Suppose you’re feeling patriotic. Maybe you’d like to finally do something to help America reduce its addiction to foreign
oil. Perhaps you’ve thought about buying an extremely fuel efficient or electric vehicle as your
second or even third transportation choice, just to run all of those endless
daily errands around town.
Wouldn’t it be nice to park your big car until it’s actually needed and drive something else that uses little or no oil for all of
those short trips? Save miles on the “real” car and lots of gasoline? You might make a big difference!
So, how many moderate-speed (35-40 mph) highly efficient vehicle choices are
allowed by Illinois law? There is one, the lowly moped. They sure are fun and
get over 100 mpg. Might be a little cold this time of year and when was the
last time you tried to juggle a bag of groceries and another passenger on one
in the rain? Your choice doesn’t provide much crash protection with or without the helmet, either. Sorry, it’s your only legal choice.
Your second choice is waiting until 2010 for General Motors to roll out its new
$40,000 electric Volt. Honestly, the sad question of the day is, “Will GM even exist in 2010?” If GM does survive and brings you that electric car they have promised for more
than 60 years, more subtle questions arise, “Why are only wealthy people able to drive cars that use little or no oil?” and “Can’t people of modest incomes choose to fight our oil addiction as well?”
Here’s the surprise. There are already more than two dozen small manufacturers in
America and around the world that produce modern reasonably priced urban
electric cars fully capable of meeting the 30-40 mph needs of most city
drivers. These are cars with bumpers, seatbelts and dozens of other comfort and
safety features far beyond those of a moped. You are denied a free market for
such a vehicle in Illinois simply because our laws do not provide for it. No
one can buy and drive such a modern vehicle at reasonable speeds. No small
Illinois business can make money selling new ones because they cannot be
licensed.
Either you drive a moped or the same old inefficient car. There is nothing in
between. Several other states, including Tennessee, have already noticed this
inequity and recently passed legislation (Tenn. Law 55-8-191) that creates a
new “medium speed” vehicle classification. These laws provide for a free market, free choice and
the opportunity for people to make things better through their own initiative.
Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be all about in America? Perhaps one of our legislators will
simply cut and paste the same opportunity for people in Illinois. Dare I ask,
can Illinois be as progressive as Tennessee on this issue?
David Brunson is the daily driver of a legal American-made antique electric car,
featured in IT’s Nov. 13 issue [see Zach Baliva, “Plug and play: Fun with an electric vehicle in Springfield].
This article appears in Dec 18-24, 2008.
