Low Speed Vehicles

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (or LSVs) are street-legal vehicles that operate in protected, low speed environments. Locally, these vehicles provide street connectivity between major residential neighborhoods and public transportation facilities and activity centers in Corvallis.

State regulations vary widely concerning whether LSVs can be operated on roadway intersections with higher speed limits. Most states prohibit this unless local authorities rule otherwise.

Safety

Currently, there is a significant Federal regulatory barrier to the manufacture and sale of small, low-speed passenger cars. Under longstanding agency interpretations and vehicle classification systems, vehicles with speeds greater than 20 miles per hour are treated as much faster and larger motor vehicles, and subjected to a wide range of FMVSSs that were developed to address specific safety issues that apply to those classes of vehicles.

In response to this issue, NHTSA has proposed and finalized a new class of 4-wheeled vehicles known as LSVs. This class excludes NEVs and speed-modified golf cars from the passenger car category, freeing them from the full range of FMVSSs for that vehicle group and substituting Standard No. 500 for them.

While NEV manufacturers and dealers support the proposal, several commenters opposed it, arguing that LSVs should be required to meet the full set of Federal motor vehicle safety standards, including those that are applicable to current passenger cars. NHTSA has carefully reviewed these arguments and concludes that the safety of LSVs will be determined by a combination of factors. These factors include the design and performance of the vehicle itself; operator training and ability; and the operating environment.

The standard requires that all LSVs be equipped with a seat belt for each passenger and have head lamps, taillamps, reflectors, parking brake, and windshields of adequate strength and visibility. NHTSA expects that these requirements, in combination with a limited operating environment and appropriate operator training and ability, will provide adequate safety for the operation of LSVs on limited-speed public roads.

Accessibility

In the US, state and local transportation departments set regulations pertaining to motor vehicles operating on roadways under their jurisdiction. These regulations often restrict LSVs to public roadways with a speed limit of 25 mph or low speed vehicles less and limit their crossing of higher-speed roadways at four-way stop or signal-controlled intersections.

These limitations increase the vulnerabili- ty of LSVs when involved in collisions with larger, faster vehicles. Additionally, because of their lighter weight, LSVs are more prone to rolling over during a crash. This increases the force of impact and makes occupants more vulnerable, even when the collision is at low speed.

This is a particular concern for people with disabilities, who are most likely to use LSAS as a mode of transportation. Research has shown that a significant percentage of people with disabilities have trouble driving, which can lead to decreased social participation and a sense of isolation (Bradshaw-Martin & Easton, 2014). LSAS are a promising alternative for these individuals. However, in order to maximize the benefits of LSAS, they need to be designed to provide a safe and comfortable ride. One way to do this is through user studies with full-scale reconfigurable mock-ups in a laboratory setting. Five of the six studies reviewed in this review made effective use of such mock-ups to engage end-users with disabilities in co-investigating accessibility features and vehicle interior configurations.

Ease of Use

LSVs are street legal and have to meet the same regulations as traditional vehicles. However, they operate in a controlled environment and are limited to lower speeds. This may help reduce the likelihood of them being involved in serious accidents with other vehicles or pedestrians. Additionally, the fact that they are electric vehicles means that they do not emit harmful fumes and are quieter than gasoline-powered vehicles.

They are often used to transport people electric pickup truck within specific environments. For instance, they are popular in gated communities, retirement homes and residential neighborhoods. They are also used by universities and large corporate campuses as a means of transport for students and employees. In tourist destinations, they are ideal for sightseeing and shuttle services to local attractions.

These vehicles are also popular for use in golf courses and industrial settings. They provide a safe and efficient mode of transportation, while also being cost-effective. Additionally, they are a perfect solution for people who want to cut down on their carbon footprint without giving up on the comfort of driving a car.

In general, the market for low speed vehicles is growing steadily due to a number of factors. Increasing demand for eco-friendly vehicles is one of the most significant drivers. Other factors include new product launches, partnerships and joint ventures by leading companies in the industry. These firms are focusing on providing cutting-edge products to cater to the needs of different customers worldwide.

Environment

Low speed vehicles are a safe, cost effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline powered motor vehicles for a wide variety of applications. They are widely used on golf courses, in neighborhood transportation, school & college campuses, industrial areas, corporate offices and for airport shuttles.

The increasing number of LSVs operating on public roadways – many in protected environments — raises concerns about their impacts on traffic operations and safety, and whether they should be subject to the same safety standards as passenger cars. Currently, state and local roadway authorities regulate the maximum speeds of these vehicles on their roads and intersections with high-speed facilities.

To address these issues, this final rule reclassifies small 4-wheeled motor vehicles presently classified as golf cars (and their speed-modified counterparts) to a new class of motor vehicle called “low speed vehicles.” This final rule also limits the market for LSVs by requiring that they have a maximum GVWR of less than 2,500 pounds. This will prevent the use of LSVs to circumvent Federal safety requirements for passenger cars, trucks and multi-purpose vehicles.

The LSV market is expanding worldwide. In addition to being used as neighborhood transportation vehicles in gated communities and residential neighborhoods, these vehicles are employed by hotels and resorts for sightseeing tours and other services for tourists. They are also found on college and university campuses to provide students, faculty, and staff with convenient transportation between campus buildings, and in corporate offices to facilitate commutes and meetings.