LOVELAND — The Bush administration, big oil and maybe even an apathetic public could have conspired to kill the electric car.
But efforts are underway in Colorado to open local roads and byways to a particular electric vehicle that some say will save families thousands of dollars at a time when gas hovers at $4 a gallon.
“To me, it’s a no-brainer,” said Steven Cornelius, a breadmaker who wants the city to make it legal for people to drive a neighborhood electric vehicle, or NEV.
NEVs look like souped-up versions of golf carts with safety features such as three-point seat belts, windshields and wipers, running lights, headlights, brake lights, reflectors, rear-view mirrors and turn signals.
Most are powered by batteries, but select models can run off sunlight. NEVs are federally approved to travel on streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.
An estimated 14,000 NEVs are on the road in California, where several communities are trying to accommodate a slow but steady rise in use.
Foster City, Calif., recently lowered most of its residential and business district street speeds to 35 mph or lower to allow more NEVs, said Foster City Police Capt. Matt Martell.
“We’re allowing NEVs virtually throughout the city,” said Martell, adding residents like the environmentally friendly and gasoline-free aspects of NEVs.
So do many Coloradans, but legally, NEVs have a tough time operating in local towns and cities, proponents say.
Cornelius wants NEVs to be licensed in Loveland so he can drive one to his bakery job, which is a 22-mile round trip each day. He estimates he would save $2,000 a year in gas.
Cornelius crosses both U.S. 287 and U.S. 34 on his way to work, but NEVs currently are not allowed on state and federal highways. However, scooters, bikes and electric wheelchairs — which aren’t as fast as NEVs — are allowed on most public roadways.
This infuriates Cornelius, who like other commuters is seeing his family income chewed up by gas prices. Where is the average family going to get the extra money to pay for increases in gas?” Cornelius said. “The only solution I see is the NEV.”
Proponents say NEVs won’t replace cars and trucks for longer drives. With a purchase price of $10,000 to $20,000, the vehicles are good for trips of up to about 25 miles.
“It’s something you can use to run to the grocery store, to school or downtown to get a haircut,” said state Rep. Don Marostica, a Larimer County Republican.
He will introduce a bill next year that would allow NEVs to run on any public right of way with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. NEVs are a “great thing,” Marostica said. “I don’t know why we didn’t do this 10 years ago.”
NEVs are used on a limited basis in some Colorado communities, most notably in Aspen. City officials there and the Pitkin County Commission also are lobbying the state to allow municipalities to license NEVs.
Still, there are drawbacks to consider, said Loveland City Manager Don Williams. NEVs could hinder other traffic going at a higher rate of speed, he said.
“The No. 1 concern of our citizens is traffic congestion and safety,” Williams said. “We don’t want to jeopardize someone’s safety in order to save a few gallons of gas.”
Cornelius will press the Loveland City Council this month for a NEV solution. He’s seen the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car,” which alleges that Bush officials, oil and gas interests and an uncaring public crushed the production of the electric car.
He doesn’t want the NEV to meet the same fate.
“I’m a lowly breadmaker, but even I can see this is the solution to a lot of our problems today,” Cornelius said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
