Great Machines: The Electric Company
June 2, 2004
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IT Electric Car
In 1988 the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) created a new class of transport called Low Speed
Vehicles (LSV), intended for gated communities, resorts, and universities.
According to NHTSA guidelines, an LSV must have safety equipment such as turn
signals, mirrors, wiper blades, head- and taillights, and seatbelts, and may be
driven only on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less. Currently, 35
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While many LSVs seem like
substantially upgraded golf carts, the IT from Canada’s Dynasty Motorcar Corp.
looks as if it could be a distant cousin of the Volkswagen Beetle. The four-seat
IT can be ordered with a fully enclosed body, as a convertible, or as a two-seat
pickup, and comes with amenities such as a heater and a defroster. The IT has a
spacious interior and provides a surprising level of utility. It is easy to see
why LSVs have become especially popular with retirees, who consider them
practical runabouts with room for groceries and grandchildren. It is not hard to
imagine an open-topped IT on the back lanes of Martha’s Vineyard or navigating
the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage. The ITs also appeal to
universities and city governments, and one San Diego company has a fleet of ITs
in service as taxis. (Click image to enlarge)
ITs are priced from $13,000 and have only a few
options; among the most popular are service-free batteries that retail for $500
and accessories such as wheels that vary in price. Dealers are located in
California, Florida, Arizona, Washington, and Hawaii, as well as in British
Columbia and Ontario. (Click image to enlarge)
Dynasty Motorcar Corporation
866.818.1688
www.itiselectric.com
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