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Friday, September 25, 2009

Rendell plugs electric cars; PennDOT asks, 'Are they legal?'

Are these buggies street-legal in Pennsylvania?

Gov. Rendell said Thursday that Korean manufacturer CT&T, which makes the e-Zone electric car, will assemble vehicles and open distribution centers in Pennsylvania. Though e-Zones don't go over 40 miles an hour, "it's not a golf cart, it's a real car," the governor said.

There'll be two e-Zone facilities, one around Philadelphia, one around Pittsburgh, Rendell spokesman Michael Smith told me. (Left a message for CT&T - haven't heard back.)

The problem: Pennsylvania, unlike New Jersey and other neighboring states, hasn't gotten around to legalizing these low-speed electric vehicles, says Barry D. Bernsten, the Center City steel wholesaler whose BG Automotive has been scouting sites along the East Coast for its own electric car assembly plant.

"You still cannot drive these cars in Pennsylvania," Bernsten told me. "Someone should inform Rendell and the Koreans." That's despite efforts by State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Bucks, to pass Senate Bill 152, which would bring PA even with NJ and other low-power electric-car states.

Advocates say the cars save money, fight pollution and fit well in urban and resort communities. Opponents, including many police, say they can be dangerous on public roads.

Are CT&T e-Zones legal here? "That issue is under review," PennDOT spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick told me. "We're trying to gain more information about the specifications of the vehicle and how they fit in the regulations." 
Posted by Joseph N. DiStefano @ 4:09 PM  Permalink | 10 comments
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:25 PM, 09/25/2009
    Google this car. If you thought the smartfor2 was a small death trap wait until you see this thing.
    — cuso20
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:52 PM, 09/25/2009
    go to the website, its a Golf Cart
    — AdamDude
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:55 PM, 09/25/2009
    Would rather have this one. They make a truck that the city gov. could use to drive around Philly. http://www.zapworld.com/
    — ccres
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:16 AM, 09/26/2009
    Let Fast Eddie drive one in West Philly, for the real test.
    — FJG JR
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:33 AM, 09/26/2009
    So, city bus vs. eZone? Not a pretty thought. Stick to the golf course with this one.
    — poppacat1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:16 AM, 09/26/2009
    Runs on batteries? Question, what about battery disposal? Will that be the new environmental issue after we eliminate gas-powered automobiles? How about going back to horsepower? Nope, can't do, too much pooh on the roads, environmentally unfriendly, like dog pooh.
    — junethe4th
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 AM, 09/26/2009
    Leave it to PennDot to sit on their hands...as usual.
    — Fitzy31
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:29 PM, 09/26/2009
    Here's a *real* electric car. And made in the US, too. http://www.aptera.com/
    — MaggieL


10 comments
About Joseph N. DiStefano
Joseph N. DiStefano writes this blog to feed his PhillyDeals column in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Joe has been a member of Bloomberg LP’s New York Finance Team, wrote the book “Comcasted,” taught writing at St. Joseph’s University, and studied economics and history at Penn. Reach Joe at 215-854-5194 and JoeD@phillynews.com
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