https://www.fastcompany.com/90804313/why-car-companies-should-fear-the-golf-cart
>golf cart
State law bans golf carts from driving on State or Federal highways but allows municipalities to allow golf carts on town roads so long as the cart has head and taillights, turn signals and is operated by someone of age. My subdivision seems to have a lot of these even though they are surrounded and locked in by highways. And that is just here in the low-rent district, in the swanky gated communities (burbclaves) in nearby towns everyone has one that has a replica '57 Chevy, Jag - E, or some such body on it because it's a status thing. We haven't even gotten up to the GEM type light vehicles mentioned in the article.
It would just take a little amendment to the state law and the GEM types and even some golf carts would be all over the place. If you could use one to get to the grocery store, coffee shop and restaurants sales would go nuts.
I would love for those to take hold here. But there aren't really many neighborhoods here that allow you to get to the grocery store, doctors office, etc. without going down some major arterials. There are a couple walking neighborhoods popping up and some golf carts would be perfect for something like that. I would even love to see some of the apartment/condo complexes in those neighborhoods have a fleet of golf carts the residents could check out to run their errands or go to dinner or whatever.
There is a grey area here: Can these golf carts cross a highway at an intersection? I've not seen it very often but once in awhile I see a golf cart cross a highway on a town road at a traffic light. I think the town cops turn a blind eye to it because all the supermarkets are on the East side of the state highway separating most of the town from them.
It's hard to justify $40K or more for a green second or third car for local errands, but some sort of golf cart like vehicle would be way more affordable. Sometimes it's not the technology, it's just the regulations that get in the way.
>Can these golf carts cross a highway at an intersection?
I read that one resort town near me was putting in a cart-crossing across a very busy highway so that the golf club residents could get to the grocery store.
My neighborhood has tons of golf carts on the roadways but I don't think a one of them is legal/street-worthy. This halloween we had a parade of them trick-or-treating.
>legal
Yeah most of the carts in the neighborhood here are not legal but the cops ignore that as long as they stay in the 'hood and don't go crazy.
I'm waiting for e-bikes to take off here.
>e-bikes
They're getting popular here. Especially the cargo versions that will hold 1-2 kids or groceries.
The article talks about car companies focusing on high-$$ evs (with subscriptions) and leaving themselves vulnerable to a low-priced 'bargain' alternative. Remember the Elio 3-wheeler I signed up for? Elio lobbied and was approved as a highway use commuter in all 50 states, IIRC. It died because gas dropped from $4 and we went right back to F150s. Somebody is going to stick an electric drivetrain in something like that and sell it for $10-12k.
Volkswagen carved out a niche for small, cheap reliable basic cars while Detroit was producing ever bigger bloated models. The only thing the US had in response was the Studebaker Lark and the Ford Falcon in the early 60's which cost more and had no hippie appeal.
Don't forget the Rambler. Great cheap, durable cars ....and not as homely as the Lark.
Ha! Elio is back (maybe) as an ev, $14k-ish
https://www.eliomotors.com/
Elio Motors announces plan to go electric, but Valley company could still face a rocky road ahead | Arizona Technology Council
https://www.aztechcouncil.org/elio-motors-announces-plan-to-go-electric-but-valley-company-could-still-face-a-rocky-road-ahead/
>Rambler
You are right. My dad had two of them when I was little. Great cars and they sold quite well.
Unlike some "golf-cart-like" Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), they're all fully enclosed, seat four passengers, and offer car-like features such as air conditioners, heaters, electric windows, electric door locks, mirrors, 3-point seat belts, backup cameras, infotainment screens, USB chargers, glove boxes, trunks, and folding rear seats for extra cargo space.
Wink electric vehicles offer car-like features – and solar charging
https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/wink-motors-neighborhood-electric-vehicle/
My inlaws live in Bettys Bay, a quiet rural beach town about 120 miles outside of Cape Town and VW dune buggies are all the rage. So, this Christmas we are buying one to keep in their garage as we are up there so often. Practical and fun for the quiet dirt roads and random sand dunes that crop up - I stumbled across a tuning garage in Cape Town who rebuild/restore to a very high standard. We should be viewing in a few weeks, I will post some photos when we buy.