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A neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) is 4-wheeled vehicle, larger than a golf cart but
smaller than most light-duty passenger vehicles. NEVs are usually configured to carry two
or four passengers, or two passengers with a pickup bed.
NEVs are defined by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as
subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 500 (49 CFR 571.500). Per
FMVSS 500, NEVs have top speeds between 20 and 25 miles per hour and are defined as “Low
Speed Vehicles.” While “Low Speed Vehicle” is technically the correct term, “NEV” has become
the term used by industry and fleets to refer to passenger vehicles subject to FMVSS 500.
FMVSS 500 requires that NEVs be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps,
tail lamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rear view mirrors, windshields, seat belts,
and vehicle identification numbers. About 35 states have passed legislation or regulations
allowing NEVs to be licensed and driven on roads that generally are posted at 35 miles per
hour or less.
While NEVs were initially used in gated communities, they have been increasingly used by
the general public for transporting kids to school, shopping, and general neighborhood trips.
NEVs are very cost-efficient, in terms of initial capital costs, fuel costs, and overall
operating expenses.
In addition to the above uses, many federal, private, and public fleets are increasingly
using NEVs at military bases, national parks, commercial airports, and for local government
activities. NEVs are reducing petroleum use and simplifying fueling requirements by decreasing
or eliminating the need for gasoline infrastructure. For federal fleets, NEVs can help the fleets
comply with Executive Order 13149 (Greening The Government Through Federal Fleet and Transportation
Efficiency); which requires a 20% decrease in annual petroleum use by fiscal year 2005.
As part of its 2003 zero emissions mandates for full-size light-duty and sport utility vehicles,
the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved 4 credits for NEVs used in California during
the years 2001 and 2002, with decreasing credits after 2002. Many expect that NEVs will be used by
original equipment automotive manufacturers to meet at least part of their zero emission mandates
by 2003.
Given the increasing use of NEVs, the CARB mandate providing NEV credits, that many of the large
companies manufacturing automobiles in the United States have made investments to build NEVs, and
the contribution NEVs make to decreasing petroleum use and air emissions, the Program has initiated
NEV testing.
The first step was to develop Baseline Performance test procedures based on the EVAmerica test
procedures. These were adapted with active input from NEV manufacturers and fleet operators. The
EVAmerica Baseline Performance test procedures require vehicle performance capabilities not part
of the NEV specification FMVSS 500. For instance, NEVs are not capable of coast-down testing from
65 mph as preferred for calibration of the drive cycle dynamometer testing. The NEV EVAmerica
procedures in final form will likely include one or more drive range tests on closed tracks, but
certainly not the 45- and 60-mph constant speed testing used with standard EV America tests.
The Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity will be Baseline Performance testing up to fifteen NEV models,
starting late 2001 as well as fleet testing NEVs in conjunction with several fleets.
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