Neighborhood Electric Vehicles
When you are older, you may have a checklist like this:
- Pack lunch for tomorrow
- Put trash and recycling out at curb.
- Plug in the car.
Plug in the car? That reminder is already on the checklist of about 15,000 Californians. These people own vehicles called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs). NEVs are small, lightweight vehicles.
Many NEVs can carry one or two passengers. Others can carry up to six people. The vehicles are designed for daily activities around town. People use them to get to the store or for a short drive to work. NEVs can only be used on streets with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or lower.
The NEV has a rechargeable battery and an electric motor. It does not produce any emissions like regular cars. The vehicle also uses less energy to transport people than most regular cars. Best of all, when the battery is low, it can be plugged in at home! California also has recharging stations. People in San Diego can take their cars to a station that also sells other types of alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas.
NEVs are used in California by the Palm Springs Police Department. The police use the vehicles to patrol neighborhoods. In fact, California is leading the way for NEVs. There are more NEVs in California than in any other state.
Vocabulary
Sources:
- Transportation Choices - Consumer Energy Center
- http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/transportation/urban_options/nev.html
- Electric Cars & Carts
- http://electriccarsandcarts.com/limo.cfm
- About Neighborhood Electric Vehicles - Electric Drive Transportation Association
- http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?tg=articles&topics=129