News Alert!

Transport Canada and the federal government want to re-define Low Speed Electric Vehicles (LSEVs) in a way that will prevent them from being used on public roads!
(LSEVs are also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles or NEVs - mainly in the US).

• Read the proposed regulatory ammendments are posted in the Canada Gazette on December 22, 2007: Canada Gazette - Vol. 141, No. 51 — December 22, 2007 Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Low-speed Vehicles)

This proposal will:

• prohibit LSEVs from low speed residential streets and other appropriate roads where pedestrians, bicycles and cars are currently allowed
• restrict LSEVs to closed areas such as campuses and "gated communities"
• prevent you from using your LSEV to get groceries or run other errands
• give Canadians fewer options than their American counterparts who can drive LSEVs on low-speed roads in 48 states.
• squash development of Canadian LSEVs and put Canadian businesses at a disadvantage
• prevent Canadian companies like ZENN motorcars and Dynasty from selling their LSEVs in Canada
• prevent Canadian provinces from allowing LSEVs on low speed roads (only B.C. allows LSEVs on the road right now)

Read: EVCO reply to proposed regulatory changes (PDF) - submitted to Transport Canada on Feb 20, 2008

Act now!

• Call your Member of Parliament (MP) and make an appointment to speak to them about Low Speed Electric Vehicles. - List of all Members of Parliament. - Find your MP using your postal code.
• Contribute to EVCO's written response. (to be published here soon for all to use) contact us
• Contact the Minister of Transport to discuss your concerns: The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

Sample replies:

• Written response from Electric Mobility Canada

Background:

• "Transportation Ministry wises up to low-speed EVs", - Oct 2006
• Electrovaya Launches Maya-300 Low-Speed Electric Vehicle
• "ZENN Approved for Sale in Canada" - Nov 06, 2007
• "Transport Canada Proposes Including Small Trucks in Low Speed Vehicle Definition" - December 21, 2007
• "Transport Minister Announces Introduction of New Class of Vehicle" - September 6, 2000
• Study - Pilot demonstration of low speed vehicles (LSVs)
• Report - TP 13942E, Assessment of low-speed electric vehicles in urban communities: Pilot project. - 2002 (PDF version)

Manufacturers

• Dynasty Electric Car Corp.
• ZENN Motor Company
• Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd.

Transport Canada

• TECHNICAL STANDARDS DOCUMENT No. 500, Revision 1, Low-Speed Vehicles (also available in PDF format)
• MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations Standard 500

Ontario Ministry of Transport

• New and Alternative Vehicles Information Update
• PILOT PROJECT - LOW-SPEED VEHICLES, O. Reg. 449/06
• Low-Speed Vehicles
• Frequently Asked Questions Low-Speed Vehicle Pilot Test

U.S. Jurisdictions

• LSVs can be driven on public roads in 43 states
• State Statutes on Neighborhood Electric Vehicles - Summary

Media

• "Shifting gears with electric vehicles" by By Christine Roger, March 22, 2002