The City of Muskego Wisconsin Gives Some Thought to Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV)

Motorists on Muskego's byways might start seeing Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) sharing the roads with them.

NEVs are nimble zero-emission two-to six-seaters cars with headlights, brake lights, mirrors and other safety equipment.

They usually cost about 3 cents per mile to operate. That makes them an attractive option to a car that costs 18 cents per mile to operate, assuming 17 miles to the gallon in city driving and $3 per gallon gas prices.

Muskego officials are thinking about allowing the NEVs on city streets.

The NEVs certainly don't spew exhaust like their burly cousins, but what is the net impact? NEVs do rely on electric power plants, which do pollute. But Bob Mair, who spoke with city officials at a recent meeting and sells a brand of NEVs, said the amount of electricity the vehicles draw during charging is not enough to make utility companies provide more power. "There is pollution if all the energy grid is filled and plants have to burn more coal," he said, noting that's not the case in Wisconsin, which has excess energy that it sells to others.

Milwaukee approved use of NEVs on its streets in 2009. Janesville, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Stevens Point are among the approximately 100 Wisconsin cities to also allow them.

Source: Muskego NOW

Muskego is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The city has a population of over 23,000. Muskego is the fifth largest community in Waukesha County.The name Muskego is derived from the Potawatomi Indian name for the area, "Mus-kee-Guaac", meaning sunfish. The Potawatomi were the original inhabitants of Muskego. There are three lakes within the city's boundaries.