NEVs may get more speed in Washington State
Click on the photo for a high res gallery from the AEV factory tour
Here are AutoblogGreen, we've done several reports on various neighborhood electric vehicles such as the various models from GEM and a factory visit to American Electric Vehicle that included a drive in their Kurrent. These NEVs typically have very limited performance and in most places are legally limited to no more than 25mph. Now that some of these NEVs are getting more safety features like hydraulic brakes, seat belts, lights and full bodywork, the state of Washington is considering bumping the speed limit to 35mph. If the new legislation goes through, it could definitely increase the popularity of these vehicles in urban environments like Seattle, where drivers don't necessarily need to go very far or fast.
[Source: Seattle Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 1:11PM (3/27/2007)
Good idea.
I've seen several NEV's that could work for my commute - except a 25 mph top speed would be dangerously slow, even in the 35 mph zones on my commute (one 4-lane, 35 mph stretch has a realistic, typical rush hour speed of 50+ mph).
It wouldn't need to be able to match the speed of all traffic - but a useful NEV can't be a death-trap obstacle, either. For my particular situation, it would mean a top speed in the area of 45 mph.
Reply