BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 225
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 225 (Nestande)
As Amended May 9, 2013
Majority vote
TRANSPORTATION 12-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Linder, Achadjian, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Ammiano, Blumenfield, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Buchanan, Daly, Gatto, | |Calderon, Campos, |
| |Holden, Logue, Morrell, | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, |
| |Patterson, Quirk-Silva | |Hall, Holden, Linder, |
| | | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the operation medium-speed electric
vehicles (MSV), as defined, on roadways. Specifically, this
bill :
1)Defines a "medium-speed electric vehicle" as a vehicle that
is:
a) Required to attain a speed between 40 to 45 miles per
hour within one mile and on a paved level surface;
b) Possesses a fully-enclosed passenger compartment with
rigid doors and safety windows;
c) Has a gross vehicle weight of no more than 3,000 pounds;
d) Is propelled solely by an electric motor; and,
e) Contains a vehicle identification number that meets
international standards.
1)Requires MSVs to meet or exceed federal safety standards, as
specified, including:
a) A fully enclosed passenger compartment with rigid doors
and safety windows;
b) A horn that is capable of emitting sound at specified
levels;
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c) Roof crush resistance;
d) Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection;
and,
e) A windshield that conforms to the American National
Standards Institute's safety code.
1)Requires MSVs to meet or exceed any safety standards adopted
for MSVs by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) within one year of adoption, unless an earlier
compliance date is specified in federal standards.
2)Clarifies that MSVs are subject to laws generally applicable
to motor vehicles.
3)Prohibits MSVs from operating at speeds greater than 45 miles
per hour.
4)Prohibits MSVs from being operated on a roadway with a speed
limit in excess of 45 miles per hour.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Defines low-speed electric vehicles (LSV) (also known as
"neighborhood electric vehicles") as:
a) Having four wheels;
b) Capable of speeds of more than 20 miles per hour, but no
more than 25 miles per hour;
c) Having a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000
pounds; and,
d) Meeting federal safety requirements as specified for
LSVs.
1)Requires that LSVs are subject to all laws applicable to a
motor vehicle and all drivers of LSVs are subject to all laws
applicable to the driver of a motor vehicle as specified.
2)Prohibits LSVs from being operated on a roadway with a speed
limit in excess of 35 miles per hour.
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3)Requires, at the federal level, LSVs to possess a number of
safety features including, but not limited to, headlamps, stop
lights, and parking brakes.
4)Prohibits any person from manufacturing for sale, selling,
offering for sale, introducing, or delivering for introduction
in interstate commerce any new motor vehicle unless the
vehicle complies with all applicable federal motor vehicle
safety standards and is certified accordingly.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor non-reimbursable costs to cities and counties
for enforcement of MSV operating restrictions, offset to some
extent by fine revenues.
COMMENTS : Existing state and federal law provides for the use
of LSVs on public highways. LSVs are generally limited to
fairly controlled environments-that is, roads low maximum speeds
allowed. Because of the low allowable speeds, LSVs have fewer
safety features than typical passenger vehicles.
Manufacturers have begun to produce LSVs that are capable of
going greater than 25 miles per hour. However, these vehicles
cannot lawfully be operated on California streets because they
are not made to comply with federal motor vehicle safety
standards for regular passenger vehicles.
Current federal regulations do not classify or provide any
safety requirements for MSVs. Indeed, federal regulations
specifically state that any small passenger vehicle whose
maximum speed is higher than 25 miles per hour must comply with
the full range of motor vehicle safety standards and does not
qualify as an LSV.
Proponents assert that MSVs would have a number of positive
environmental impacts including a reduction in the consumption
of fossil fuels and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As
drivers are given the option to travel on local roads in a more
cost effective and environmentally conscious manner, the
increase in the number of electric vehicles on roadways would
over time reduce the number of greenhouse gas emitting passenger
vehicles.
The author's office reports that 11 other states have MSV
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statutes providing for speeds of 35 miles per hour or faster on
public roadways. Apparently, manufacturers of MSVs have gotten
around federal motor vehicle safety standards in these states by
selling vehicles that are technically LSVs but that can have the
speed controller adjusted after purchase to operate like a MSV.
NHTSA, which is responsible for setting federal motor vehicle
safety standards, has resisted developing unique specifications
for MSVs, stating, "?we are denying [the petition urging NHTSA
to create a MSV class of vehicles] because the introduction of
such a class of motor vehicles without the full complement of
safety features required for other light vehicles such as
passenger cars would result in significantly greater risk of
deaths and serious injuries. While NHSTSA agrees with the
importance of environmental issues, the agency believes that it
is neither necessary nor appropriate to significantly increase
the risk of deaths and serious injuries to save fuel."
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0000459