fun new way to get around!

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I'd love to have one of these!!  

 

[Outta Here]

Inventors are such amazing people. I enjoyed watching this video. I hope he is able to get the prototype into the hands of more people. Thanks for sharing, Pam!

[Gregory Matthews]

Pam:   Cute, and it has a small electric motor to help the "driver" out. 

My recent new toy is attached (in a photo).  It is a 7-year old NEV, licensed to drive on some public roads and all electric. When I purchased it, it had a bit over 13,000 miles on it.

I have driven it to local stores a few times.  My wife has not driven it yet.  But, she will .  She wanted it.

 

 

 

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Gregory, that's pretty cool!  How far can you drive with a full electric charge?

 

[Gregory Matthews]

I do not know yet how far I can drive on the charge.   I have driven it 8 - 10 miles and my charge was not down to the half point.  The dealer told me that I should get 25 miles on a full charge, where I live, which is slightly hilly.

 

As a NEV, it is legal to drive on public streets and roads, but only some.  It is not legal to drive on the Interstate and some other roads.  But, I can drive it in places where I cannot drive my other car.

It is only legal to drive at 25 MPH or below.  So, the MFG has set 25 as a max speed.  As I live in a place that is slightly hilly, it will reach a downhill speed of 26 mph.

You would probably be surprised at the number of companies that produce NEVs.

The local police department reports that they have never had an accident involving a NEV and in general the only problems that they have had with them is with some driving on roads where it was not legal to drive them.  This has probably been an error on the part of an inexperienced driver.

The local city requires a $50 fee and registration for a so-called golf-cart.  But NEVs are licensed vehicles and not subject to that golf cart fee.

Automobile insurance on a NEV is substantially less than what is required for a regular vehicle. 

NOTE:  The financial difference between a NEV and a golf cart is about $2,000, which is what is required to meet vehicle standards for a licensed vehicle.  Yes, a NEV will have safety belts and straps for both driver and passenger.

The benefit in having a NEV over a so-called golf cart is that a NEV can go many more places than can a golf cart.  In California, a golf cart is limited to driving no more than  one (1) mile from the golf course.  Whereas, the NEV can drive anywhere there is a legal road.

The basic standards are set in Federal law.  The individual States are allowed to set more restrictive standards, but cannot have more liberal standards.  

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

For those interested, my NEV is a Tomberlin (they make a lot) and the model is E-Merge.

[phkrause]

That was really Pam

[phkrause]

It looks like a golf cart Gregory?

[Gregory Matthews]

Yes, it looks like a golf cart.  This same vehicle can be purchased as a golf cart.  The only difference between a NEV and a golf cart in that the NEV   is built to the standards that must be met to be licensed--seat and shoulder belts, wipers, speedometer, turn signal lights, brake lights, etc. 

A golf cart will probably have a rack that carries two golf bags.  But, so can a NEV.  A NEV can be driven anywhere a golf cart can be driven.  But, a golf cart can not be driven some of the places where a NEV can be driven.

Insurance coverage for a golf cart, as long as it is not driven on an illegal road, will be provided by your home owners policy.  Insurance coverage for a NEV will be provided on your auto policy as an additional vehicle.

I live in a community that has an extensive set of roads on which it is legal to drive a NEV.  I can drive for miles from my home, if I wish.  I can drive to shopping centers, many of which will have reserved parking spaces for NEVs.  I can drive to near-by residential communities.

Frankly, this has been a learning experience for me.  I saw road signs stating that a NEV could be driven on them and had no idea as to what a NEV was.  I had to look it up in the California Vehicle Code.

NOTE:  Why are there road signs stating that a NEV  could be driven on them?  There is a basic set of roads on which it is legal to drive a NEV, and those roads are not signed.  Communities have the authority to authorize  other roads for travel by NEVs.  But, a set of conditions must be met.  One of those conditions it that they post road signs stating where on those roads NEVs can be driven.  One other condition that must be met is that such a road must have an identified lane on which NEVs are to be  driven and on which regular automobiles can not be driven unless it is an identified turning space.   Regular roads do not require an identified lane.  On such roads, the NEVs share a lane with regular automobiles.

 

[nuff sed]

Now, if you want to see something interesting and Highway qualified take a look at the Elio (Eliomotors.com)...   This has been on the drawing board for  four or five years and they are trying to start production the end of this year or early next year.    The vehicle is gasoline powered;rated at up to 84 mpg; 100 mph.  Price listed at $6800 base.  Over 50,000 people have already put down deposits on it.  I am #3375..... Nuff Sed

[Gregory Matthews]

So, you are telling us that it is not available yet.