NEV local laws

[bennelson]

Looks like Janesville, WI just finally passed a law allowing NEVs on their streets there.
http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=17497

Recently a ZENN Dealer opened up there. The only problem is that a ZENN is considered a "neighborhood electric vehicle" and are NOT street legal unless the local municipality says that it is.

Because of that, you could not legally take one of these out of the dealer's lot for a test drive! You could buy one, but would need to have it trucked out to your place!!!!

I am all for NEVs, but even if I had one, I need to cross a 45 mph road to get to the post office, library, or grocery store. You can only legally ride on 35 mph or less roads.

Milwaukee also recently passed law allowing NEVs. Hopefully this will encourage more people to get and use them.

My motorcycle is a conversion, NOT an NEV and thus isn't restricted in any way (other than not riding in January - hobbyist plates-hotrod)

A car converted to electric would also have airbags, bumpers, and everything else, and thus would be street legal

[Ryland]

I like that our entire state is reconizing NEV's, and need to pester my city board or mayer about getting them allowed, I was thinking that they should offer more incentives, like free parking? but the fact that the state is now issueing license plates for them (full size good for two years), and I was just looking at a ZENN the other day in our university's parking lot, they are very cute!

[bennelson]

We are at least heading in the right direction now on the laws about these things. Hopefully, the ball will really get going, and all communities will just allow NEVs by default!

[MetroMPG]

Canada, unfortunately, is going the opposite direction. Here, the provinces regulate NEV's. Currently only one (B.C.) allows them on public roads.

Our federal transportation department wants to redefine the NEV class (called Low Speed EVs here), and change the definition from the one you guys currently have, to one that states the vehicles are meant for use on non-public roads (ie. not in mixed traffic).

In fact the public comments on the issue close in 2 days. I've written more letters to politicians on this topic than I want to think about.

While the provinces still retain the right to permit the vehicles on public roads, if the federal definition is changed it will make it far less likely to happen.

EDIT: the ForkenSwift, like Ben's motorbike, isn't subject to restrictions. Even though it's performance is barely above what the NEV's can do, in the eyes of the province, it's just a modified Metro and can go anywhere.

[GenKreton]

It's kind of ridiculous these laws need to be made.. As long as the vehicle is safe and it can drive properly on the road you are on, why should anyone care about its maximum potential?

The government which governs best is the one which governs least.

[MetroMPG]

Well, that's the issue they're using: safety. Transport Canada apparently crash tested some NEV's and they didn't like what they saw. So the official reason they're giving for changing the definition is that the vehicles aren't safe in mixed traffic.

Compared to regular passenger cars, they're right. They don't crash well. But that's why they're limited to 25 mph.

I'm just waiting for them to ban my bicycle.

[TomEV]

Kinda silly - Motorcycles 'don't crash well' either, yet they aren't limited to 25 MPH. (and shouldn't be) Owners that purchase any vehicle - be it a Yaris or a Hummer, a motorcycle or a GEM - should know each type of vehicle has its limitations, for good and for bad. Knowing those limitations, and any possible consequences for exceeding those limitations, is up to the owner and should not be legislated to keep us 'safe'. The phrase 'personal responsibility' seems to be out of style these days...

[Ryland]

I agree compleatly! we should be alowed to be responsible for our own safty, and if do something carless... it's not like there is currently a shortage of people! I like my motorcycle, scooter, and citicar, and if they put me at a greater personal risk, then I'm ok with that.

[bennelson]

I just got back from my local eco-group meeting.

It sounds like a lot of those people are interested in getting NEV zoning allowed in our community.

I went to the Milwaukee Hybrid Owners Group last weekend. I asked if some people from that group will come out to our group to Earth Day.

I also commented that it would be great to get some hybrid and electric car dealers out for Earth Day too.

I half volunteered/was forcibly volunteered the be the official local "go to guy" for green transportation!

I am not even going to be around my hometown on Earth Day! Me, my wife, home-built camper and electric motorcycle are going camping with a teardrop Camper group!

Should be fun.

Really though, this is interesting getting people together talking, teaching, and learning about creating transportation that's better than what we currently have.


I have also mentioned to a few people lately that I am planning on building an electric car. I have gotten nothing but positive responses so far!

[MetroMPG]

News from EV World - looks like New Mexico may be joining five other states with "medium speed" NEV regulations that will make the vehicles practical for far more people.

New Mexico House Bill 294, if passed, will create a new category of electric vehicles in the state: Medium Speed EVs. Unlike current federal limits of 25 mph for Neighborhood Electric Vehicles like the GEM, cars like the ZENN, which are approved in France and the UK for higher speeds, would see their top speed raised to 35 mph. The state would join several others, including pace-setter Montana, along with Washington State, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee in allowing higher speeds for NEV-class vehicles.