OK, folks, here's the LionEV response
Well, this is turning into a they said-they said situation, but here goes.
Yesterday we posted about LionEV's first actual delivery of a 2008 Ford Ranger converted to run on pure electric power. Almost immediately, we got comments questioning the validity of LionEV's claims/business. Following some quick Googling, it turned out that there is no lack of negativity aimed at LionEV on the Internets (examples here and here). I said I'd contact LionEV get their side of the story, and someone named James in the LionEV inventory department sent me an email today. I've pasted the whole thing after the jump, but here are some key lines (in italics).
My office assigned me to contact you in reference to your article. I handled the responses to two other negative postings on other blogs. I guess that since I handle inventory/shipping/ordering, they figure I have spare time :)
Well, that certainly won't do a lot to quiet the people saying that LionEV isn't serious about shipping the vehicles they've accepted orders for.
Well, that certainly won't do a lot to quiet the people saying that LionEV isn't serious about shipping the vehicles they've accepted orders for.
If you browse the web or Google to your hearts content you are going to find negative articles originated only by these four men. In no article, or any blog, will you find ANY individual who states that they were in any way dis-satisfied with their LionEV electric vehicle. This is because we work very hard to make sure that all of our customers are satisfied.
Um, if the first converted Ranger EV was just delivered, then who is out there to say they're unhappy with their vehicle? The main line of complaint is that the vehicles were not delivered. So, color me unconvinced by this statement.
Today we are delivering a Ford Escape LionEV to Los Angeles, CA. The event is being published in the LA Times. I will send the link to you as soon as the publication releases it to me. Watch the electronic version of the paper and within 24 hours you will see the same four men attack the commentary page of that article online.
That is certainly a story we will read with great interest. Until then, continue past the jump for the entire letter from James and to add your comments.
Full response from James at LionEV:
My office assigned me to contact you in reference to your article. I handled the responses to two other negative postings on other blogs. I guess that since I handle inventory/shipping/ordering, they figure I have spare time :)
I didn't read the postings of the others to see the authors, because I can already tell you who they are. There are four individuals that repeatedly slam LionEV. I am upset that they would paint Mr. Barkley in a bad light, I have worked with him for several weeks and he is a very nice gentleman. He is not a voice in the wilderness, he is a man who is trying to improve EV performance, and we support him 100%!
I didn't read the postings of the others to see the authors, because I can already tell you who they are. There are four individuals that repeatedly slam LionEV. I am upset that they would paint Mr. Barkley in a bad light, I have worked with him for several weeks and he is a very nice gentleman. He is not a voice in the wilderness, he is a man who is trying to improve EV performance, and we support him 100%!
The criticism of LionEV began in early 2006. It began shortly after a prototype battery pack ruptured in the back of one of our test trucks. The company that produced that pack guaranteed that it was built to our specifications and electrolyte purity. Upon disecting the packs we found that they were junk. The contract to produce our cells was awarded to MIT, and the other company was fired. The problems began about that time.
If you browse the web or Google to your hearts content you are going to find negative articles originated only by these four men. In no article, or any blog, will you find ANY individual who states that they were in any way dis-satisfied with their LionEV electric vehicle. This is because we work very hard to make sure that all of our customers are satisfied.
Today we are delivering a Ford Escape LionEV to Los Angeles, CA. The event is being published in the LA Times. I will send the link to you as soon as the publication releases it to me. Watch the electronic version of the paper and within 24 hours you will see the same four men attack the commentary page of that article online.
I read one post by a guy with the initials SC, one of the four, and sent him an email from my personal account asking him to tell me clarify the details of his claims. He didn't answer. Two more emails and he still didn't answer. He's just a sniper.
On a positive note. I work with the webmaster to maintain our website. Today I was handled the traffic facts printout from our site. I knew something was up because our traffic jumped 20,000 hits in one day. You have a very well read blog, and the article looked nice though I did not delve in to the garbage that followed.
I will send you the LA Times link when I get it. In the meantime, fire back a response to these jokers and ask them to give you some names/dates/details, not just broadsides. Also ask them if the letters PRFE mean anything to them.
[Source: James at LionEV]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Taser 10:26PM (2/14/2008)
Sebastion,
This may be the first Ranger pickup that LionEV produced, but they might have other vehicle types that they have delivered.
I'd be interested in finding out who the officers are in this corporation. And the structure of it. Is this a franchise based affair? If a person orders a Ranger from LionEV, where will it be built?
I've made no decisions based on a couple of negative comments; if I were to be that easily dissuaded, I would never have bought a GM or a Toyota product -based on the autoblog comments.
I like the looks of the LionEV ranger. I hope they improve the design by ditching the noisy curtis controller.
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Phil L. 10:29PM (2/14/2008)
Does anyone know if LionEV has delivered any of the other models described on their web site to private buyers? Just curious if this is their first delivery of the pickup model - or their first delivery of any EV.
In any case, I wish them well and hope to see more products from them.
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meme 10:59PM (2/14/2008)
All I can say is that anyone who would buy a product from a convicted scammer deserves what's coming to them.
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M.Barkley 11:11PM (2/14/2008)
For what it's worth, LionEV has been the most helpful company that I've worked with, other than PakTrakr, during my short time as an EV'r. Both of these companies are top notch.
My poor excuse of photos, don't do the 2008 Electric Ford Ranger, justice. It's an outstanding conversion. You can tell that they put
a lot of heart and soul into the design of this Ranger. To all of you involved in the design and conversion, my hat's off to you. Keep up the good work. Spend your time wisely, keep building Electric Rangers, and PHEV Escapes. Your hard work speaks for itself, and will be enjoyed by those who own them, and others that get a chance to see them.
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Taser 11:50PM (2/14/2008)
Michael,
How is lionEV set up? Franchises? I know you've dealt with the Texas location (buying batteries late last year), I'm just interested in the way the company is set up. Could you talk with the texas rep for lionEV. Perhaps he could give us a little information about the company.
And thanks for the pictures.
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meme 1:52AM (2/15/2008)
Oh, hey, it's "M. Barkley", the only person on the net who ever claims to have done business with LionEV. Everyone right now would be done a good service by googling the term "sock puppet".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_sock_puppet
You'd think that they could have at least come up with multiple names.
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Nathan 4:38AM (2/15/2008)
Sebastian, PLEASE close your or tags in the body of this article so that the whole of ABG isn't italicized. Please!
Thanks.
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Nicholas 7:59AM (2/15/2008)
Hitmen from Big Oil? I wouldn´t be surprised...
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Sebastian 8:45AM (2/15/2008)
Nathan,
sorry 'bout that. It's been fixed.
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Taser 8:28AM (2/15/2008)
Meme,
Step back and get a hold of yourself. LionEV will either provide info about itself or it will not.
You are not making a good name for yourself with your constant attacks on LionEV. We get that you don't like them.
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Dave 8:44AM (2/15/2008)
I'd love to see LionEV succeed because they're here and now. For the time it takes to save up and take delivery for a Tesla, we may never see a Li-ion EV. These guys are small and don't have the resources for a top-notch website and PR guy like Siry that puts out fires. HOWEVER, I don't have the balls to put down half a payment on a car "once it's delivered to the shop." I would put $1,000 bucks down however. How about put the money is escrow?
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M.Barkley 8:51AM (2/15/2008)
MeMe, It's very easy to tell you are nothing but negative on most counts. Hopefully others will read your other postings (by clicking on your alias), and figure this out as well.
Anyone that would like to learn more about me, my use of LionEV batteries, discuss EV's in general, is welcome to email me at: texomaev@yahoo.com
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Gary 10:01AM (2/15/2008)
While I know nothing about LionEV and, given the pricing, would really like them to be successful... I do have to admit I was not impressed by their website. It looks quite amateurish and on the Upgrade to Lithium page it has the "Honda Insite" listed. If you can't even get the name of the vehicle that you are offering options for spelled right... well attention to detail is pretty important in a product like a converted EV in my opinion.
The notes in the letter about working with the webmaster made me chuckle... but then I guess anyone can claim to be a web master. And the statement about "knowing the guy for weeks now". I have rarely met anyone that after some weeks I still did like... now have some years... well that's a different story.
Either way, just my opinions here.
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meme 12:03PM (2/15/2008)
Pop quiz to Mr. Curry. One question: Were you or were you not convicted of defrauding Ebay buyers for over $100,000 dollars?
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Mort 12:12PM (2/15/2008)
Lion, that's a good one! It will definitely catch on.
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Chris D'Andrea 12:30AM (8/06/2008)
I have had actual experience with LionEV and my experience has been completely negative. I ordered a Ford ranger conversion, paid $37,318.93in feb 2008 but it was never delivered and they now say delivery is indefinitely delayed. As of August 2008 they still owe me $32,000.00. Only two were ever made, and they do not work. They were delivered to Ram Mohan, the Texas rep for LionEV, and his customer. They do not charge properly and the expensive batteries are ruined. Contact him directly if you need confirmation.
Mr Curry is now in jail for a previous fraud conviction. Link to the case:
http://www.plol.org/Pages/Login.aspx?d=jWv8nE6LOLAlD4EFmkDYQg%3d%3d&l=Cases
I have not been able to find anyone who has had a good experience with them, although some posters on EV sites say they have bought batteries from them.
I am pursuing the matter with the police and FBI.
You may e-mail me for more facts. Chris-cda411@aol.com
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David Lockwood 8:15AM (4/23/2009)
I was in Prison with Ken Curry, He has taken $27,000.00 of a deposit of one of my friends money and never delivered the Escape Hybrid product. Does anybody have their address. I believe that if LionEv does not have any assets, the bare minimum would be to get Ken an extended stay at Morgantown FCI. I have inside knowledge on how to do an investigation for the FBI and hand them the info so all they have to do is take it to the prosecutor. My ex-partner who was hanging a whole case on me was ended up doing the time, he deserved only by me doing the leg work to show my true involvement. I did a little time he did a lot. they did not know the whole story until I did the leg work for them. I still got caught up in it but it was minimal. Any and all info would be helpful. I have specifics.
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