Fargo-Made Vehicle Receives Federal Approval
1 July 1998
Fargo-Made Vehicle Receives Federal ApprovalFARGO, N.D., June 30 -- Global Electric MotorCars, a Fargo firm, has announced that its GEM Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is included in a new classification of federally approved "low speed vehicles" which may now be driven on community streets if they meet certain safety criteria. The classification was created in a June 9 ruling by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). GEM is the first multi-purpose NEV automotive-engineered for both street and turf. Manufactured by Global Electric MotorCars, L.L.C., 3601 7th Ave. NW, Fargo, it is the only NEV produced in the United States. Global CEO Mike Hofer said the ruling affects NEVs and other electric vehicles such as golf carts that have top speeds of 20 to 25 miles an hour. (GEM travels at speeds up to 25 mph.) "Under the new rule," Hofer said, "electric vehicles traveling over 20 miles an hour, including thousands of golf carts now used for transportation in retirement communities and on golf courses, will be required to have seat belts, headlight, windshield wipers and other safety devices before they can be used for street travel." "GEM, however, already comes with anchored 3-point seatbelts, headlights and windshield wipers as standard equipment, Hofer added. "GEM's other standard safety features include four-wheel hydraulic brakes, rack and pinion steering, safety-glass windshield, front-wheel drive, tail lamps, front and rear turn signals and stop lamps." Hofer said the NHTSA ruling is intended to set up safety criteria for low speed vehicles (LSVs) and provide individual states with uniform regulatory guidelines. The ruling does not alter the ability of states and local governments to decide for themselves whether to permit on-road use of LSVs and golf carts.