Frequently Asked Questions
Getting up to speed with electric vehicle technology may seem confusing because of new acronyms and concepts that have no equivalents with internal combustion engine vehicles. We have put together this F.A.Q. to help you understand some of these new terms.
Q: What is a Medium Speed Vehicle (MSV)?
A: MSVs are generally considered 35 MPH urban and suburban vehicles. MSVs are not for high-speed highway use and are currently legal in Montana, Washington, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Minnesota and Utah. The first MSV laws were enacted in 2007. Each of these states have unique MSV requirements that must be followed. Most others states require speeds to be limited to 25 MPH and a few states still do not allow this class of electric vehicle. MSVs are a superset of NEVs, also required to be fully compliant with the FMVSS500 specification. The Evergreen ECH is the first purpose designed MSV!
If your state does not yet allow MSVs, we encourage you to contact your state representatives.
Q: What is a Neighborhood Electric
Vehicle (NEV)?
A: NEVs were defined as a new class of motorized vehicles by the federal
government in 1998. NEVs must fully comply with the FMVSS500 specification.
By definition NEVs are electric vehicles and must be limited to a maximum speed
of 25 MPH.
Q: What is the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (FMVSS500) Specification?
A: The FMVSS500 specifies basic safety equipment including lights, reflectors, mirrors, windshields, windshield wipers, parking brake, and seat belts on motor vehicles whose maximum speed is between 20 and 25 miles per hour. The purpose of this standard is to ensure that low-speed vehicles operated on the public streets, roads, and highways are equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle safety.
Q: Which states allow MSVs Today?
A: MSV laws have been passed in Montana, Washington, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Minnesota and Utah. Other states are working on MSV laws. Read your state laws carefully! Some states NEV laws are confusing. Understand the difference between the allowed operations speed of the vehicle versus the maximum posted speed limit of the road you may operate your EV.
Q: What are Lithium Iron Phosphate (LIFePO4) Batteries
A: There are many types of lithium battery chemistries. Lithium Iron Phosphate and Lithium Ion are two popular chemistries.
Most people have heard of Lithium Ion (LiIon) batteries, which are common in cell phones and laptop computers. Lithium Ion batteries are potentially dangerous or even explosive if damaged.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are more stable and non-explosive. LieFePO4 batteries give up a some power storage capability and are more expensive than LiIon batteries. We feel that the battery system must be the safest we can build, which is why we have selected the LiFePO4 chemistry for our battery system.
Q: What is a conversion vehicle?
A: Early EVs and most commercially available EVs today are gas powered cars where someone removed the gasoline engine and fuel system components and replaced them with an electric motor drive system and batteries. Few purpose designed EVs exist. Probably the most famous was the EV1 designed and manufactured by General Motors. The Evergreen ECH was designed from inception as an electric vehicle. This provides tremendous benefits with regard to performance and capability.
Q: What is a composite monocoque chassis/body system?
A: Traditional automobiles are built with stamped steel body panels usually bolted and welded to a stamped metal chassis. The chassis provide the bulk of the vehicle strength. This unibody metal construction technique is relatively inexpensive once tooling has been developed. A composite monocoque is fabricated using high-tech fiber reinforced methods within molds. Carbon fiber and E-Glass systems are used exclusively in the ECH. A monocoque is where some or all off the body panels are designed provide strength to the vehicle, not just cosmetic skins.