NEVs increasingly are being treated much like full size automobiles when it comes to registration and insurance requirements

Federal and state laws increasingly are treating neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) more like traditional automobiles when it comes to insurance policies. But if you’re not careful, you could end up with a vehicle that’s uninsurable and be prohibited to use it in the way you intended.

A primary factor to consider is that golf cars and NEVs, though similar, are not the same animal. Even golf carts that purportedly have been converted to NEVs often fall short of registration and insurance requirements. NEVs, formally known as “low speed vehicles” or LSVs, are four-wheeled vehicles that are larger than golf carts but smaller than most other light-duty passenger vehicles and have top speeds of 20 to 25 miles per hour. They are defined by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 500 (49 CFR 571.500).

As the popularity of NEVs as economical, eco-friendly alternatives to full size automobiles grows, so too does the unethical practice of suppliers trying to pass off converted or tricked-out golf carts as NEVs. And too often, the buyer doesn’t realize the scam until he tries to get the vehicle registered and insured. Here are a few tips for avoiding such a scenario:

1. Check the digits before you drive away. A legitimate NEV will have a 17-digit VIN number and a FMVSS compliance sticker – both required for registration. A golf cart will have only a serial number.
2. Insist and verify that the dealer selling you a new NEV will handle the registration process. If he seems unwilling, that’s a red flag that the NEV you’re eyeing may not be all it appears to be.
3. Find a local insurance agent who knows about NEVs and all the insurance nuances and requirements. If your agent mistakenly thinks that an NEV is the same thing as a golf cart or suggests that you insure it as a recreational vehicle or add it to your homeowners’ insurance, find yourself a new agent quickly.
4. Choose a NEV insurance policy that electronically reports to the DMV. Some states require electronic  reporting, plus it’s faster and often more accurate.
5. Don’t skimp on insurance. An NEV is fun to drive, but it’s not a toy. It is in fact a vehicle and can do damage if not operated safely.

If you’re in the market for a new neighborhood electric vehicle, insurance, registration and other factors are a breeze with Moto Electric Vehicles of Jacksonville. You’ll get a top-of-the-line, legitimate NEV and you can apply for insurance online. Contact us at 904-247-1818 or strike up a conversation with and NEV specialists via our online Live Chat feature.

So you’ve got your great looking electric vehicle. Now, it’s time to trick it out with all the accessories that make your golf cart ride an enviable experience.

Electric vehicle TVs and DVD players are a popular add-on. If you’re using your NEV as a parking lot shuttle, church shuttle, school shuttle, event shuttle or other similar use, our flip-down TVs with built-in DVD players add an entertainment factor for passengers. And parents of young children love them. The kids have fun watching their favorite videos while Mom and Dad run errands or visit with neighbors and friends.

Electric vehicle backup cameras are a top safety feature for NEVs used as parking and event shuttles, touring vehicles and delivery vehicles. For any neighborhood electric vehicle operated in area where children play regularly, a backup camera can be a particularly important safety precaution. We offer both wired and wireless options.

Don’t let the weather halt your plans. Our electric vehicle enclosures protect you and your cart’s cargo on rainy and cold days. They’re made of soft cloth and provide full visibility windows all around. The top bonnet is specially crafted to minimize water penetration and can be color customized. So, not only do you stay dry, but you look great too.

And don’t forget to pick up an electric vehicle cover to protect your cart, its operative components, paint job and contents safe from the elements and clear of dust and dirt when not in use.

Browse our website to find all the accessories you need. And if you don’t see what you’re looking for, contact us at 904-247-1818 or via our online email form.

April 22 is Earth Day! Celebrate by taking a thorough look at your lifestyle. We bet you can find numerous ways to reduce your impact on the environment. Of course, we’ve got one great idea that tops them all – a neighborhood electric vehicle. They’re catching on in neighborhoods nationwide for those quick trips to the nearby corner store, library, park or friend’s home. Here are three ways that NEVs help make every day Earth Day:

1. They save on fossil fuel consumption. Because neighborhood electric vehicles run on electricity rather than gasoline, their growing popularity will help to put a dent in America’s fossil fuel consumption. Of course, NEVs aren’t practical for longer drives and aren’t fast enough for major roadway usage. But if a high percentage of your day-to-day activities are centered in a small-radius area, you could significantly cut your gasoline usage – an idea that’s great for both the environment and your wallet.
2. They have zero greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists disagree on the major long-term effect of global warming and the degree to which it’s caused by automotive emissions. However, it is widely agreed that higher levels of C02 can affect weather patterns and cause illnesses in humans.
3. They can tap the sun’s power. Solar energy is by far the cleanest and most any neighborhood electric vehicle can be outfitted with a solar roof panel. Moto Electric  Vehicles offers solar roof kits made by SunGo Power Systems. These kits produce 30% more power to your cart than any other brand of solar kit on the market today by using photovoltaic panels rather than conventional film technology. Solar panels mean you’ll depend less on electricity to power your NEV, saving you money on both your electricity bill and on gasoline.

For a greener way to get around, check Moto Electric Vehicle’s wide selection of NEVs online or at our Atlantic Beach, Florida showroom.

Moto Electric Vehicles offers solar panels designed to boost power to your NEV by 30% - a great Earth Day investment!

EMS Paramedic Buddy 3 Passenger Low Speed Vehicle

Full-size police cars, EMS trucks and security vehicles are great for city streets and neighborhood roads. But for areas with limited access, electric emergency service vehicles can be a godsend. School and college campuses, stadiums, athletic fields, parks and campgrounds all are examples of facilities where an electric emergency service vehicle could be a potentially lifesaving asset.

Moto Electric Vehicles offers top quality police, EMS and security vehicles in compact, low-speed, electric models that can be customized for any facility’s particular needs. Our EMS Paramedic Buddy 3 Passenger Low Speed Vehicle, for instance, has provisions designed specifically for medics on the run including Whelen flashing lights, PA systems and sirens, a first aid kit, backboard holder, stretcher lockdown and fire extinguisher.

Our Municipal Police Buddy features applications for both municipal and community security. Yours can be outfitted with Whelen red and blue roof mounted lights, plus lights on the bumpers and rear deck, a PA system and a hailer with multiple siren tones, police graphics on the front and rear of the body and an internal inverter to drop the power from 48 volts to 12 volts.

Standard features on each include toughened glass windshields, a backup alert signal and on-board recharger. Options like a wireless backup camera, full weather enclosures, heating system and custom body color and graphics also are available.

If your facility is in need of a reliable emergency services vehicle that can access areas where full size cars and trucks can’t, check out MotoElectricVehicles.com. Each of our vehicles is customizable for your needs, comes with a full nationwide warranty, nationwide delivery and flexible lease/loan programs. Contact our Atlantic Beach, FL offices at 904-247-1818 or via our convenient online email form.

Neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) aren't just for the golf course.

When you think of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), visions of golf courses probably cross your mind. After all, it was on America’s golf ranges that electric carts got their start. But as the economy tightens, concern for the environment grows and more people opt for a quieter, friendlier, back-to-the-basics lifestyle, the neighborhood electric vehicle becomes an increasingly mainstream option.

To that end, communities designed for NEV living are popping up nationwide – and they’re not just retirement communities. Take North Carolina’s Bald Head Island, for example. This exclusive community offers 10,000 acres of beach, marsh and maritime forest preserves located on the eastern side of the Cape Fear River off the coast of Southport, N.C. Residents’ median age is just 56 years old and many are families with minor children. Residents and visitors park their cars and access the island via a ferry. Getting around is done via NEVs and bicycles – no gas-powered vehicles allowed.

Residents and visitors to Bald Head Island and similar communities have easy, short-distance drives to restaurants, grocery and hardware stores, wineries, hair salons, clothing and gift shops, post offices, recreational sites (yes, including golf courses) and more. Those who live the NEV lifestyle daily, as well as those who experience it only while visiting, say it’s an invigorating kind of feeling. Neighborhood electric vehicles allow for a bit of fresh air and sunshine, and allow for interaction with neighbors, friends and passersby, unlike traditional vehicles that close you off from others.

You don’t have to live in one of these communities to enjoy the benefits of a neighborhood electric vehicle. Some are capable of speeds of 30 miles per hour, which make them street legal for residential and other low speed areas, and great for quick jaunts to the park, ball field, corner store or a nearby friend’s home. Moto Electric Vehicles offers a range of NEVs and accessories, including flip-down TVs and wireless vehicle backup cameras. Browse our website or stop by our Jacksonville, Florida showroom to find out more about living the NEV lifestyle.