[idlewild]

Originally Posted by NancyDB

We love our EV. We bought our first 2 years ago, sold it and bought a 4 seater all front facing 4 months ago. There are so many features we enjoy with our new cart as far as storage, sound system, and performance. I would buy one again.

Do you mean Star EV or another type? Assuming you meant Star EV - and got the Sirius (not Capella) 4 four months ago, in your opinion what are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of the cart?

[idlewild]

Originally Posted by arbajeda

You should research the lawsuit; it covers more than Evolution and the likelihood of anyone "going out of business" is highly doubtful. If anything, there would be higher tariffs. Read this:

ANTICIPATING THE RESULTS OF THE U.S. ITC INVESTIGATION - Golf Car Advisor

I have done my research and while I'll concede that this lawsuit which has been affirmed by both the US Dept of Commerce (USDOC) and the US International Trade Commission (USITC), it will most likely more severely impact HDK Electric Vehicles (aka Evolution) than Star EV.

As context, the legal basis for the petition filing by the American Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers (basically Textron aka EGO and Yamaha) against Chinese Low-Speed Personal Transportation Vehicles (LSPTVs) is two-fold:

1. Antidumping (AD): Allegations that Chinese carts are sold in the U.S. at unfairly low ("dumped") prices.

2. Countervailing: Duty (CVD): Allegations that Chinese government subsidies are providing unfair cost advantages.

Together, these filings pave the way for significant duties aimed at restoring competitive balance for U.S. manufacturers like EZGO and Yamaha. Really, only those too are immune to any final ruling and imposed duties with retroactive effect.

In fact, based on Chinese exposure and these looming imposed duties, I asked ChatGPT to rate the risk of corporate insolvency on a scale from 0-100 with 0 being absolutely no risk and 100 being bankruptcy. It scored:

Yamaha: 5 (near-zero risk) primarily for its global diversity and importation from Japan over China
EZGO: 10 (very low risk) only some parts (electronics?) are sourced from China
Star EV: 55 (moderate risk, survivable with adaptation)
Evolution: 85 (highest risk, needs radical changes or rescue)

It further suggested if Star did go bankrupt, it would likely file Chapter 11 (reorganization) vs. Chapter 7 (liquidation) adding "85 means extreme risk of insolvency, with both Chapter 7 and 11 on the table, but a Chapter 7 outcome is plausible without external help. Star EV (Score 55): Not likely to file bankruptcy at all unless prolonged stress occurs. If it did, Chapter 11 is far more likely—they have U.S. operations, a brand, and partial supply chain adaptability."

TIMING
Finally - and importantly - the reason we may not have heard about this is the Final Ruling for both the AD and CVD (and immediately following the imposed retroactive duties) that was initially due back April 7, 2025 was delayed.

A Federal Register notice issued on May 8, 2025, confirms that USDOC has extended the AD preliminary deadline, and the new final AD deadline is now 75 days after that preliminary, which itself is limited to July 16, 2025. Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...2025-08088.pdf

And following that ruling next month, the Final AD Determination is expected 75 days post-preliminary, thus around mid-October 2025. And the Final Final CVD Determination will likely be aligned with AD timing, potentially October 2025.

Remember there is also the Final USITC Injury Ruling which is planned after the Final USDOC AD and CVD Determinations, probably late Q4 2025 or, more likely, Q1 2026.

And only then will duties be issued: If ITC affirms injury, AD/CVD orders will be published immediately again, likely early 2026.

Key Dates:
* By mid-July 2025: Commerce must issue a public preliminary AD finding.
* By October 2025: Expect final AD/CVD determinations.
* By Q1 2026: Final ITC injury ruling and duty imposition shortly thereafter.

So, yes, they can flood the market with the D5 Ranger and the newer (and super cool, literally, they have a refrigerator built in!) D5 Max, but unless they pivot quickly and/or have outside investment, they're going to be hit with significant duties including on all of the carts they are currently selling and have sold since
October 30, 2024 (AD) and as early as September 7, 2024 (CVD).

So there's more on my research - please correct me if I am mistaken.

And, of course, everything in life involves risk.

But I like to do as much research as limit my exposure, particularly when one is considering a $10k+ "investment." And from what I'm seeing, I would rather pay closer to $20K on a cart than risk even $12K on something that the Open AI GPT- 4o model is currently telling me is "highest risk" and "needs radical changes or rescue."

The same can be said about EZGo Liberty (very low risk) vs. Star EV Sirius 4 (moderate risk), but the difference - as I see it - is that Star EV is survivable, but the financial burden of that pivot will not necessarily need to be born by any consumer today - and might be part of the reason why The Villages is selling them, and indeed using them as their rental fleet in Middleton, and not any other moderate/high risk brands.

Just my 2 cents - or more like $21,000. :-)

[bragones]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I would urge anyone considering an Evolution golf cart, to do some serious research, before spending your money. You may find there's a lot of truth in the old adage, "you get what you pay for".

As for "Made in USA" thing .... over 80% of the components of Club Car golf carts are USA sourced and the carts are entirely built in the USA. Beyond question, they are the Cadillac of the main stream golf cart manufacturers.

Park an Evolution next to a Club Car or Star Sirius or drive each of one them, side by side ... you'll never buy an Evolution.

& no, I don't own a Club Car.


BTW, I have never run across anyone who's bought a 4 Seater (front facing) cart, who's happy with the purchase, 6 months later. They're slow, they're unwieldy, wheel base is too long, center of gravity is too high, they don't work at the golf courses ... & hardly anyone needs 4 seats on a regular basis.

As the owner of an Evolution D5 Ranger for 1.5 years, I find one piece of data in your response that I agree with; we don’t regularly use the back seat, but when Costco opens, I will get around the traffic and haul a big screen television in the rear of the cart! Seriously, we’ve not had one problem, we’ve been able to maneuver it with ease and if you have it programmed for full speed, you can get yourself in trouble. Great cart.

[PoolBrews]

Originally Posted by who_me

What is the process to lower the roof? What did they do?

Fairly simple and takes about an hour:

1) Remove 4 bolts from rear speaker and remove speaker
2) Remove two bolts going through rear supports that hold roof on.
3) Lift rear of roof and support (I used a 2x4 that I put in the rear bag area to hold roof up).
4) Cut both rear supports down no more than 2.5". Note that the support on the passenger side has the cable for the speaker going down through it. I pulled the cable down, cut the supports, then fished the cable back up.
5) Drill new hole in support
6) Drop roof back down and bolt in place.
7) Reinstall rear speaker.

[PoolBrews]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

If you really believe in supporting American manufacturing (as well as getting an excellent product), buy EZGo. It’s American. Even if it is more expensive or has different specifications, here is an unusual opportunity to support your country’s manufacturing. So many products we no longer make, like most clothes. But you can buy an EZGo. Walk the talk!

EZ-GO has quite a bit of foreign content as well. Again, don't fool yourself - just because they are built here and have been here for years, doesn't mean they are an american product.

EZ-GO is currently in a lawsuit with the US government for attempting to circumvent tariff pricing on many of their parts.

[Road-Runner]

I've had my remanufactured 2019 / bought 'new' in 2021 Yamaha Quiet Tech 2+2 for several years now. My wife has a newer 2 seater EZ-GO EV and I really like hers so much more than mine; faster, quieter, easier to get around on without the 2+2 hardware hanging off the back. That said there's one advantage to most 2+2's and that's the fold down rear seat. The platform is so useful buying groceries, hauling stuff to club meetings, etc. I'm looking hard at the EZGO Liberty with 4 forward facing seats, but haven't decided if I want to give up what the Yamaha gives me hauling wise.

[idlewild]

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

EZ-GO is currently in a lawsuit with the US government for attempting to circumvent tariff pricing on many of their parts.

Can you share a source?

The parent company of EZGO (Textron Specialized Vehicles) and Yamaha have jointly filed trade petitions alleging that Chinese manufacturers of low-speed personal transportation vehicles (like golf carts) are dumping products into the U.S. market at unfairly low prices and receiving illegal subsidies from the Chinese government. These filings have been made with both the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC), but I wasn't aware of EZGO being sued by the US Government for tariff circumvention.

[dadspet]

I would really think hard about if you really need a 4 seater. The length is a real issue parking in the squares since they stick out into the road so much I think they are a hazard to cars especially if they have golf clubs sticking out even further. I'm glad dealers talked us out of them when we were shopping several years ago. More disadvantages then advantages for the very few times you would like to use one.

[PoolBrews]

Originally Posted by dadspet

I would really think hard about if you really need a 4 seater. The length is a real issue parking in the squares since they stick out into the road so much I think they are a hazard to cars especially if they have golf clubs sticking out even further. I'm glad dealers talked us out of them when we were shopping several years ago. More disadvantages then advantages for the very few times you would like to use one.

This is true for the Yamaha 4 seater, but not for the Evolution (I believe that the EZ-GO Liberty and Star are the same length as the Evolution). Parking them next to each other, the Evolution is literally 13" longer than a standard Yamaha.

If you have a Yamaha with a rear seat and a drop down gate for feet, when the gate is down it's a bit longer than the Evolution. I've had my cart parked at the square many times, and I don't stick out any farther than 50% of the other carts parked.

Golf clubs aren't an issue because the well that hold clubs is integrated into the frame with no additional length. On a Yamaha (or Club Car) with a rear seat you do have this issue because the club holder is simply added onto the already long frame.