Where does a Low Speed Vehicle Belong on a Complete Street?
                     By Mary Anne G. Bowie, FAICP, Sustainability Leader, Eco Trans Alliance

The proposed Energy Economic Zone in Sarasota, FL is including electric Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) as the newest mode of multi-modal transportation in the street designs, expanding the “complete” street conversation.

Low Speed Vehicles are officially defined through federal regulations as being street legal on roads with speeds of less than 35 mph.   An LSV may look like a golf cart, but an LSV is required to have a top speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour, extra lights, mirrors, seat belts and other safety features.  LSVs are also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) because they are very useful for short trips to the local grocery store or around the neighborhood. Golf carts are sold with a maximum 13 to 18 mile speed limit without federally mandated LSV safety equipment. Golf carts are not considered to be LSVs, as they do not meet the safety requirements mandated by Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, sections 571.500 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gross weight limitation of 3000 pounds. Some states further regulate LSV weights and characteristics.

Street designs for Sarasota's Energy Economic Zone include: tree canopy, multi-use bicycle/pedestrian lanes, vehicular use lanes, and an electric vehicle lane, for both LSVs and golf carts. Although the LSVs will also be legal on roads under 35 mph, it is expected that some LSV travelers may be more comfortable on electric vehicle lanes, weaving through neighborhoods, sharing the paths with golf carts. The street design is part of the Energy Economic Zone approval process and is not yet final.

Eco Trans Alliance, with a mission of powering transportation with renewable energy, advocates a series of transportation policies that encourage increased use of LSVs and Micro Transit Vehicles.  Although there is little documented information regarding LSVs, one Transportation Research Board study of LSVs in Lincoln California indicates that LSVs have traffic calming effects on normal streets and that one quarter of LSV two-automobile owner households studied decided to give up one of their automobiles.

Eco Trans Alliance & Cruise Car Partner to Provide the Largest Renewable Energy Transportation Systems Company for Low Speed Settings in the World

Sarasota, Florida – May 11, 2010/PR Newswire – Eco Trans Alliance, LLC (ETA) and Cruise Car, Inc. (CCI) announced a corporate partnership today. The relationship will establish them as the world’s leading resource for Renewable Energy Transportation Systems for Low Speed settings for:  Colleges, Resorts, Military Bases, Federal Agencies, Residential Communities, Golf Courses, Municipalities, Corporate and Health Care Campuses.   ETA will provide solar-electric vehicle and battery technology including Sunray Solar Top Conversion Kits (which qualify for 30% Federal Tax Credits) and Eco Ports (solar-electric charging stations) for Cruise Car electric vehicles.

ETA’s newest product offering includes “Sunray Solar Top Conversion Kits” which retrofit almost every major brand and size of low speed electric vehicle offered in the marketplace today. These attractive fiberglass tops with embedded solar panels provide the highest wattage known in the industry.

Solar roofs on electric vehicles provide an estimated additional 5-10 miles per day of driving distance, reduced energy costs and a zero carbon footprint when operating on solar; an exciting value for fleet owners and eco-conscientious consumers. “This is the beginning of a real recognition that renewable energy is no longer a convenience but a necessity” said Kenneth Chester, President of Eco Trans Alliance. “More and more organizations and individuals are looking for ways to reduce green house gases and any low speed setting is a perfect venue for Sunray tops” he said.

Using ETA’s new product designs, experienced transportation engineers and affiliates work together to provide efficient Renewable Energy Transportation Systems. ETA helps organizations develop a transportation plan, reduce operating expenses, increase fleet efficiencies and create a sustainable, eco-friendly environment.  Products include:  custom designed solar charging structures, solar tops for electric vehicles, and rapid charging stations.  Services include: complete transportation infrastructure design for low speed settings, energy and fleet assessment. Visit: www.ecotransalliance.com. Cruise Car, Inc. sells affordable electric and solar-electric hybrid low speed vehicles: utility vehicles, buses, transports, golf carts, and recreational. As a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract holder, Cruise Car sells and ships to U. S. government facilities throughout the world and is the only authorized manufacturer approved to sell solar-electric vehicles to all Federal agencies.

Media Contact:

Mary Anne Bowie, FAICP
Eco Trans Alliance, LLC
242 So. Washington Blvd, #322
Sarasota, FL   34236
941-355-6371 phone

Assumptions
Go Green College (GGC) currently has a fleet of 100 gas & electric golf and utility carts being used on campus, primarily by the physical plant and housing departments.  The fleet at GGC is comprised of 50 gas powered and 50 electric powered carts.  Both types of vehicles are driven 10 miles a day on average or 70 miles per week.

Current Transportation Carbon Footprint for Go Green College

Gas Carts:  GGC fleet of 50 gas carts generates 161,200 pounds of CO2 a year!
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the typical passenger vehicle is assumed to produce 8.8 kilograms (or 19.4 pounds) of CO2 per gallon of gasoline.  Given the stop and go nature of driving gas powered golf carts, on average they get approximately 22 miles per gallon.  Using these figures, 70 miles divided by 22 miles per gallon, GGC is currently using 3.2 gallons of gas a week per vehicle, thereby producing 62 pounds of CO2 per vehicle a week.  Consequently, for its fleet of 50 gas powered carts, GGC is producing 3,100 pounds of CO2 a week or 161,200 pounds of CO2 a year.

Electric Carts:  GGC fleet of 50 electric powered carts generates only 41,700 pounds of CO2 a year!

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the 1999 national average output rate by power companies to generate 1 kilowatt of energy was 1.34 pounds of CO2.  A 48 volt electric cart has six 8 volt batteries with approximately 6,000 watts of power when fully charged.  On average, this electric cart can be driven 35 miles on flat, asphalt terrain before having to be recharged.  Using these figures, it takes roughly 171 watts per mile so GGC is currently using 11.97 kWh per electric cart per week, thereby producing 16 pounds of CO2 per vehicle a week.  Consequently, for its fleet of 50 electric carts, GGC is producing 834 pounds of CO2 a week or 41,700 pounds of CO2 a year.

Reducing Go Green College’s Current Transportation Carbon Footprint

Solar Electric Carts:  By solarizing 50 electric carts GGC eliminates 25,058 pounds of CO2 a year!

Solar produces no CO2. So, for this analysis, for every 1.0 kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by solar energy, nearly 1.34 pounds of carbon dioxide is not released into the atmosphere.  Every solar panel will have both an STC (standard test conditions) and PTC (PV USA Test Conditions) rating.  The PTC rating involves more extreme, real world test conditions, so you’ll find it to be lower than the STC rating and more indicative of how a solar panel will hold up.  The Eco Trans Alliance (ETA) Sunray Solar Top has a 230 Watt STC and 207 Watt PTC rating. For this example, we will assume that approximately 90% of the maximum PTC solar power generated by the ETA Sunray Solar top is converted into useable energy (we are factoring in some potential loss here due to variable shading from trees, clouds, etc.).  Assuming 5.5 average peak sun hours, the sun provides about 1.02 kWh per cart a day or 374 kWh per cart a year.  Consequently, converting a fleet of 50 electric carts to solar will further reduce GGC’s carbon footprint by 25,058 pounds of CO2 a year. 

   Climate Neutral Plan: By solarizing its entire fleet, GGC eliminates 211,316 pounds of CO2 in 5 years!       

By taking advantage of solarizing its fleet of electric carts and incrementally converting its gas carts to solar electric carts, Go Green College can significantly reduce its overall carbon footprint.  In year one, GGC could convert all of its electric vehicles to solar and convert 10 of its gas carts to solar, thereby eliminating 62,310 pounds of CO2 in the first year alone!  By following this same incremental solar conversion program over the next 4 years GGC can reduce its overall transportation carbon footprint by 211,316 pounds of CO2 in 5 years.

If your college or university is interested, please contact Dan Hoffe, Regional Director, at Eco Trans Alliance, 941-355-6371.

Defining Micro Transit Vehicles

A Micro Transit Vehicle (MTV) is an electric vehicle that carries more passengers and weighs more than those vehicles now permitted as a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) . MTVs are available in the market place and serve as transporters for 8 to 24 persons; they may be solar-electric or electric powered.  College campuses, military bases, parks, resorts and other communities with privately owned streets are perfect locations for creating Micro Transit Vehicle opportunities now.  On private roads, Micro Transit Vehicles can be legally driven; driving MTVs legally on public roads requires local or state legislation.

For communities, the establishmnet of a Solar Electric Transportation (SET) Zone may be the best first step to stimulate Micro Transit Vehicle (MTV) systems.  Within specific geographic SET zones, solar MTVs, transporting 8 to 24 people, would be designated as street legal vehicles.  SET Zones would allow MTVs to deliver mobility in downtown and suburban areas that has already been tried and tested in resort communities.  SET zones provide a lower cost, flexible option for growing transit systems. An exciting role for MTVs is the ability to customize vehicles, rather than plan around the handful of existing transit types (e.g. buses, light rail). For instance, MTVs with special features can transport elderly persons after evening cultural events, handicapped persons to and through recreational area, and sports spectators from remote parking areas.

INTERESTED? CALL MARY ANNE BOWIE, FAICP,                                                ETA SUSTAINABILITY LEADER  941-355-6371

Low Speed Vehicles for your Community

1. What is a Low Speed Vehicle?   Any four-wheeled electric vehicle capable of achieving a top speed between 20 and 25 mph. Low- speed Vehicles must comply with the safety standards (such as seat belts, turning signals, mirrors, licensed drivers, etc)  in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 571.500 and Florida Statutes 320.01 and  316.2122 and be licensed as required under state guidelines. There is a significant difference between a traditional golf cart and a low speed vehicle, even through low speed vehicles may often look like golf carts. Additionally, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration limits LSV to those vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3000 pounds.

2. Where is it Legal to Drive a Low Speed Vehicle?  Florida Statutes 316.2122 notes that a low speed vehicle may be operated only on roads as defined in F.S. 334.03 which includes a way open to the public, including but not limited to, a street, highway or alley.  The term includes associated sidewalks, the roadbed, the right-of-way, and all culverts, drains, sluices, ditches, water storage areas, waterways, embankments, slopes, retaining walls, bridges, tunnels and viaducts necessary for the maintenance of travel and all ferries used in connection therewith , but only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.   This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.

3. Can Local Governments Prohibit Low Speed Vehicles?  Yes, according to F.S. 316.2122, a county or municipality may prohibit the operation of low-speed vehicles on any road under its jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.

4. Can Municipalities Use Low Speed Vehicles?  With recent Florida legislation, municipalities are authorized to utilize Cruise Car’s low speed, street legal vehicles upon any state, county or municipal roads located within the corporate limits of such municipalities for municipal purposes, including, but not limited to: police patrol, traffic enforcement, and inspection of public facilities. Additionally, state employees, state park volunteers, and state park visitors are authorized to use Cruise Car’s low speed, street legal vehicles upon any public roads within the boundaries of state parks. (See FS 316.2126 effective July 1, 2009 for further clarification.)

5. What Grants are Available to Purchase Low Speed Vehicles for Governments?  Two current sources of available funding include:

• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants; counties and cities with larger populations receive automatic funding; small locales will receive funds through the state of Florida on a competitive basis for fourteen eligible activities.  Visit http://www.eecbg.energy.gov for allocations.  Contact tony.morgan@eog.myflorida.com  for state grant application, guidance and timing.
• Federal Parks can explore the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands Grant, now renamed the Paul Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program. http://www.fla.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants financing 6106.html   

Consulting To Guide Your Community to a LSV  Sustainable Transportation Solution Is Available.  Please Contact Mary Anne G. Bowie, FAICP, Sustainability Leader, Eco Trans Alliance  Phone:   941.355-6371            

April 1, 2010) – Eco-crusader Jono Miller doesn’t wear a cape, but that’s not stopping him from undertaking one of the most innovative and potentially far-reaching research projects in Southwest Florida to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming. The environmentalist and longtime New College of Florida staff member has turned his attention to the College’s 114-acre campus on Sarasota’s bayfront to recommend ways to reduce its harmful carbon dioxide emissions in everything from its electricity demands to landscaping practices and the use of student and staff vehicles.

Miller has been seen riding around campus on his hybrid, solar powered-assisted golf cart – which he describes as “sort of like ‘The Flintstones meets ‘The Jetsons’” – to gather data for the college’s Climate Action Plan.  Several New College students have been collaborating with Miller and school officials on the research project that began earlier this year.

Miller, who headed the college’s Environmental Studies Program for many years and is now on special assignment as an assistant to the Vice President for Finance & Administration John Martin, expects to have several recommendations by this summer to make the College more environmentally friendly.  His larger goal is that other institutions and businesses can benefit from New College’s research on ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help reverse global warming.

New College’s self-study is part of a nationwide effort by more than 650 colleges and universities to look for ways to curb their carbon emissions, or carbon footprint.  Their pioneering research, which will vary in different areas of the country in part because of their regional climate, energy sources and technological innovations, are part of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org) launched in 2007 and of which New College is a signatory.

For more information, please contact Jake Hartvigsen, public affairs director, New College of Florida, (941) 487-4150, or jhartvigsen@ncf.edu

Photo above: Jono Miller, left, poses with former New College Foundation Vice President Sara Krusenstjerna and Eco-Trans Alliance founder and owner Ken Chester in front of one of the new solar-electric powered vehicles being considered by New College as part of an intra-campus shuttle.

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New College of Florida is a national leader in the arts and sciences and is the State of Florida's designated honors college for the liberal arts. Ranked No. 5 in the nation among all public colleges and universities by Forbes.com ("America's Best Colleges", 2009 edition), New College attracts highly motivated, academically talented students from 40 states and 25 foreign countries.

Convert Your Cart or Fleet into Solar-Electric Vehicles

Federal tax credits are available for up to 30% of the solar system if you qualify.  This includes the solar panel and batteries.  Total savings may be higher depending on additional allowances provided by some states.  Be sure to check with your state for additional tax credits.  Information obtained from the IRS website and the Data base of state incentives for renewables and efficiency.

Eco Trans Alliance is pleased to announce that SunRay Solar Tops are now available for all brands of golf carts and low speed vehicles.

Benefits include: Lower electricity bills; Batteries constantly recharge in the sun, extending the battery life by up to 30%; Increases driving distance by up to 5-12 miles per day;  Eco-friendly; zero carbon emissions when operating on Solar Power; Fits every major low speed vehicles: Yamaha, Club Car, EZ-GO, Cruise Car and more; Most powerful solar panels on the market: 190-380 watt solar panel tops output up to 88 volts; Easy to install, no maintenance, mono-crystalline solar panels, UL certified high grade industrial wiring, compression tested glass; Full 10 year warranty included; an extended 15 year warranty is available.

Contact Dan Hoffe at Eco Trans Alliance 941-355-6371 for comprehensive information