Chicago To Pilot Test LSVs As Taxis

Later this year the City of Chicago is planning to start a pilot project to test the viability of using low speed vehicles as taxicabs in certain areas of the city.

I spoke with Efrat Stein, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and she stated that the first step in the program is the passage of an LSV ordinance by the City Council.   The ordinance, recently proposed by Mayor Daley, just made it through the Traffic Committee today and should be placed for a vote before the full council later this month.  Stein currently sees no issues that would impede passage of the ordinance.

The city has not chosen a specific LSV for the pilot yet and will not begin the process until the ordinance passes.  The minimum requirement is that the LSV has to have four doors and be able to seat four people. Learn more

Japanese Firm Exhibits Electric One-Seater

Prototype T10 Minicar

Prototype T10 Minicar

Takeoka Jidosha Kogei Ltd exhibited a prototype of their upgraded electric minicar at the Interational Automotive Electronics Technology Expo in Tokyo Japan last week.  The minicar, currently named T10, is expected to be available in Japan sometime in 2009 and will be priced above $9,520, the cost of their current model in the market, the Milieu R.

The T10 is slightly longer, wider and higher than the Milieu R and is powered by four 12 volt batteries.  The top speed is 55 km/h and the range is 50 km/hr.  Curtis Instruments provides the controller for the vehicle.  Learn more

EMI Introduces New UTV

Silverback UTV from EMI

Silverback UTV from EMI

Eminent Motorsports International (EMI) has introduced the Silverback, a new UTV for 2009. Targeting the recreational market, the Silverback features a 812cc, 52hp engine which gives the Silverback a top speed of over 60 mph according to EMI. Other features include four speed manual transmission, 75 amp alternator, independent suspension, dual exhaust and four wheel disc brakes.   The MSRP for the Silverback is $10,999.   Learn More