SR-120208-1KCity Council Meeting: December 2, 2008
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Joan Akins, Community Maintenance Department Director
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Supporting Federal Regulations to Establish a
Medium-Speed Vehicle (MSV) Classification.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution of Support requesting. that
the National Highway Transportation Safety. Administration (NHTSA) establish a
Medium-Speed Vehicle classification for vehicles limited to a maximum speed of 35
mph and limited to operate on roads with a 35 mph maximum speed limit.
Executive Summary
Creation of a new NHTSA classification is needed to allow the safe and legal use of
vehicles limited to a maximum speed of 35 mph. MSVs are primarily zero-emission,
battery powered vehicles that are available today. The manufacture, sale and use of
MSVs will displace oil, create demand and accelerate the automotive industry's move
toward zero-emission vehicles.
Background
Typical passenger cars must meet all safety standards of the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards (FMVSS) for full-speed vehicles or be classified as a Low-Speed
Vehicle (LSV) which is limited to a top speed of 25 mph on roads posted for 35 mph or
less. MSVs do not. fall under either of these regulations. Minnesota, Montana,
Oklahoma, Tennessee and Washington have passed MSV legislation contrary to
Federal regulations and other states are considering legislation Sales of LSVs have
increased five to ten fold in states with MSV laws.
Fully compliant FMVSS vehicles have requirements such as advanced air bags and
electronic stability control that adds approximately $10M to the development cost of a
vehicle. This is prohibitive for all but the few largest manufacturers and greatly limits
competition to bring alternative fuels technology advancements to market.
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Manufacturers and other proponents of MSVs believe that some FMVSS requirements
have little or no advantage at 35 mph or less and that there are other design features
that can be used to ensure the same or higher levels of safety, including some used in
professional auto racing. They want to opportunity to work with NHTSA to establish
safety standards for MSVs.
Discussion
MSVs with their limited range and speed are a perfect fit for existing EV technology.
Full-speed Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are still several years away with the biggest
obstacle being affordability of batteries to accommodate high speeds for long distances.
Large manufacturers will have demonstration vehicles on the road within the next
couple of years in limited applications, but large numbers of commercially available
BEVs are five or more years away at the earliest and could be much longer if fuel prices
remain low (see Attachment A for examples of potential MSVs).
MSVs provide an ideal environment to test and develop experimental or expensive
battery, fuel cell, compressed air and other zero emission technologies than is needed
for full-speed vehicles. This environment encourages participation by a larger group of
inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses to work on resolving our transportation
problems. With more people working on the problem we can expect better solutions.
These vehicles are ideal for congested areas, commuter vehicles and "last mile" use.
They should reduce the incidents of accident and injuries attributed to excessive speed
and therefore, increase safety in urban and pedestrian environments. Zero emission
vehicles improve health, the environment, reduce global warming and reduce our use of
petroleum fuel
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There are no immediate financial impacts. Future impacts could include development of
electric vehicle charging infrastructure, loss of parking revenue for zero-emission
vehicles and electric use at City owned EV chargers.
Prepared by:
Rick Sikes, Fleet Management Superintendent
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Jo Akins l.~Ff a nt Ewell
Dire tor, Community Maintenance Cit anager
Department
Attachment: Attachment A (Examples of Vehicles Capable of Being MSVs)
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Attachment A
Examples of vehicles capable of being
MSVs include the Miles ZX40 and Zenn
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Reference Resolution
No. 10366 (CCS).