trash to the ground, while the other, called high-dump, can dump refuse into a standard dumpster.

“We often see these vehicles used in a parks-type application, in a dual-­purpose situation where they’ll use them for refuse but also for things like lawn clippings and tree branches,” Whitfield said.

For the high-dump application, the driver can place the bags in the vehicle, and the vehicle will dump the bag in the dumpster, eliminating the need for the driver to “double handle” the refuse.

“There are obvious productivity opportunities there as well as ergonomic enhancements, because you’re not having a person handle that weight and repetitive motion on a regular basis,” Whitfield said.

“We have a tagline we’ve used for our Fit-to-Task Series: ‘Powers Productivity, Transforms Transportation’. We’re looking to make sure people are getting the vehicle that’s going to ultimately do the job for them,” he said.

Related: The Utility Vehcle Buyer's Checklist