At last - low-speed vehicles (LSVs) such as the Toronto-based Zenn car will be allowed on some Ontario roads. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation sent out a press release on Friday that outlines the Ontario governments' intent to permit LSV cars on Ontario roads with "additional safety features".
A report prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation by the National Research Council (NRC) concludes that
Low-speed electric vehicles can be driven safely on public roads as long as they include a number of additional safety requirements and follow appropriate road restrictions
LSV's are "four-wheeled vehicles powered by an electric motor and battery", which produce no direct emissions and can reach a top speed of about 40km. Because of their low speed, they are typically designed for an urban environment and might be most effective in downtown Toronto driving.
Zenn Cars Allowed in Ontario
This could be great news for Toronto-based Zenn cars, which produces zero-emission low-speed electrical cars. The Zenn car can travel up to 80km on an 8 hour regular outlet charge. According to the manufacturer, this works out to an estimated average annual fuel cost of about $220 (yes, that's about $18 bucks a month). The 2 door hatchback Zenn car is available starting at $16,900 Canadian and offers such options as a sunroof, air conditioning and winter tires (in Canada).
Possible Regulations
Electrical and low speed vehicles are not yet permitted on most roads in Ontario, however based on the NRC report, the Ontario government intends to allow LSVs which meet specific regulations as early as this winter.
The new regulations for the electric and low-speed vehicles could involve:
- Windshield wipers
- Windshield defogger and heating system
- Doors
- Three-point seat belts
- Slow-moving vehicle identification emblem
- Seat belt anchors
- Brakes on all four wheels
- Federal standards for occupant protections
- Safety glass on all windows
- Only permitted on roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less
- Infants and children may not be permitted to ride in an LSV
References
Image by Seuss in NC
Great to see Zenn
It's good to see Zenn one step closer to our roads, but some of those laws are really stupid, especially the last one about infants and children not being permitted to ride in a LSV. It's safer for children to ride in fast cars?
A regulation more useful would be to have mandatory noise makers on the Zenn because they are too quite. They do stand for "Zero Emissions, No Noise" after all.
Where is a Daelership to
Where is a Daelership to order one of the best.
I am waiting since 2006 that the goverment moved on this project. But, as we all know, members of our goverment only moves fast if it is their salary.
Why is this so difficult?
Really now, this is a great opportunity for Canadians, and a Canadian company, and for canadians to be relieved of high gas prices. Think about annual operating costs compared to an internal combustion engine. I'd buy one today, and I may just do so and transport it to Mississauga.
Regulations
The last two potential regulations seem unnecessarily prohibitive:
1) Restricting these vehicles to roadways rated no greater than 50km/h can significantly limit their capacity to be used as a realistic means of transportation in large cities where a great many of the only roads between different areas are rated for 60km/h or 80km/h. A better approach would be to restrict LSVs to using only the rightmost lane of any road except when migrating towards a turn lane. Consider that cars have to slow down to a modest speed anyway in order to turn a corner, it's not like they're really being held up all that much by having to share the road.
2) Preventing infants and children prevents the LSV from being a one-stop-shop solution for city-dwellers to have independent transportation.
It is honestly ridiculous how much the present Ontario administration seems to be willing to stand in the way of progress with beaurocratic red tape. Just give people the freedom to use their own judgement instead of acting like some totalitarian regime.
We need better then this
My street in front of my house is 60km
I couldn't even take this out of my driveway.
What good is it?.