After the huge success of the hybrid gas-electric powered car, environmentally-conscious consumers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of all-electric powered vehicles. You probably haven’t realized it, but there are already around 100,000 all-electric powered cars being used on the road today. They’re called neighborhood electric vehicles, or NEVs.1
What exactly are NEVs? Even if you saw one, you might not recognize it. They look and act very similarly to golf carts. They can travel at low speeds, between 20 to 35 mph, up to a range of around 30 to 40 miles in one day.2 That might sound a little limited, but that’s enough of a range for city driving or around the neighborhood, thus the name, which frequently makes up most of the miles that people drive.3 Most take around 6-10 hours to charge, usually perfect for charging overnight.4
NEVs are different from golf carts in some very important aspects. Golf carts are much slower, with a maximum speed of 15 mph.5 Unlike golf carts, drivers can use NEVs on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or lower, unless prohibited by local law. Some towns even have separate NEV road lanes and parking spots.6 Because of the potential for collision with bigger cars, NEVs must obey federal guidelines about seat belts, brake lights, headlights, mirrors, turn signals, and windshields.7
People who use NEVs are not just environmentalists eager to live on the cutting-edge or urban dwellers of densely-packed neighborhoods. In fact, they have a large following in many small towns and retirement communities. For example, in Villages—a large retirement community in Florida—residents use the vehicles to drive between activities such as fishing lakes, golf courses, recreation centers, pools, and more.8 Nick Cappa, a spokesman for NEV producer Global Electric Motorcars, hopes that the popularity of the NEV among seniors will bring awareness of the vehicle to other age groups that would bring the cars into mainstream use.
Surprisingly, the army is another major consumer of NEVs. It has leased 4,000 of them for use in bases in the United States and Puerto Rico.9 The reason for this is both environmental and economic. This plan will reduce fossil fuel consumption by 11.5 million gallons over 6 years and will save $740 a year per vehicle in energy costs.10
As many already know, there are plenty of reasons to drive NEVs. Drivers of NEVs enthusiastically rave about how fun it is to drive, despite having lower than conventional acceleration.11,12 These cars require no gasoline, and are zero-emission cars. Unlike some of their more expensive counterparts, these electric cars can be plugged into a standard three-prong 110-volt outlet. These cars are also eligible for a sizeable tax credit that can pay for most of the car. For example, the Star, a model of NEV, had cost $7,045 to purchase, but qualified for more than $5,300 of tax credits, coming out to a net cost of less than $2,000.13
On the other hand, there are a few disadvantages to NEVs. Even after the fact that they are relatively slow and can only go a limited distance, cities usually don’t have infrastructure prepared for drivers of NEVs. That can mean that NEV’s share the road with sedans or SUVs that are three times as massive in size.14 Compounding the safety problem is the irresponsible actions of drivers. Many upgrade their engines, gears, or tires to make the cars increase speed up to 40 mph, but without accompanying safety features. Since drivers of NEVs don’t need a driver’s license, often drivers who have lost their privileges due to DUI or medical reasons will instead drive these on the road. Fortunately, larger NEVs are safer, since they include more safety features like horns, reflectors, and parking brakes.15
Innovative NEV models are springing up all over the United States that have made exciting improvements towards looking and acting like a regular car. CT&T, maker of the e-Zone EV, will be based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and make cars that pass crash tests for regular passenger cars.16 Arcimoto, of Eugene, Oregon, has developed the Pulse, a three-wheeled vehicle with a top speed of 55 mph.17 Wheego of Atlanta, Georgia is about to launch the Whip, a microcar that looks like a Smart Car and has many features of one, like power windows, Bluetooth stereo, and even air conditioning.18
Some say that economic reasons will push NEV sales to the mainstream market. Ron Cogan, president and founder of the Green Car Institute, argues that gas prices are going to go up, and as soon as they will, consumers will quickly turn to cheaper NEVs.19 Others, like Mike McQuary, chief executive of Wheego, argue that it’s just a matter of finding the right niche. He has identified two potential demographics. Young city dwellers can use it to park in tight places and travel around the city. Teenagers can use it without their parents having to worry about high insurance rates or their kids driving off too far or too fast.20 However the actual car looks, or, for that matter, the driver, the future for NEVs looks bright.
