I live in a relatively small city in the Upper Midwest portion of the United States far, far away from the cutting edge “left coast” where “green” concept cars are a dime a dozen. Around here people care about the environment, but getting motorists to trade in their gas-guzzling “Ram Tough” 4×4’s for an eco-friendly vehicle that looks like a roller skate on four wheels could be a long time coming.
Or is it?
The big news around the state came is that motorists are one step closer to being allowed to drive new energy-efficient microcars on local streets. Microcars like the ZENN (short for Zero Emission No Noise) is currently banned from roadways in the state of Wisconsin. Mainly because some fear they would cause traffic problems.
The sporty looking electric cars don’t even have enough juice to get you from Milwaukee to Green Bay, but they weren’t designed to. Rather, the ZENN was built for people who drive shorter distances (e.g. those who live in the city and just need a car to run errands or get to and from work). Manufacturers of the microcar say the vehicle was not made to travel at highway speeds and recommends owners drive the ZENN on streets with a 35 mph speed limit or less.
So why are lawmakers contemplating lifting their ban on the ZENN?
Two words: peer pressure. More and more states across the country are allowing people to purchase and use ZENN cars on city streets. Another bonus (besides the fact that they are one of the most environmentally friendly cars on the market): they are affordable. A ZENN typically costs less than $15,000 and the price to operate it is cheap too.
According to the car’s manufacturer, the average cost to operate a ZENN in terms of electric power, is about $200 a year. Which is about how much I spend in gas per month with my non-electric vehicle.
The reason lawmakers around here have been reluctant to approve the use of microcars like the ZENN is that they are seen by some as safety hazards. The ZENN does not go faster than 25 miles per hour and that could impede other vehicles on roads where the posted speed is 35 mph or higher.
Next month local lawmakers will vote on whether to approve the use of the cars on area streets. I’ll keep you posted on the results.
Are microcars allowed on streets in your state?
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