LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A BETTER WAY TO TRAVEL

By Erin Everhart, greengrowthcc.com - When you think electric vehicles, a few things probably come to mind: Chevrolet's Volt, Nissan's Leaf, the "zero" advertising campaign that Leaf is currently running, having to plug in your car. But there's another sector that hasn't gotten nearly the media attention but is quickly becoming a better way to get you from point A to point B: low-speed electric vehicles.

Functioning similarly to their full-size counterparts, low-speed electric vehicles cost only 2 cents per mile to operate and are street legal on most roads with a speed limit of 35 mph. This makes them the perfect accessory for any short trips, like running errands or going to work or the gym, in urban areas when taking out the SUV isn't a necessity.

In fact, the average distance traveled on most car trips was just more than 10 miles in 2009. When you're only going a short distance, low speed electric vehicles make more sense than your full-size car because they're easier to maneuver around, more cost and gas efficient, and don't emit any of the toxic emissions.

For personal use, low-speed electric vehicles resemble golf carts, but to date, the biggest use of electric vehicles has been from a commercial standpoint. Electric utility vehicles, like patrolling police cars or buses and shuttles, are the better alternative for government agencies or college campuses to keep fuel and energy costs low.

"Using low-speed electric vehicles just makes sense these days," said Justin Jackrel, owner of Road Rat Motors, a retailer of low-speed electric vehicles. "With some of the models costing as little as 1 cent per mile to operate and the current tax rebate of 10% of the total purchase price, you can't go wrong."

Still, a low-speed electric vehicle isn't something that you buy on a whim. It's a commitment, and there are a few things to help you decide if, and which style, is the right one for you.

• Open vs closed: In warmer climates, open NEVs (neighborhood electric vehicles) because you get more space without feeling like you're in a smaller, enclosed car. But, you are subjected to weather forces.


• Cost: While most low-speed electric vehicles are far less expensive than cars, they aren't considered cheap, with most coming in between $8,000 and $16,000. However, considering that it costs 1-3 cents per mile to operate, the long-term savings outweigh the initial price tag.


• Why buy? If you live in an urban setting where you're typically only traveling short distances, NEVs will pay for themselves multiple times over in cost savings on gas and maintenance.


• Not just golf carts: Street legal golf carts are not the only type of low-speed electric vehicles. In fact, most NEVs have features similar to any full-sized car, just on a smaller scale.