5 Things You Need to Know About Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs)

What a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Is

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles - or NEVs - are battery-powered, low-speed electric vehicles that don't exceed 35 miles per hour and have a limited driving range of about 30-80 miles per charge. NEVs have seatbelts, running lights, windshields, and windshield wipers as well as a horn, brake lights, rear view mirrors, headlights, reflectors, and turn signals. Airbags, however, are not required. Some neighborhood electric vehicles do not have doors, so many NEVs are not foul weather vehicles. Drivers must have a license to operate a NEV.

How Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Work

Like other electric cars, NEVs store energy, and the energy powers an electric motor in the vehicle. Typically, NEVs are plugged in and then powered from the electricity grid. These vehicles do face limitations due to their battery size, vehicle weight, and speed, but are well-suited for short distance driving around town under certain conditions. However, they are appealing because they're zero emission vehicles that produce no tailpipe or evaporative emissions and they run very inexpensively on electric power.

Where NEVs are Used

Typically, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles are most suited to residential neighborhoods, planned communities, and business and college campuses where lower speed limits exist. By law, NEVs are governed to a top speed of 25 mph and are legal to drive on roads posted up to 35 mph. Most, but not all, states have approved the use of NEVs.

NEV Drivers Must Follow Rules

In order to operate on public roads, NEVs must be titled and registered through the DMV. The driver of an NEV must have a valid driver's license and must adhere to all traffic laws.

Benefits and Costs

Since NEVs only reach speeds of 35 mph, they are not considered light-duty vehicles, meaning they don't qualify for fleet credit under the Energy Act Policy of 1992's Standard Compliance option and Federal Fleet Requirements. However, under certain conditions NEVs ideal for specific fleet as well as consumer uses. They are less expensive to operate than gasoline-powered vehicles, help reduce road congestion, take up less space, and charge from domestic resources. Some neighborhood electric vehicles have direct current (DC) electric systems and consume about 0.4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per mile; others with alternating current (AC) systems consume about 0.174 to 0.288 kWh per mile. So, if your home electricity rate is 0.13 per kWh, it would cost about five cents per mile for DC operation and three cents per mile for AC operation. Replacing the lead-acid battery pack every four years or so could cost $1,000 or more, but tune-ups, oil changes, and other maintenances associated with conventional vehicles are not required.

Jennifer Olvera, a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, has been writing professionally for over a decade. In addition to covering the "green scene" for publications such as Where Magazine and Crain's, she has become one of the preeminent dining, food, and entertainment writers in Chicago. She has regularly been published in Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Zagat, Citysearch.com, and Gayot.com.