When Jennifer Walker zips around town in her sporty set of wheels, heads turn. It’s not because the northern Virginia resident drives the latest speed-hungry roadster. No, her unique ride tops out at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour and glides along neighborhood streets almost silently. Walker is the proud owner of a new breed of car that soon could be making tracks near you: the neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV).
But Walker says her curvy, doorless car built by Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), a Chrysler company, is more than just an attention getter. “I’m happy about it because this car is also helping the environment,” she explains. “We all need to pitch in and do that.”
Long a common sight in gated neighborhoods in warm climes, NEVs are gaining traction in communities nationwide as consumers seek answers to global warming and high gasoline prices. Indeed, with zero tailpipe emissions, and energy efficiency equivalent to more than 150 miles per gallon, the vehicles offer an environmentally friendly transportation option that helps reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Plugging In
NEVs get their power from a standard 110-volt electric outlet. Plug them in overnight, and the cars will whir along for roughly 30 miles before needing another charge. But don’t call them golf carts. NEVs are required to have certain car-like features, such as windshield safety glass, lights, turn signals, seatbelts, and four-wheel brakes.
Walker says her NEV is ideal for running around her community of Del Ray, Va., a leafy neighborhood of homes and small businesses. “Because Del Ray is so small, and this is where I do 95 percent of my business, I thought it made economic sense to have something that didn’t use gas,” she says. “When I got this, gas was costing me $60 a tank.” So far, she adds, the NEV hasn’t caused a spike in her electric bill.
The NEV market is growing by at least 5,000 vehicles annually, analysts say, and GEM’s cars — which are easy to identify with their swept-back, over-sized windshield and oval doorways — account for a majority of that number. But other companies have made inroads recently. These include Miles Automotive Group, which markets a line of electric station wagons built in China, and ZENN Motor Company, which sells vehicles with European styling and appointments. Also entering the race is American Electric Vehicle Co., which makes a perky and brightly colored two-seater called the Kurrent. Prices for NEVs range from around $6,000 to roughly $15,000.
Driving Forward
Today, there are more than 35,000 GEM vehicles on the road, says Richard J. Kasper, president and chief operating officer of GEM, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. A vehicle that will go 30 miles on a charge is more than enough for a variety of uses, Kasper notes. They’re ideal for quick jaunts to school, play, work, or the grocery store. “And,” he adds, “we’re proud to say, they’re very fun to drive.”
Brian Wynne, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, notes that a community should make some accommodations for such vehicles. “You definitely have to have a broader environment that supports them, and their slower speeds. If you don’t, it can be dangerous. Usually these things are taken on the side roads.”
In fact, more than 40 states have passed legislation allowing the operation of NEVs. And some localities actively encourage their use, installing electric outlets outside shops and restaurants where commuters can charge up while running errands.
“It clearly is a mind shift,” acknowledges Wynne. “People are in the process of questioning their transportation options now, given that the price of fuel is reaching levels that make other alternatives sensible. Inevitably people are saying, from an economic standpoint, this would make good sense.”
Walker, for one, is sold on driving life in the slow lane. “If you’re looking for a car that is going to take you to the beach or to the mall, it’s not going to work for you,” she says of NEVs. “If you live in an urban area like we do, it can meet all your day-to-day needs. It’s really cool.”
Continental Airlines is committed to promoting environmental responsibility within its culture. Find out more about Continental’s commitment to the environment, including its Carbon Offset Program at: continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/profile/environment.aspx
