An electric low speed vehicle (LSV) assembly facility and sales outlet has set up shop in Amherstburg.
Icon Electric Vehicles Canada is operating at 5 Renaud St., at the corner of Alma St., with it being owned by Scott Elliott and Mike Bezzoubkin. The LSV’s are mainly fully electric golf carts and recreational vehicles under the Icon EV and Epic golf cart lines.
“This is the production facility for Icon Canada,” said Bezzoubkin. “We’ll be signing up dealerships across the country to sell them.”
Dealers would include powersport dealerships and cart dealers.
“We have the rights for all of Canada,” added Elliott.
Elliott and Bezzoubkin also own Amherstburg Chevrolet Buick GMC as well as another car dealership in the United States. The latter is near the home of the ownership of the Icon EV in the United States and they began talking about having a Canadian version founded.
Things started progressing in 2023 and by November 2024, the first carts were delivered and Elliott said they were used in the Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade.
“These are the official golf carts of LIV golf,” added Elliott.
Bezzoubkin said many LSVs are capable of travelling on roadways as they have the requirements and amenities to be on roads. He said they are wanting to get Amherstburg on board with that to allow them on municipal roads and they are planning further discussions to try and make that happen in town.
Elliott envisioned the carts could be used to get people from marinas into the downtown core of town, as they could travel on roadways of 50 km/hr or lower. When a marina is redeveloped at the former Duffy’s lands, Bezzoubkin added they could be used to get people from there around the downtown core.
“It’s a great marketing tool for boaters,” said Elliott.
LSV’s are also good for construction sites and “perfect” for greenhouses, Elliott added. They have also marketed the vehicles around the province, including the Toronto Boat Show.
Components of the carts arrive in Montreal and are shipped to Amherstburg. Bezzoubkin said they won’t be impacted by the tariff issue.
Icon Electric Vehicle Canada employs eight people currently, including general manager Colton Bradt, but are looking to hire more through www.iconev.ca.
“They can apply right now,” said Bezzoubkin.
Elliott and Bezzoubkin indicated they are happy to bring the facility to Amherstburg and want to “keep it local.”
With Icon and Epic lines of EV carts, there are 16 different models. The Epic line is more higher end, explained Bezzoubkin, while amenities are often added and subtracted from the Icon models.
The LSV electric carts can travel up to 65 kilometres on a single charge.
“They just plug into the wall,” said Elliott. “They don’t need an EV charger.”
Batteries carry an eight-year warranty, he added.
Pricing for an electric cart/LSV ranges from approximately $10,000 to just over $20,000.
By Ron Giofu