GREENLEAF BILL PROVIDES FOR USE OF ELECTRIC CARS

HARRISBURG – Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, R-Montgomery/Bucks, is sponsoring legislation to allow the operation of low speed, neighborhood electric cars on certain roadways in the commonwealth.

The senator noted that 26 other states permit use of such vehicles under limited conditions. "The goal of my proposed legislation is to encourage use of these vehicles where they can be operated safely. Their use instead of gasoline-consuming vehicles would help reduce pollution and demand for oil," Greenleaf said. "These cars are quiet and small, and seem especially suited to driving in cities."

A low speed electric vehicle is defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as any four-wheeled electric vehicle with a top speed of between 20 and 25 miles per hour. Such electric vehicles must meet certain federal safety standards, but the Pennsylvania Transportation Department has determined that they cannot be driven legally on state roadways since they fail to meet state safety inspection requirements for passenger vehicles.

Under the Greenleaf bill, electric cars would be equipped in accordance with federal standards which include headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamp, windshield, speedometer, odometer, seat belts, and brakes on all wheels. Operation of such neighborhood electric vehicles would be permissible on roads where the posted speed is 35 miles per hour or less. The cars would be permitted to cross an intersection where there are higher posted speed limits. Operators would be required to have a valid driver license and insurance. The cars would be required to be titled and registered with the Department of Transportation, but they would not be subject to vehicle emissions inspections.

"I think that there is interest in the use of electric cars and that interest will increase when these vehicles become legal to operate in public roads in the commonwealth," the senator said.