Low speed, high potential

Let’s clear up a misconception: It isn’t illegal to drive low-speed vehicles (LSVs) in Canada. It’s just illegal to drive them on public roads in eight out of ten provinces and all three territories.

See? Totally sensible.

LSVs are defined as four-wheeled, electric vehicles with maximum speeds between 32 and 40 kilometres per hour. They must be equipped with head, tail and brake lights as well as directional signals, and windshields and seatbelts that conform to motor vehicle safety regulations.

As electric vehicles, they don’t emit greenhouse gases. And in provinces like British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec which are powered primarily by hydroelectricity, generating the electricity doesn’t release GHGs either. They are definitely part of a green transportation solution.

The Federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, agrees. “The marketing of zero-emissions, electric low-speed trucks in Canada is good news. These low-speed trucks are environmentally friendly.” However, he goes on to say “While greener vehicles are the future, LSVs should be used in controlled low-speed environments like campuses and retirement communities, where the risk of entering into a collision with a faster motor vehicle would be lower than on public roads.”

Use of LSVs on public roads is a provincial jurisdiction, and so far, only British Columbia and Quebec allow them on roads where the posted speed limit is 40 kilometres per hour or less (50 kilometres per hour or less in Quebec). Similar legislation is in effect for about 40 U.S. states. And Ontario has initiated a safety study.

It’s a safety thing. The safety standards for LSVs aren’t as stringent as those for other motor vehicles such as cars, SUVs and trucks. In a collision between an SUV and an LSV, the LSV would no doubt lose. However, this writer assumes that in similar situations, motorcycles and bicycles would also lose and they are allowed on the road.

But Ottawa may have realized that LSVs may become the environmentally friendly vehicle of choice. In an August 6 media release, Transport Canada announced “With an updated federal definition [1.18 MB PDF] of low-speed vehicles (LSVs), manufacturers of small LSV trucks can now begin to market them across Canada.”

Canadians will also see economic benefits in two domestic, top LSV manufacturers: Zenn and Nemo. Sensible, isn’t it?