Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehical Presentation By Doug Larson

The State of Illinois recognizes a class of small highly energy efficient four-wheeled vehicles called "Neighborhood Vehicles". However, the state also requires that the local municipality on whose roads the Neighborhood Vehicles will be driven upon must authorize its use by ordinance or resolution following a study to determine that, "the public safety will not be jeopardized". I am here this evening simply to ask that ( village, city, town) consider initiating such a study. This request arose essentially out of various "coffee house conversations" between several people with respect to the feasibility of a solar powered neighborhood vehicle. We have named this initiative the "Soular" initiative because we feel that such a vehicle is not only good for the pocket book and environment, but is also good for the soul. We have already made a presentation to the Maywood Board of Trustees on 5/28 and they unanimously passed a motion to request a study by the Safety Committee. We plan to make similar request in other wst suburbs such as River Forest, Oak Park, Forest Park, Berwyn, and others.

About The Neighborhood Vehicle

A "Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehicle" as the name states is a vehicle that is used to drive around the neighborhood and is powered by the Sun. Neighborhood vehicles have been used for decades in planned communities primarily in the South and Southwest. This is a photo of a solar powered neighborhood vehicle currently residing in River Forest, but as yet not authorized to drive on River Forest streets. The GEM neighborhood electric vehicle from Global Electric Motors, which is affiliated with Chrysler, has been around for 10 years primarily in planned communities. Then, why haven't vehicles like the GEM been adopted in large numbers in regular communities, especially in those states that don't require local municipal approval like Illinois? And therefore why do we think neighborhood vehicles will be acceptable in Chicagoland communities? I will suggest that the recent gas prices passing $4.00/gal, along with concerns about global warming, increased food prices due at least in part to the demand for bio-fuel, and other issues, have taken us to the point where the highly energy efficient electrical "Neighborhood Vehicle" and especially a "Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehicle" will be the vehicle for a paradigm shift in the way we see local personal transportation. Let me explain why.

How the State of Illinois defines a Neighborhood Vehicle

Illinois State Law

1. -625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 Illinois Vehicle Code

2. Valid Driver's License

3. Max Speed: 20-25 MPH

4. Limited Access: 35 MPH Roads

5. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard

• Low Speed Vehicles (Title 49 CFR Part 571.500)

6. Requires Local Municipal Authorization

• Study of Safety Considerations
• Ordinance or Resolution

But first let's look at how the State of Illinois defines a Neighborhood Vehicle. 1. Illinois State Law -625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 establishes various requirements for the design and use of Neighborhood Vehicles on Illinois roads, 2. Operation requires a valid driver's license,3. Must be able to obtain a sped of at least 20 mph but no more than 25 mph, 4. Can only be driven on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, 5. Must conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for Low Speed Vehicles (Title 49 CFR Part 51.500), 6. Requires authorization by the local municipality by resolution or ordinance after a study to determine that "the public safety will not be jeopardized".

Examples of Neighborhood Vehicles capable of operation under solar power.

These pictures show various examples of Neighborhood Vehicles capable of operation under solar power, illustrating that while the vehicles are built upon a "golf cart" platform, they aren't golf carts. They can be dual or multi-passenger and customized to look anyway you like. What make them a "Neighborhood Vehicle" are the additional "street legal" required features such as: 20-25 mph max speed, rear view nirror, rear and side reflectors, slow moving vehicle sign, headlights and tails that are on during operation , brake lights, and turn signals. The Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehicle shown at the top also has retractable seat belts.

Comparison

Gas/Electric Solar
1 $/Mile $ 0.09 - 0.20 $ 0.00
2 Purchase Cost $ 20 - 30,000 $ 5 - 7,000
3 Job Creation International Local
4 Maintenance Complex Simple
5 Safe Max Driving Same as today? Longer
6 Emissions Yes* No
7 Foreign Oil Dependency Yes No
8 Bio-Fuel Dependency Yes No
9 CO2 Emissions Yes* No
10 Safety - Compared to Safer Safer
2-Wheeled Vehicles
11 Other Uses - Short Rental
Gov't/Security
Education
Recreation
12 Other Benefits - Reduced
Parking

*From vehicle and/or Electrical Powerpoint


This chart compares various characteristics of a solar powered vehicle compared to a conventional gas and/or electric vehicle and illustrates why we believe that Solar Poered Neigborhood Vehicles will help make the transistion to "Neighborhood Vehicles". 1) The estimated operating cost for just gasoline alone based on $4.00/gal and 20-45 mpg for city driving is $0.09 - 0.20 per mile compared to no energy cost for a solar poered vehicle. 2) Due to the reduced size, weight and complexity, the initial purchase cost of a Solar vehicle on a "golf cart" platform is a fraction of the cost of a typical passenger car today. 3) More and more cars are foreign imports which eliminate local jobs. Because, in the State of Illinois, the neighborhood vehicle requires local authorization, it will encourage local business opportunies (more about this later). 4) The relative simplicity of the "golf cart" platform will reduce maintenance costs and make "do-it-yourself" maintenance one again possible. 5) The lower weight and speed will reduce the risk of injury to others allowing elderly drivers to drive at a more advanced age. This is based on the assumption that the fear of allowing some elderly people to drive is not just the potential of being injured themselves, but also the potential of injury or death to others, especially someone much younger. 6) Any concerns about emissions into the government are eliminated from the vehicle and at the electrical power generating power plant, whether gaseous, noise, or radioactive. 7) Reduction of the need for fuels derived from oil, reduces the demand on foreign oil and the various distribution channels. 8) Reduction of CO2 emission will reduce global warming due to greenhouse gases. Note: Non-solar electric cars often simply shift the source of CO2 emissions to the coal-fired electrical power generating plant. 10) Neighborhood Vehicles are safer than alternative highly energy efficient 2-wheeled vehicles like motor bikes, motor scooters, Segway's, etc. that are starting to pop up due to the skyrocketing gas prices. Neighborhood vehicles also offer more protection from the weather and have better passenger and cargo carrying capacity than two-wheeled vehicles. 11) Other Uses: 11a) Many cities have "Swipe and Go" transportation systems where a computer simply swipes a credit card, drives the vehicle for as long as they need, re-swipes the credit card, and is charged for the usage. 11b) Many government facilities, security agencies, and universities use "golf cart" type vehicles on the facility property. The authorization of Neighborhood Vehicles would extend the usage beyond the borders of the facilities. 11c) The relative simplicity yet timely appropiateness of Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehicles can function as an excellent educational tool at all levels of the education system. 11d) Did I mention that Neighborhood Vehicles based on a "golf cart" platform can also be used to play golf, as well as an easily trailer-able second vehicle on vacations. 12) Approximately four (4) "golf cart" type Neighborhood Vehicles take the same space as one (1) minivan which significantly reduces the parking space required per vehicle.

Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehicle

Implementation:

1. Approval by Municipal Government

• Study of Safety Considerations
• Authorization
• Resolution

2. Establish Local Businesses

• Dealer(s)
• Sales People
• Maintenance/Repair Shops(s)
• Customization Shop(s)
• Lease/Rental Businesses
• Insurance/Finance Businesses

Implementation is basically two parts. Part 1 involves a study by the municipality on whose roads the neighborhood vehicles will be driven upon to assess safety considerations. Note: Part of the assessment may include special accommodations. For example, the municipality may require the use of special routes, or post special signs, or designate special driving lanes. Once the municipality has assured itself that overall safety will not be jeopardized, the municipal government can authorize by ordinance or resolution the use of Neighborhood Vehicles on its streets per the state law and any additional local requirements they see fit to impose.

Part 2 involves the creation of local businesses to promote, sell, maintain, repair, customize, release, rent, insure, and finance local Neighborhood Vehicles. The required local government study, which probably will involve some types of opinion surveys and "town hall" meetings about "Neighborhood Vehicles", will by their nature develope local business interest. Also the use of neighborhood vehicles will support other local neighborhood business. I will suggest that putting the word "Neighborhood" in "Neighborhood Vehicle" will also put the word "neighborhood" in the places where people shop, because once people experience the benefits of a "Neighborhood Vehicle" they will begin looking for places to shop where "Neighborhood Vehicles" are permitted to travel.

Solar Powered Neighborhood Vehicle Illinois State Law

(d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution, the operation of neighborhood vehicles on roadways under its jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.

The specific section of the law authorizing the local authorization of Neighborhood Vehicles which is all that we are asking for today says "d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution, the operation of neighborhood vehicles on roadways under its jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized."

Finally, to put this in historical perspective. Our predecessors during the early phases of the development of America used one (1) horsepower vehicles, called a horse, for personal transportation which, by the way, the Amish still see as a viable personal transportation alternative today. We are proposing here the use of a five (5) horsepower vehicle, that does not burn any fuel or hay, and does not emit pollutants of any kind: gaseous, liquid, or solid as did previous nodes of personal transportation. Is this progress or what? Let's begin the conversation. Thank-you for this opportunity.