While electric vehicles like the Tesla Model S get all the hype, a lot of people just want something simple to get them around town.
They don’t need all the performance and extra features provided by Tesla Motors, and they just want something they can use to run errands fuel-free. Even smaller and cheaper than Smart Cars are “Neighborhood Electric Vehicles”. Typically converted golf carts, this novel mode of transportation has become extremely popular in the United States, particularly among seniors.
Spotting one of these vehicles is particularly easy on college campuses, in parks, golf courses, and enclosed communities.
Some small towns are even pushing the technology further, making Neighborhood Electric Vehicles the low-speed vehicle of choice for short distances. Many communities have designed protocols to “integrate carts and similarly sized vehicles into their transportation networks”, according to Planetizen. The majority of these initiatives are located near retirement homes and communities.
The slow-moving carts are also an opportunity for people to interact with each other again. It’s too easy to isolate yourself in a full-size vehicle, but these carts will provide plenty of opportunities for socializing, according to drivers.
Image (c) Miheco/Flickr
