Carts could go faster

“Neighborhood electric vehicles” could putt along roads with speed limits of up to 35 mph, instead of the current 25 mph, under legislation that just passed the House on a 67-1 vote. They could also cross roads that have speed limits of up to 45 mph, instead of the current 25 mph. “The city of Pocatello has purchased two of these vehicles,” Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, told the House. The city wants to use one around its sewage treatment pond and the other for meter reading. But nearby roads have higher speed limits. Andrus said the vehicles can go up to 60 mph, but are chip-limited by their manufacturer to travel at a top speed of 35 mph. “They are titled, they are registered, they have license plates, they are insured,” he said, and called them “more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.” Rep. Steve Kren, R-Nampa, cast the only dissenting vote.