Roush EV Pickup Neighborhood Electric Vehicle

Digg This Story

Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) have typically been small, cart-like vehicles that appear as much at home on the golf course as the highway. While a few notable exceptions exist, this has long been the way of NEVs. These vehicles are popular in certain niches, especially in gated or retirement communities where low-speed mobility is viewed as a plus. In its landmark study, The Market Potential of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles in Master-Planned Communities, the Green Car Institute (www.greencars.org) underscored just how much potential these low-speed electric vehicles have in the right settings.

Now, Roush Industries has forwarded a new way of looking at the NEV. With increasing interest in commercial use of small vehicles emitting zero localized emissions, Roush showed its new low-speed Roush EV at the recent Clean Cities Conference and Exhibition in Palm Springs, Calif., where GCJ editors had an opportunity to drive the vehicle. Seat time showed this model to be every bit as efficient as existing low-speed competitors, but one that provides the familiar packaging and functionality of a small pickup. Yes, it lacks the acceleration provided by full-function gasoline-powered pickups and it’s only possible to drive about 50 miles or so at the governed 25 mph top speed legally required of NEVs. But that’s by design, and when placed in context on city streets with appropriate speed limits, that’s perfectly fine. We’ve driven NEVs before and understand their value.