Drivers in southwest Los Angeles County started participating in the Local Use Vehicle (LUV) Project this month. This 18-month demonstration project will promote the efficacy of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) in the region. The South Bay Cities Council of Governments is working with local businesses and consumers to assess NEV performance. Project funding has been made available by the Technology Administration Office of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The LUV fleet consists of six leased NEVs provided by Enterprise Fleet Management. The South Bay Cities Council has solicited help from drivers in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. These drivers will rotate through this NEV fleet every six months to put vehicles through different driving styles. The fleet includes two GEMs, two Wheego Whips, a Columbia Summit and a Vantage NEV.
Each NEV in this demonstration project is intended for commutes of less than three miles. The average range for LUV demo vehicles is 30 miles per charge. Project managers note that each NEV can travel up to 25 miles per hour and qualify for safe driving on roads with speed limits up to 35 miles per hour. Every vehicle is at least half the size of a comparable gas-powered car, demonstrating that vehicle design will be as important in the future as drive system performance.
The requirements for each LUV driver include a California driver’s license and current insurance. LUV organizers also require drivers to compile daily journals of their commuting experiences. These journals will be used by organizers to assess technical issues with vehicle charging, maintenance and motor performance. Each driver must also complete outgoing user surveys that will offer a glimpse into the NEV experience for Los Angeles commuters.
The South Bay Cities Council of Government is using the LUV as a preliminary phase in a broader effort toward zero-emissions mobility. The council is looking at similar campaigns for scooters, Segways and other mobility tools that can reduce fuel consumption. The public education campaign associated with LUV notes that there are already 16,000 NEVs on California roads. Project partners are working to secure discounts for government agencies and corporations interested in short-range EVs. The LUV is a good first step though there is a considerable hill to climb for zero-emissions transportation in the Los Angeles area.
