Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) are battery powered vehicles that are usually built to have a top speed of 35 miles per hour. They are smaller and lighter than standard road vehicles and are certified to a special US Department of Transportation (US DOT) low-speed vehicle safety standard. In the state of California, NEVs are limited to driving on roads that are 35 mph or less and since they are 100% powered by battery supplied electricity, they are classified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV).

Past City Partnerships with NEV's: The City’s partnership with Mizell Senior Center utilized CDBG funding and awarded Mizell funds for vehicles. Mizell provides nutritional assistance to low-income seniors through daily meals, as well as provides the function of vital human contact, information outreach and monitors the well-being of isolated homebound elderly. This project was accomplished through the acquisition of a new Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) with an after-market service utility box. The replacement of a high mileage costly later model gasoline van with a NEV relieved their annual fleet operations and maintenance costs. The NEV supplemented their delivery fleet with a cost-efficient, virtually maintenance-free and environmentally friendly vehicle for close proximity deliveries. During this grant funding period, Mizell’s congregate, and home delivered meals served 40,000 meals and 150 clients in Palm Springs.