Wheeling ponders allowing electric vehicles on village streets

Wheeling residents may soon be able to zoom around in electricity-fueled vehicles, but they'll be confined to largely their own neighborhoods.

At the behest of former Village President Bill Hein, the village board will soon consider allowing neighborhood electric vehicles in town.

But the board can only legally allow them on village-owned streets. Officials will have to seek permission to allow them on state- and county-owned roads.

"We have to start giving people alternative transportation," Hein said at a board meeting Tuesday. He said mo-peds are legally allowed on streets and are probably less safe than the golf cart-like electric vehicles.

The board continues to have concerns over safety, even though most streets in town have 35 mph speed limits.

The police department, which evaluated the proposal when it was brought up months ago, has reiterated that it, too, has concerns about the vehicles fighting with fast-moving traffic on streets like Dundee Road, if they're ever allowed there.

But Trustee Ken Brady said the village has to start thinking boldly and take a chance on an innovative idea.

"Something has to be done," he said. "This is a good start."

He pointed out that the fuel-efficient Smart Car is probably smaller than the golf cart-like vehicles. However, other trustees noted that the Smart Car can accelerate as fast as any other car on the road and go faster than 25 mph.

Trustee Pat Horcher admitted that something has to be done about fuel economy but he sees this as opening up a Pandora's box.

"I don't think this is the answer," he said. "I can't say yes to this."

The idea will be brought back to the board, likely in a month or so, after attorneys work out the language for a possible ordinance. For now, the board can only approve the neighborhood electric vehicles for village roads.

Hein called that a good first step until the village can slowly widen bike paths and seek permission to use the vehicles on other roads.

The two-person carts cost about $5,000 to $9,000. A multi-person vehicle would be from $9,000 to $11,000. The vehicles come with headlights and eight batteries that charge when plugged in. They last about 60 to 70 miles per charge.