January 15, 2011

TO: All Regional Directors (for distribution to regional management teams)

Subject: Guidelines for Neighbourhood Zero Emission Vehicle Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas in British Columbia

Purpose:

These are guidelines for Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (TRAN) District Offices to apply when evaluating requests for road use permits for operation of Neighbourhood Zero Emission Vehicles (NZEV) on highways in unincorporated areas of British Columbia.

Background:

A NZEV is a small, electricity-powered personal vehicle with a top speed of 40 km/h and a typical range of between 50 and 80 kilometres. NZEV examples are shown in Attachment A.

Effective August 16, 2000, NZEV, then called low speed vehicles (LSV), were able to be licensed, registered and insured in British Columbia under Division 7B “Slow Moving Vehicles and Equipment” of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR). This required NZEV to operate with amber non-rotating flashing lamps, a slow moving warning device (i.e. orange triangle), and to drive in the right hand lane or as closely as practicable to the right hand curb. The vehicles were also prohibited from operating on MVAR Schedule 1 highways, major bridges and tunnels. As of mid-2008, there were less than 20 NZEV operating in BC.

On June 6, 2008, BC Reg. 26/58 was amended to define and set operating requirements for a new class of vehicle called a “Neighbourhood Zero Emission Vehicle”. The amendment is summarized as follows:

“Neighbourhood zero emission vehicle” means a vehicle that:o travels on four wheels;o is powered by an electric motor;o can attain a speed of 32 km/hr but not more than 40 km/hr in a distance of

1.6 km on a paved level surface; and

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering Branch M E M O R A N D U M

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

o meets or exceeds standards of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and bears a compliance label in accordance with that Act.

NZEV may operate on any highway in British Columbia where the posted speed limit is 40 km/h or less.

NZEV may also operate on highways with a speed limit over 40 km/h and not more than 50 km/h in unincorporated areas where authorized by road use permit issued by TRAN, and within municipalities where authorized by municipal bylaw.

NZEV may cross a highway that has a speed limit up to 80 km/h at an intersection that enables travel to continue on a highway where the vehicles are authorized.

NZEV continuously owned or leased since before the new regulation came into force (June 6, 2008) are grandfathered. These NZEV will continue to be operated as slow moving vehicles unless the owner/lessee makes application to the Director, CVSE, to be brought under the new regulation as a NZEV. All NZEV purchased or leased after June 6th, 2008 do not have the option to operate as slow moving vehicles and must operate under the new NZEV requirement.

Operation of a NZEV where not authorized is an offence.

NZEVs were originally designed for controlled-traffic environments, and are not required by federal standards to be equipped with the same safety features as conventional vehicles. For example, air bags and crash bumpers are not required. Due to these design limitations, the top operating speed for NZEVs is mechanically limited to 40 km/h by Transport Canada regulations.

The amended regulation defines a NZEV and provides for their use in safe and appropriate environments. Safe and appropriate operating environments would typically be lower volume and lower speed roads with suitable sightlines and gradual curves and moderate grades. The primary consideration when issuing permits should be the safety of the NZEV operators and the impact of these slower moving vehicles on traffic flow.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance for authorizing unincorporated highways with posted speed limits over 40 km/h and not more than 50 km/h. Unincorporated highways of up to 50 km/h are being considered for NZEV use because there may be some roads that are determined by TRAN Regional Traffic Engineers or District Engineers to be safe and appropriate for NZEV use.

Policy:

Under the new regulation, motorists must obtain a road use permit via the local TRAN District Office that will authorize the operation of NZEV on specific unincorporated highways or for an area including several highways. Applicants for road use permits are responsible for providing the Ministry with a list of roadways or geographic areas that

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

they wish to have reviewed for NZEV use. Road use permits may be provided to individuals for personal use or to an organization for a fleet of NZEV vehicles. Guidelines have been established for TRAN staff to evaluate NZEV use on unincorporated highways with posted speeds greater than 40 km/h but not more than 50 km/h. Unincorporated highways authorized for NZEV use will be identified on a road use permit issued to NZEV operators. Authorization to operate NZEV on municipal roads greater than 40 km/h and up to 50 km/h is the responsibility of the municipality.

Each unincorporated highway or area where there has been an application for NZEV use requires a technical review by the Regional Traffic Engineer or District Engineer and a recommendation to approve or deny NZEV use. Recommendations will be reviewed by the Chief Engineer. Permits for NZEV use will also be signed by the Chief Engineer.

Guidelines for authorizing NZEV use on unincorporated highways and areas are included in Attachment B. TRAN headquarters staff will maintain a Provincial inventory of authorized unincorporated highways, and will provide copies of permits to the appropriate District and Regional offices.

Any permit issued shall be kept in the NZEV and made available by the NZEV operator on request. A blank road use permit for authorized unincorporated highways is provided in Attachment C. A sample of a completed road use permit is provided in Attachment D.

The Chief Engineer, with guidance from the Regional Traffic Engineer or District Engineer, may also consider installing guide signage on road segments where there are numerous requests for NZEV use or where an NZEV area is established. Examples of appropriate signage are included in Attachments E and F.

Attachments:

A – Examples of NZEV ModelsB – Guidelines for Authorization of NZEV Use on Highways in Unincorporated AreasC – Blank Road Use Permit to Operate NZEV D – Sample Completed Road Use Permit to Operate NZEV E – Sample NZEV SignageF – Sample NZEV Signage Plan

Contact:Ed Miska, Section Head, Engineering Branch (250) 387-7676Nathan Popp, Senior Project Manager, Climate Action Program, (250) 356-9084

Dirk NylandChief Engineer

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

Attachment A - Examples of NZEV Models

ZENN Canadian Electric Vehicles

NEMO E-Ride

GEM Motorcars Dynasty

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

Attachment B - Guidelines for Authorization of NZEV Use on Highways in Unincorporated Areas

The review of highway segments for potential NZEV road use permits must be carried out by, or under the supervision of, a TRAN Regional Traffic Engineer or District Engineer and reviewed by the Chief Engineer.

For a highway to be considered for NZEV use, the new regulation requires that the following operating conditions must be met:

NZEV can not operate on highways with a posted speed limit greater than 50 km/h; and

NZEV can not make direct crossings of highways that have speed limits of over 80 km/h.

NZEV are intended for use on shorter trips on low-volume and low-speed roads. Some examples of areas where these vehicles may be particularly useful include resort communities, low-volume neighborhood streets, parks, ferry terminals, university campuses, and airport terminals.

For NZEV to be authorized for use on any highway with a posted speed greater than 40 km/h but not more than 50 km/h, a professional engineer should use their professional judgement including consideration of the following road and traffic conditions:

NZEV should not be permitted on highways where traffic volumes exceed 500 vehicles per hour, or on highways with AADT greater than 5,000 vehicles per day.

NZEV should not be permitted to operate on highways with more than 5 percent heavy commercial vehicles (i.e. 5,500 kg or greater).

NZEV should not be permitted to operate on highways with grades of more than 6 percent over 600 metres.

NZEV should not be permitted to cross highways with four or more through-lanes

unless at a signalized intersection or other appropriate traffic control, such as a four-way stop or traffic circle.

NZEV should not be permitted to travel on highway segments or through intersections where a review of collision history demonstrates increased safety risk.

NZEV should not be permitted on highways where prevailing travel speeds are incompatible with NZEV speeds.

NZEV should not be permitted to cross highways unless crossing sight distances have been considered and provide for safe crossing.

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

If any of these road or traffic conditions are not met, or if other local conditions exist, a further engineering analysis may be undertaken for road segments with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less to determine if the road segment is appropriate for the safe operation of NZEV.

Where a highway or structure under TRAN jurisdiction provides connectivity to segments of road under the jurisdiction of a municipality, and where the municipality has authorized the use of NZEV by bylaw, then TRAN may, at the discretion of the Chief Engineer, authorize the use of NZEV on the TRAN highway. This authorization may be granted notwithstanding other conditions specified in these guidelines, provided the highway or structure has a posted speed limit of 50 km/h or less and is approximately 500 metres or less in length.

The Chief Engineer, with guidance from the Regional Traffic Engineer or District Engineer, may also consider installing guide signage on road segments where there are numerous requests for NZEV use. It is recommended that a minimum of five road use permits should be issued for a particular road segment, or an area should be designated an NZEV area, prior to signs being considered.

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

Attachment C – Blank Road Use Permit to Operate NZEV

Permit/File Number:District:

ROAD USE PERMIT TO OPERATE NEIGHBOURHOOD ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS

OF THE PROVINCE

This Permit is issued under section 24.07(2)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation, B.C. Reg 26/58.

The vehicle to which this permit has been issued is authorized to operate on the following highways or in the area as described as:

Permit Holders Please Note the Following Requirements:

1. The NZEV must meet the definition of NZEV described in Section 1 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation, B.C. Reg. 26/58.

2. The NZEV must be registered and insured in compliance with the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act.

3. This Permit must be kept in the NZEV and made available on request to law enforcement agencies or Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure officials.

4. This Permit only applies on roads with a maximum posted speed of 50km/h.

5. This Permit is not transferable to another vehicle.

Permit Issued to:Name Address Telephone

Vehicle VIN Number

Ministry of Transportation and InfrastructureMinistry Employee Signature

Print Name Dirk NylandMinistry Employee Title Chief EngineerDate (yyyy/mm/dd)

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

Attachment D – Sample Completed Road Use Permit to Operate NZEV

Permit Number:District:

NZEV 1-2-1-001 Mayne Island Vancouver Island

ROAD USE PERMIT TO OPERATE NEIGHBOURHOOD ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS

OF THE PROVINCE

This Permit is issued under section 24.07(2)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation, B.C. Reg 26/58.

The vehicle to which this permit has been issued is authorized to operate on the following highways or in the area as described as:

All roads under Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure jurisdiction on Mayne Island.

Permit Holders Please Note the Following Requirements:

1. The NZEV must meet the definition of NZEV described in Section 1 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulation, B.C. Reg. 26/58.

2. The NZEV must be registered and insured in compliance with the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act.

3. This Permit must be kept in the NZEV and made available on request to law enforcement agencies or Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure officials.

4. This Permit only applies on roads with a maximum posted speed of 50km/h.

5. This Permit is not transferable to another vehicle.

Permit Issued to:Name John Doe Address 1234 Anyroad, Mayne Island, British Columbia, V0N 2J0 Telephone (250) 555-1234Vehicle VIN Number 2D9MK12168E154297

Ministry of Transportation and InfrastructureMinistry Employee Signature

Print Name Dirk NylandMinistry Employee Title Chief EngineerDate (yyyy/mm/dd) 2009/03/20

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

Attachment E – Sample NZEV Signage

Guidelines for NZEV Operation on Highways in Unincorporated Areas of BC

Attachment F – Sample NZEV Signage Plan