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Thursday, May 17, 2012
Regional Focus: June 2007
Plugged In
Electric cars gain speed in South Placer
Story by Lisa Kopochinski
While most California cities try to find a solution to air pollution and traffic congestion, the city of Lincoln is trying to make its solution — neighborhood electric vehicles — a little sexier.
“The NEV is not a souped-up golf cart,” says John Pedri, public works director for Lincoln. “They have a wide wheel base, blinkers, and go a little faster — about 25 miles per hour. And they’re 100 percent electric.”
One might think the target clientele for NEVs is seniors, but Pedri insists buyers are all ages. “Our goal is to tap into the leisure usage market — people who want to get around town.”
Pedri says the main reason buyers invest in NEVs is to cut congestion, pollution and, of course, gasoline costs. Manufacturer Global Electric says annual fuel costs for an NEV driven 100 miles a week would be approximately $58, compared to about $425 for a compact gasoline-engine car that gets 27 miles per gallon.
Lincoln, which is home to approximately 36,000 residents and 600 NEVs, has responded to its citizens’ interest by budgeting $1 million to accommodate electric vehicles. “To do this takes special signage and striping,” explains Pedri. “To date, about $300,000 has been spent, particularly in shopping center lots.”
Fehr & Peers, a multimodal-transportation planning and engineering firm with offices across California, developed NEV master plans for Lincoln, Rocklin and Rancho Murieta. Corey Connors, Fehr & Peers’ communications manager, says the main concern is that NEV travel be as safe and convenient as possible. “Residents should be able to get anywhere they want in a community by NEV,” Connors says. “Other challenges are related to NEV crossings at busy roadways, and making sure that NEV paths shared by bicycles and pedestrians are safe for all users.”
Before January 2005, NEVs were not allowed on any streets in Lincoln or Rocklin with speed limits greater than 35 mph. Once striping and signage is complete, however, NEV owners will be able to drive on roadways with speed limits of up to 50 mph.
Lincoln isn’t just working on it’s own plan — it’s also trailblazing a statewide system. “We’re in the process of developing sign specifications to be used universally throughout the state,” Pedri says. “We’re moving ahead.”
