An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Makes Perfect Sense…..
….if you live in an urban area. However, for those of us who live out in the boonies, not so much. But ain’t it cute?
Come to think of it, the guy ain’t so bad either. 
Hey, I’m married, and old, not dead!
New law will give tiny cars big push in Tennessee
Murray Huber motors around his Franklin neighborhood on weekends in his electric car to run errands or make quick trips.
Until recently, state law limited his mini Hummer H3 — and other entries in a class of cars known as the neighborhood electric vehicle — to 25 mph. Plus, he could travel only on roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less.
When you live out in rural Tennessee, there is no such thing as a “quick trip”….anywhere. It’s a 10 mile drive to a decent grocery store, and the speed limit for most of those 10 miles is WAY above 35.
The wait is over. Thanks to a law that kicked in on July 1, medium-speed electric- or gasoline-powered vehicles with four wheels can travel up to 35 mph, and can use roads where the speed limit is 40. Golf carts are excluded.
Nope. Still wouldn’t work for us. The minimum speed limit is 45, but only for a short chunk of road. If we tried pulling out on TN 69 in one of those rolling tin cans, we’d be creamed! Assuming that anyone ever does the posted speed limit of course, which they don’t.
“These vehicles are economical to buy and economical to operate,” said state Rep. Glen Casada, who co-sponsored a bill with a fellow Franklin Republican, state Sen. Jack Johnson. “This is something that Tennessee needs to recognize.”
It really is a good idea….for urban areas. Now, if they come up with one that’ll do a good 60mph, we might talk. Otherwise, the only thing we could use it for is driving the quarter mile to church.
The electric vehicles range in price from about $7,000 to $17,000, depending on the add-on features. To operate on the road, they must meet federal safety standards that require headlights and taillights, turn signals, seat belts, a rearview mirror, a parking brake and a windshield.
Add on features? You mean like a brake pedal, a steering wheel? Things like that? Heh.
Nashville native Josh Womack, who plans to sell the vehicles, said they run on electricity stored in a battery. “You plug them into a standard house power outlet and let them charge,” Womack said. “There’s no carburetor, no alternator, no radiator.”
Peachy. But how much is it going to raise your electric bill? Where does THAT energy originate? Some folks might get a tad annoyed if their bill doubles or triples just to do a “feel good” thing, and impress the neighbors by just how much they “care”.
Womack said he had received a number of inquiries from interested residents since word of his company spread and since the law passed. He plans to sell four lines of electric cars, including the Zenn car — Zero Emissions No Noise — made by Zenn Motor Co. of Canada. The XG he drives can seat four and costs $10,000 to $14,000, depending on options.
And to think, our first family car cost my dad $495 dollars……right after WWII. 
We had that thing in the family for 35 years. Wonder how long these little babies will last….assuming they don’t get run over by a VW.
The vehicles will change the way people get around, he said.
“You can’t take it on the interstate, but you can take it all around your neighborhood all in ways you never could before,” Womack said.
You could also use your feet and a cart on wheels.
Seriously, like I said, it sounds like a good idea, for urban areas. But if you tried to get around in one of them around these parts….a four wheel drive pick ‘em up would have you as a hood ornament.
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Kate, you have to stop thinking like this. The electric car is a reality. Take the fact that a full charge from flat battery will cost you an average of $3.00.
That’s a fact not a made up statistic. That is also measuring NiMh battery power. Checkout the EV1 which was quashed by GM in the late 90’s and early 00’s.
The electric is a substantial replacement for the piston driven gas vehicle. The government, the auto companies and least of all the oil companies want anyone to know about it.
@Stew:
In a city, yeah, it’s a good idea. Out here….ain’t such a great idea.
Mrs. Kate,
Thanks for giving The Tennessean’s story a little read and giving your comments. I hear you load and clear, these vehicles aren’t for every application and won’t work for every situation where personal transport is needed. I can promise you, I’ve been personally working as a consumer advocate for electric and alternative vehicles for years. We are working so hard to get alternative vehicles to market that will work for ALL needs and applications. I promise, better vehicles that will work for our more rural brothers and sisters are coming soon. Also, I foresee in the not to distant future, battery-powered tractors that are re-charged every night by solar arrays that the farmers own. Even “red diesel” prices are crushing the smaller farmers. My friends and neighbors the Pewitts here in Franklin being one. You may have seen a Tennessean article about that recently.
Also, it might be comforting to know that the Bill for this medium speed vehicle law was co-sponsored by Rep. Glen Casada and Sen. Jack Johnson, both of whom are Conservative Republicans and good men. Also, it passed 31-0 in the Senate and 92-4 in the House. Almost unanimous support, and bi-partisan at that. On this one, at least our Legislators are feeling taxpayers pain and came together to try at least give us some more flexibility.
Again, thanks for taking an interest and I do swear that a lot of folks are working hard to bring our rural friends practical solutions soon as well.
Sincerely,
Josh Womack
VerdeGoh!
Also Mrs. Kate, to ease some of your fears about electricity rates…
A couple of weeks ago in congressional caucus held by Lamar Alexander, TVA stated that it has between 17,000-18,000 EXTRA Megawatts of power that go untapped every night. Meaning we’re already paying for an extra 17,000-18,000 megawatts that aren’t used. Most electric vehicles will be plugged in overnight to re-charge, thus using that untapped power. Further, TVA might even one day offer an incentive to electric car users (or “tractors” as the case may be
) to use that untapped nighttime power much in the way that Commercial electricity users get a discount for power they use on off-peak hours.
All the best,
Josh
@Josh from VerdeGoh!:
I really appreciate ya stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere.
When we lived in Wisconsin, I thought what a great idea to tool around town in a ‘golf cart’. We lived two streets over from Main, so it would have been a whole lot more practical…..IF it was enclosed. It’s flippin’ COLD up there.
I had seen folks down in Florida doing it, so why not? They even have special parking places for the itty bitty things. 
Other than the fact that the town council up there was opposed to the idea.
When y’all come up with one of these cute puppies for this ol’ country gal, you let me know, ok? Cuz with the price of gas these days…. Will it have a trunk?
Mrs. Kate,
All our vehicles have trunks. And while the one like you see in the article is an entry-level vehicle that may look like a “golf cart” to some, we have other lines that are fully enclosed with hard doors and heating and cooling options. In other words, they’re cars, cars that look and act like cars. Even better than a trunk, one of our TRUCK options looks like a truck, is the size of a truck and performs with the torque of a regular pick-up. Like I said, we’re working hard for ya’. Stay tuned and I keep you “up to medium speed” as we get more products that’ll suit a country gal. Also, by the way, some treehuggers wear hippie sandals, but this one here is wearing Made-In-America Red Wing Roper Boots right now.
We’ll be in touch and take care ya hear!
- Josh
@Josh from VerdeGoh!:
Hey! I like trees!
Also use to be one of those long haired hippie freaks. Reality has a way of smacking ya upside the head though. LOL
A truck eh? Hmmm… NOW yer talkin’!! Extended cab type! I want a pick ‘em up! I don’t suppose one will be available at a REASONABLE price, with all the bells and whistles, in the next, oh say…..six months? Heh.