EcoInspired

Whether it’s outside the bank, the farmer’s market, the gym, a client site, or waiting at a stop light next to a gigantic SUV, people want to talk about my “cute little” ZENN car. Truck drivers and SUV drivers have asked me where they can get a ZENN car too. It’s gotten to the point that I have to build in an extra 15 to 30 minutes to allow time to answer people’s questions. With gas costing close to $3.50 in the San Francisco Bay Area, more folks are looking for alternatives. I love how my ZENN is an icebreaker to discuss questions that matter in service of A Future Worth Living©!

New State Electric Drive Laws in 2007

Here are the latest state electric drive laws passed this year.

CONNECTICUT

State Fleet Requirements
SB 1500A ñ Signed into law on June 29, 2007, became Public Act No. 4.; requires that 50% of state vehicles be alt-fueled, hybrid or plug-in electric after 2008; 100% after 2012. Provides sales tax exemptions for high mileage, low emission vehicles.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/Pa/pdf/2007PA-00004-R00SB-01500SS1-PA.pdf

DELAWARE

Low Speed Vehicle Operation††
S.B. 17 became law on April 14, 2007. Sets requirements for low-speed vehicles to operate on Delaware highways; limits operation to roads posted at 35 mph or below, permits crossing at maerked intersections and exempts from safety inspections.

http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis144.nsf/EngrossmentsforLookup/SB+17/$file/0661440014.doc?open

FLORIDA

Fleet greenhouse gas emissions reductions
Executive Order 127:† The Governor issued Executive Order 127 on July 13, 2007. The order establishes greenhouse gas emissions targets, and provides for adoption of the California motor vehicle emission standards.†

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/climatechange/files/2007.07.13_eo_07-127.pdf

Operation of LSVs and Golf Carts by law enforcement††
HB 1003 ñ Filed as Chapter No. 2007-154 on June 15, 2007 allows law enforcement to use all terrain, golf carts and low speed vehicles on state streets, roads and highways.†

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1003er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1003&Session=2007

ILLINOIS

Low Speed Vehicle Operation††
HB 1875- became Pub Act 95-0150 on August 14, 2007. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person operating a neighborhood electric vehicle may make a direct crossing at an intersection controlled by a traffic light or 4-way stop sign upon or across a highway under the jurisdiction of the State if the speed limit on the highway is 35 miles per hour or less at the place of crossing. Effective immediately.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500HB1875lv&SessionID=51&GA=95&DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=1875&print=true

SB 393 was sent to the Governor on June 29, 2007. Not signed as of 8.22.07.† Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In provisions restricting the operation of certain electronically-powered four-wheeled motor vehicles and defining those vehicles as “neighborhood electric vehicles”, provides that those restrictions also apply to certain gasoline-powered four-wheeled motor vehicle with an engine displacement under 1,200 cubic centimeters and changes the term to “neighborhood vehicles”. Effective immediately.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=51&GA=95&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=393&GAID=9&LegID=28027&SpecSess=&Session=

INDIANA

Low Speed Vehicle Specifications††††
S.B. 163 became Public Law No. 9 MARCH 30, 2007. Removes the 2200 maximum weight restriction and 4 person seating capacity for low speed electrically powered motor vehicles.

http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/SE/SE0163.1.html

MARYLAND

Low emission vehicle regulations and exemptions†
S.B. 103: On APRIL 24, 2007 became Chapter No. 111. Requires the Department of the Environment and the Motor Vehicle Administration to adopt regulations to establish a low emissions vehicle program applicable to certain vehicles; prohibits the Department or any other State agency from adopting a regulation that requires the sale or use of certain gasoline; exempts certain zero emission and qualified hybrid vehicles from certain emissions testing and inspection requirements until the model year is 3 years old.†

http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/chapters_noln/Ch_111_sb0103E.pdf

H.B. 131: On APRIL 24, 2007 became Chapter No. 111 ñ Crossfiled w/ SB 103.† Requires the Department of Environment and the Motor Vehicle Administration to adopt regulations by December 31, 2007, to establish a low emissions vehicle program applicable to vehicles of the model year 2011 and thereafter under specified circumstances; requires the Administration and the Department to establish motor vehicle emissions standards and compliance requirements.

http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/chapters_noln/Ch_111_sb0103E.pdf

MONTANA

Medium Speed ElectricVehicle Operation
S.B.185: On† APRIL 23, 2007 became Chapter No. 233. Provides for medium speed electric vehicles that have a top speed not greater than 35 mph.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2007/billhtml/SB0185.htm

NEVADA

Hybrid Vehicle Emission Exemptions††††
SB 161- signed into law on May 31, 2007. Chapter No. 231.Exempts HEVs from emission control program until the model year is six years old.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/SB/SB161_EN.pdf

OREGON

Alternative Fuel Vehicle facilities
HB 3201 was signed into law on July 31, 2007.† It expands its business energy credit to “energy facilities” that include facilities that manufacture or distribute alternative fuels, including electricity, ethanol, methanol, gasohol and biodiesel.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measures/hb3200.dir/hb3201.en.html

TENNESSEE

State vehicle fleet efficiency†††
SB 123 became Chapter No. 532 on June 27, 2007. It requires 30% of motor vehicles purchased by the state during fiscal year be energy efficient, i.e, be flex-fuel, alternative fuel, hybrid vehicles or have at least 25 mpg highway rating.

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0532.pdf

State school fleet efficiency
HB 723 ñ signed on June 21, became Chapter No. 489 on June 26, 2007. It requires all state agencies, universities and community colleges to increase number of alt fuel, fuel efficient and low emission vehicles and displace 20% of petroleum use by 2010.††

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0489.pdf

TEXAS

State vehicle fleet efficiency†††
HB2293 was signed into law on June 15, 2007. It requires that not less than 10% of state agency-purchased vehicles meet or exceed certain emission standards

http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measures/hb3200.dir/hb3201.en.html† http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB2293

Hydrogen vehicle sales tax exemption
HB 3319 was signed into law and filed with the Sec of State on July 24 (Chapter No 1266). The governs state sales and use taxes and includes an exemption from sales and use taxes for hydrogen ñpowered vehicles.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/doc/HB03319F.doc

Hydrogen production
HB 3732 ñ now Chapter No. 1277 amends the Advanced Clean energy Grant and Loan program to include clean energy projects that meet emission standards while using coal, biomass, petroleum coke solid waste, including fuel cells using hydrogen derived from the designated fuels in electricity generation or creation of alternative liquid fuels while co-generating electricity .††††††

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/doc/HB03732F.doc

Subsidies for efficient vehicle repair and idle reduction technology††
SB 12 ñ was signed in on July 24, 2007 and is Chapter No 262. The law includes funding a low income vehicle repair and replacement program and for meeting state emissions reductions with lease, purchase, and installation of idle reduction technologies and facilities on highways and on waterways.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/doc/SB00012F.doc

VIRGINIA

Clean Vehicle operation in HOV lanesH.B. 2132 On MARCH 13, 2007 became Chapter No. 317. Extends the sunset date authorizing the use of certain high occupancy vehicle lanes by vehicles bearing clean special fuel vehicle license plates to July1, 2008.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+CHAP0317

WASHINGTON

Medium Speed Electric Vehicles†
H.B. 1820 became law on May 15, 2007 and is listed as Chapter 510.† Reduces air pollution through the licensing and use of medium-speed electric vehicles; encourages reducing air pollution through the licensing and use of medium-speed electric vehicles that can attain more than 30 mph but not more than 35 mph.

http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/1820.SL.pdf

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From http://www.ecoautoinc.com/

Montana’s Governor Schweitzer approved a new law Montana SB 185 on April 23, 2007 creating the “Medium Speed Electric Vehicle” category.
Montana SB 185 creating a new motor vehicle category called “Medium Speed Electric Vehicles.” Small, lightweight cars equipped with crash safety features (such as the ZENN neighborhood electric vehicle) can now be driven up to 35 MPH in Montana. Since then, Washington State passed a similar law. Several other states are now considering MSEV laws for their states. Call your local representative and ask them to propose similar legislation in your state.

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From http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=16595

Wisconsin Passes Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Bill
Legislators: Hybrid vehicles could be future of transport

by Sarah Rowe
Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Rapidly advancing technologies may make driving a gasoline powered car to school or work a thing of the past, as an electric car registration bill passed through the state Legislature last week.

The bill was proposed by three Republican legislators on the coattails of previous legislation that required Neighborhood Electric Vehicles to be licensed through individual municipalities.

After receiving bipartisan support, the bill passed with a voice vote in the Assembly and was also unanimously passed in the Senate. The new bill permits Wisconsin residents to register NEVs with Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
With gasoline prices surpassing $3 per gallon and oil at $97 a barrel, there is no end to the price increases in sight, according to Ryan Smith, policy advisor for Sen. Cowles, R-Green Bay.

NEVs – small, battery-powered cars – serve as an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. With a maximum speed of about 25 miles per hour, NEVs are allowed to operate only on roads with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less and can travel between 30 and 60 miles on a single battery charge and emit no pollution.

“Economically, they will end up paying for themselves,” Smith said.

The new legislation was proposed to fix problems stemming from the earlier legislation requiring NEVs to be registered through municipalities, Kurt Simatic, staff member for Albers, said in an e-mail to The Badger Herald.

“[The new bill] would eliminate municipal licensing of NEVs and replace it with a statewide registration system administered by the Department of Transportation,” Simatic said in the e-mail.

The $23 biennial registration fee for a NEV, Simatic said, would be identical to that of a moped, but NEVs would not be required to pay the environmental impact fee and supplemental title fee required from car owners.

The cost of registering a car in Wisconsin, however, has increased from $55 to $75 in the 2007-09 Wisconsin state budget.

Despite the legislation, neither Albers nor Cowles own an NEV.

“Although Representative Albers does not personally own a NEV, she believes that they are an environmentally  friendly and low  cost alternative to local transportation needs,” Simatic said.

These small, environmentally-friendly cars decrease traffic congestion and improve parking availability , both of which are problems in Madison, Cowles said in a statement Friday.

“[NEVs are] immensely practical,” said University of Wisconsin Engineering Professor Robert Lorenz. “We’ll all be driving them in a few years.”

While waiting for my car to arrive, I’ve been driving a loaner ZENN car for 2 days–the basic model with more powerful batteries that help if you have to drive on hills like I do. I love how the car helps me get into my own ZEN OF DRIVING–slowing down, feeling less stressed even when huge SUVs and trucks tower me, feeling almost at one with Nature because I’m not increasing global warming. . .

The generous cargo space behind the seats is great!

My first trip was running errands in 3 towns taking my kid to her SAT exam, buying groceries, going to the bank, picking up shoes, stopping for breakfast at the local cafe, and delivering care packages to sick people.

On my next trip, my neighbor and I went down the hill to Annie’s Annuals and selected some new plants to beautify our respective gardens. We ending up bringing 2 large flats of plants and a large bag of soil from the nursery. As she says, she’s no lightweight, and is fairly tall. We had a blast! Now. to start digging in the dirt before the weather turns even colder at night.

Yesterday I loaded a 4 foot wide roll of butcher paper, 2 huge bags of supplies, a carton of books, 2 large flip chart paper pads, camera, laptop computer and cables for my Cool the Earth workshop–How to Lose 5000 Pounds of Carbon in 30 Days into the car and headed down the hill to the Fellowship Hall. After the workshop, I gave a friend and her backpack and shopping cart a ride home. We fit into the ZENN with no problem!

At the end of each of the 2 days, I came home with 2 bars of energy left in my battery. Over the Friday – Sunday period, I charged the car overnight 2 times.