Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs)
While I did see a video posted here about the GEM I don't see any discussion of NEVs. These seem like a really smart alternative for daily commuting if you're within city limits for your daily drive.
I've looked into the GEM and the Zenn a little bit. They both look pretty appealing from a cost and practical point of view (for a commuter car). Does anyone know of any place within the US or elsewhere that these have been adopted broadly for commuters? I'm curious if city governments have made any special accommodations for these kinds of cars, i.e. special low-speed commercial areas where you could go do your grocery shopping, clothes shopping, etc...?
I've looked into the GEM and the Zenn a little bit. They both look pretty appealing from a cost and practical point of view (for a commuter car). Does anyone know of any place within the US or elsewhere that these have been adopted broadly for commuters? I'm curious if city governments have made any special accommodations for these kinds of cars, i.e. special low-speed commercial areas where you could go do your grocery shopping, clothes shopping, etc...?
Tags: NEV, car, electric, neighborhood, vehicle
Views: 0
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Ernie Kleckner on -
Southern California doesn't rate high on NEVs. I have been restoring a 1975 Vanguard Citicar, it is basically an enclosed golf cart. The Citicar was tested and rated by the DOT, it has all the safety equipment required in 75 including seat belts. The version I have is supposed to go 50 MPH (downhill) for about 50 miles. The State of California in all their wisdom will only license this car as a "Low Speed Vehicle" limiting its speeds to 25 MPH and restricting it from roads with a posted speed limit higher then 35 MPH. I live in Los Angeles where everything you need is within a few miles but most of the major through ways have a 40 -45 Mile an hour speed limit, forcing me and others with NEVs to find ways through residential streets in a roundabout manner to get from point A to point B. The muffler shop next to me had a GEM that they used to pick up parts from local shops. One of the shops they needed to go to was on the other side of the municipal airport, the street on either side of the airport have speed limits of 45 MPH. The trip to this shop was about 2 miles witch turned to 5 miles when you route around on streets with the 35 or less speed limit. Even tho their car would reach speeds of 40 MPH once the governor was removed, they received warnings from the Police Dept not to use the direct route. This muffler shop had a great idea an all electric car to replace the use of a gas vehicle for short hops to pick up parts, because of the extra time it took to route around they gave up and sold their GEM. Way to go Police Department, City Hall, DMV, State of California.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Earl Lewis on -
I can understand both sides of this problems you're mentioning. Although I don't have an NEV yet (and I'd really like to have one) I would be hesitant to take it on some of the busier streets in SLC. Luckily, I could find a route to/from work that would be direct and safe. Even with that I'd like to see some more legislative action/support for these vehicles so they could fit into the bigger scheme of things.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Ernie Kleckner on
-
I don't argue with the safety aspect, but bicycles drive on the roads and the NEVs do go over 25 MPH. 25 is just an arbitrary limit set, bicycles dont have a speed limit.
-
© 2013 Created by PickensPlan.
Powered by
Badges | Community Guidelines | Report an Issue | Terms of Service
