University of California Transportation Center

The neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) is a small, electric car designed for low-speed, local trips in neighborhoods and urban areas. The market potenttal for NEVs depends m part on the availability of a network of safe and accessible roads The processes revolved in developing new infrastructure are explored, and some design concepts are presented. To accommodate NEVs safely on existing roads designed for large vehicles and fast-moving traffic, infrastructure standards and designs will need to be modified, this will occur through a process of expertmentauon as the market for NEVs grows and plannets and engineers discover which designs work and whtch do not. The results of local experiments wdt provide the evidence for modifying state and federal rules and guidelines codified in geometric and traffic control pohcy manuals Ulumately the provision and management of roa~ infrastructure must become more flexible to accommodate alternatives to the full-stze, gasoline-powered automobile.