3 Electric Vehicles

3 TYPES OF VEHICLES THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE TRANSPORTATION

Electric motors are more efficient smaller motors then comparable small gasoline engines. Because of this a new class of small vehicles using only electric motors or human/electric motor hybrids are starting to emerge. These vehicles are
ELECTRIC SCOOTERS
CVC 407. 5 & CVC 21235
A motorized scooter is defined as: A two-wheeled "device" powered by a motor with a floorboard that is designed to stand on when riding. The scooter may also have a driver's seat … (with a speed limit … of 25 mph)…
THE ELECTRIC BICYCLES
CVC 406 (b). & cvc 21235
(b) A "motorized bicycle" is … a device that has fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power and has an electric motor that meets all of the following requirements: 1,000 watts-…20 miles per hour …

ELECTRIC MOPEDS
CVC 406 .a)
A "motorized bicycle" or "moped" is any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device … pedals …or …no pedals if powered solely by electrical energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor which produces less than 2 gross brake horsepower … maximum speed … 30 mph

Electric scooters (stand up, sit down or Segway style) add a new dimension to the mix of sustainable vehicles. California Law legalizes E-scooters that go a maximum speed of 20mph you must be 16 years and wear a helmet. The small size and lightweight makes for easy storing options when you get to your destination. Storage takes less then 1/4 the space of a bicycle. Electric scooters are an efficient option for short personal trips of one to three miles. Linking with transit centers and buses Makes them an excellent public transit companion. Their simplicity and relative low cost (starting at $300) makes them a good shared utilitarian vehicle. They are safe easy to maneuver and usable by most of the poputation From the Segway and stand up scooters to the sit down versions ,there are literally hundreds of styles to choose from. For young adults they are particulalary useful to get to and from school ; as well teach them safe driving skills before they drive a car.

1 good shared vehicle
2 small for storage
3 easy to manuver at slow speeds

ELCTRIC BICYCLES
Electric bicycles have more then any other vehicle the ability to change our transportation system, restore the vitality of our communities and better our personal health.
The benefits of incorporating two very efficient machines; the bicycle pedal crank and the electric motor cannot be underestimated.
“It flattens the hills”. A bicycles “zone” of energy efficiency becomes exponentially less efficient when forces such as wind, hills or weight act against the input that your legs supply; with the addition of the electric motor it keeps the bike in that zone of efficiency . A true hybrid vehicle, your power and the e-motor work simultaneously taking advantage of the kinetic energy of each system, therefore increasing the total energy output.
The sensation is bionic.
E-bikes make it possible to carry more weight but keep your power input the same; making it a great shopping , errand runner , family transporter and commuter vehicle.
E-bicycles can be safer in use then a regular bicycle by keeping you up with traffic and getting you through congested situations quicker. It also makes hills that would be too strenuous doable effectively cutting the distance in half, E-bikes also make it possible to get to work without a sweat but with the blood flowing therefore in a more productive work state. They also work well with recumbents ,tricycles and folding bikes
So these styles will grow in use !

ELECTRIC MOPEDS
Are small motorcycles that go a maximum speed of 30 mph ;also called a scooter or a motor driven cycle. They compare to a 50cc gas moped or small “vespa”. You need a one time registration.(cvc 260). A drivers license is required and motorcycle insurance. These vehicles are much easier to ride then there gas driven counterparts –they are quiter have no vibration and ‘eat up traffic.
MORE TO COME NOT FINISHED with this section

Motorcycle Class M2
You may operate any motorized bicycle, moped, any bicycle with an attached motor, or a motorized scooter.
NOTE: Class M1 or M2 is added to any other class license after passing law and skill tests.

municipal transport primer 10 must haves

Sustainable Transport can be broken down into 3 groups of vehicles.
-HUMAN POWERED VEHICLES
-SMALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES
-ELECTRIC CARS AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS

OUTLINE FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
10 THINGS A CITY CAN DO


1) DEVELOP CLASS 1 AND CLASS 2 BIKE LANES ON ALL CITY STREETS.
2) DEVELOP INTEGRATED BICYCLE AND SMALL VEHICLE PARKING AND STORAGE AT CITY ADMINISTERED PARKING FACILITIES AND TRANSIT STOPS.
3) PURCHASE SMALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CITY CAR FLEETS
4) DEVELOP A FEE BASED BIKE AND SMALL VEHICLE LICENSING SYSTEM.
5) SUPPORT THE SAFE USE OF SMALL (STREET LEGAL)ELECTRIC VEHICLES ALONG WITH HUMAN POWERED VEHICLES;AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE BICYCLE INFRASTUCTURE.
6) HELP DEVELOP THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESSES THAT WILL BUILD THE COMMERCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS FUTURE TRANPORTATION NETWORK.
7) FUND THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH OFFER PUBLIC AWARNESS AND EDUCTIONAL SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS THAT USE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT.
8) INSITUTE TAX BRAKES AND INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE THAT USE VEHICLES OTHER THEN THE CAR .
9) DEVELOP PRIVATE (OR PUBLIC) MINI BUSES TO LINK WITH THE BIG BLUE BUS ROUTES.
10) DEVELOP THE INFRASTUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC CARS AND ECO-FUELS.

Addendum to the 10 points
1) ALL streets that legally allow bicycles and small neighborhood vehicles should be brought up to the level of class 2 bike lanes. In the short term there should be extensive paint striping of bike lanes on all city streets.

2) Development of a true integrated bike parking system at all city owned property that has vehicle parking including all bus stops and future transit centers. Develop centralized bike stations around the city. Similar to “the bike station” beach parking lots and the downtown area should.

3) The city should continue to lead the way in purchasing environmental vehicles.

4 Private sector includes bike stores, repair stands, flat fixers ,Pedi cabs, lube joints, bike parking businesses etc… it also supplies a tax revenue base for the city.

5 These organizations will help with the frame work that jump start the new transit network –including
Green depot –bike station –bike out -bike kitchen

6 Insures a revenue base and a theft deterrent and would be required to monitor parking facilities properly

7) Here is a potential with mastery of the small electric motor control and battery advancement to join forces with bicycles and other human power vehicle to give the eco transport movement the critical mass it needs to justify the economic costs of building the infrastructure. AND THE BENEFITS THAT THEY OFFER THE CITY. HUMAN POWERED VEHICLES ARE –BIKE, SKATES AND PUSH SCOOTERS. SMALL MOTOR VEHICLES ARE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, ELECTRIC BIKES, AND ELECTRIC MOPEDS ,EPMD(Segway). All legal by the CVC.

8) The costs savings when people do not user their cars would justify any outlay or loss of funds for the city. This includes letting developers build property without having to build parking spaces.

9) Micro buses and pedicabs can be used to transport people seasonally like to the beach & other hard to get to locations via mass transit. Should be private sector development.
! 0) Electric Cars and Bio-fuels Green depot

The article below summarizes some general thoughts on transportation at this time.

With gas prices likely to go above $3.00 a gallon, the need to examine our vehicle use and transportation system is well over due. In an effort to ease the economic impact of rising prices of gas, federal agencies and the oil industry will intervene in the energy markets to slow the increase in the price of oil. This effort will lessen the burden in the short term but the long term remains clear; our dependence on oil for our vehicles is causing great harm to our economy, health and our environment. We need to re-examine all aspects of our transportation network and vehicle use before we are forced to change by market, political and environmental forces, beyond our control. These forces could have the doomsday effect that some have predicted. By moving to an electric vehicle power system and reducing the size of our vehicles (bicycles and scooters) will make our economy more productive and our communities more livable
The automobiles great benefits to our society in the last century have caused amazing advancements in all aspects of our lives; but its total domination of the streetscape and topography have caused the death of our communities, destruction of our environment and the deterioration of our personal health and psychology. This problem is especially true in the US where non-car forms of transportation are non-existent, unworkable or under-funded causing most people to rely solely on the car to get around. Other countries that have a more sound and broader range of vehicle/transportation options will fare much better then the US as oil prices continue to rise.


Electric cars will calm our communities

The movement to electric propulsion systems in our cars, trucks and buses will have benefits that can’t be underestimated. “The quiet revolution” will not only improve our own personal health by making our air less polluted it will make our communities more quiet and livable. People don’t realize the amount of ambient noise that is created by the internal combustion engine.

ELECTRIC(battery) CAR DERAILED

The oil/auto industry has successfully derailed the electric cars development in last five years. There are no mass produced full speed electric cars on the market today. The auto industries acceptance of fuel cell technologies has been a carefully orchestrated public relations and lobbying effort to forestall the development of the “battery” powered electric car. The facts are starting to emerge that fuel cell technologies in cars are still 20 years and billions of dollars away from ever becoming a reality (if at all). The logistics of transporting hydrogen is formidable enough, nor has a fuel cell been refined enough to be considered ready for market Presently there are no federal research dollars being spent on auto/battery technologies; where as fuel cell technologies are receiving billions of dollars of federal money.
Although full range battery powered cars are a few years away. The last mass-produced electric cars reached a 100 mile in range. In the interim refinements to existing technologies as well as new developments in Lithium/Ion battery and ultra-capacitor technologies will be in use very soon putting the full scale electric cars on the showroom floor soon. The true efficiency of electric/battery powered cars will on its own merit supercede the internal combustion engine. Vehicles of all sizes can be designed more efficiently with electric motors.




Movement to smaller vehicles will stimulate economy

The success of “hybrids” and the future movement to the electric cars will not give the great economic benefits that will come with downsizing our vehicles. The size of the vehicle is the problem. The four wheeled vehicle takes up to much space and is over powered for most trips .By creating congestion it limits development and is stagnating the economy. It controls the critical mass therefore limiting other forms of vehicles and transportation. (With cars controlling the critical mass they control the road way through shear force) By using the same amount of streetscape and parking footprint you are able to get much more efficient people movement with smaller vehicles.
The benefits of a non-car vehicle would increase economic benefits to the community. By increasing the mass of people,with out congestion, you increase its economic viability. Retail or multi-store shopping districts increase customers. By freeing up parking space, parking structures could be utilized for better real estate value; congestion would be eased, creating a more efficient transfer of goods and services, in time benefiting the economy. The space used by parking is underutilized; smaller vehicles will free up space for more profitable use. Denser but sustainable resedential areas would be obtainable with an increase in open green space.

Changes to public transit
Pubic Transits great potential could be realized by looking at how people are getting to and from the bus stops and transit centers –decreasing this in-transit time will make total transit time less and more competitive with the car. Giving accessibility to the transit system by bikes and scooter users to get to the bus stops and transit centers and further linking to rapid buses and trains would supply the missing link in public transit and increase rider ship.
This solution would require more integrated bus stops, parking/storage facilities and in-transit infrastructure like bike buses and electric bike recharging facilities. These micro transit centers with info-kiosks safe parking/storage and retail and rental centers would be self-supporting and retain an economic benefit cycle to the local economy.


Human powered vehicles
Tradition bicycles, as well as inline skates and push scooters have recently proven to work in European and Asian cities, Building and expanding on existing successful bike infrastructure and the long history of bicycles being used as a form of transportation would increase non-car trips exponentially. It must be understood that a bicycle is stored less then it is used. Bike parking and storage is as important as safe street design. Bike parking & storage facilities at transit centers, parking lots, large buildings apartments and homes, or anywhere we park a car need to be considered.
Making it safer on the streets is also an important cog in the wheel to succeed in bringing more bikes to the streets. Road building is an important economic sector of the American economy and the road building industry would benefit from the renovation of our roads to more effective and safer streetscape. The economic benefits of an integrated ,safe street design is being recocognized now by some local officials; but lack of support from the entrenched car culture keeps it from changing. Safer streets would bring countless more people out riding bikes and scooters


ELECTRIC SCOOTERS
Electric motors are better smaller motors then small gasoline engines. Because of this a new class of small vehicles using electric motors and electric human hybrids are starting to emerge. Two of these small vehicles are the electric bicycle and the electric scooter.
Electric scooters (stand up, sit down or segway style) add a new dimension to the mix of alternative vehicles. California Law legalizes E-scooters that go maximum speed of 16mph with a 16 year rider old for the street. From the Segway to the basic stand up scooter there are literally hundreds of styles. The small size and lightweight makes for more storing options when you get to your destination or at your residence. Storage takes less space then a bicycle. Small electric scooters are one of the most efficient vehicles for short personal trips of one to three miles. Electric scooters are an excellent option in linking with transit centers. Their simplicity makes them a good shared utilitarian vehicle.




ELCTRIC BICYCLES
Electric bicycles have more then any other vehicle the ability to change not only our transportation system, but, the wealth of our communities as well as our personal health.
The benefits of incorporating two very efficient machines; the bicycle pedal crank and the electric motor cannot be underestimated, a true hybrid vehicle. A bicycles “zone” of efficiency becomes exponentially harder when forces such as wind, hills or weight act against the input that your legs supply; with the addition of the electric motor it keeps the bike in the zone of efficiency and taking advantage of the kinetic energy.
It has been shown to be safer in use then the regular bicycle by getting you through congested situations quicker ;It also makes hills that would be too strenuous easier, effectively cutting the distance in half, “It flattens the hills”. Ebikes also make it possible to get to work without a sweat but with the blood flowing; therefore in a more productive work state; also a great commuter vehicle. Ebikes make it possible to carry more weight making it a great shopping vehicle.
A persons perception of the electric bicycle is much farther from the truth then their initial feeling, “why would you mess with the bicycle” is a common reaction. This perception makes it hard to bring it to the publics attention. Marketing the electric bicycles amazing potential and benefits require changing peoples perception of what an Electric bike is and how it would benefit them by increasing the health benefits to the individual and society as well as a cool new way to get around.
Electric pedal cycles
1 Combining two efficient power systems
2 Health benefits to user
3 Extends the use of a bicycle in commuting and carrying
4. A true hybrid
5, Bionic sense to the rider
6 Arriving at work in a more productive state
7 Great trainer or exerciser
8.Safer in street use

Safe and efficient infrastructure needs to be implemented from the local to the international level so the vehicles mentioned above can help alleviate our transportation problems.
This is still rough draft (sorry about typos, run-ons and other
mistakes). Prepared by John Breza- jbreza@mac.com