Transport Canada approves new low speed vehicle classification

Transport Canada has amended the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to recognize low speed vehicles (LSVs) as a class of vehicle in Canada. Closely paralleling the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s classification, the Canadian regulations stipulate that LSVs must be limited to speeds of 40 km/h and be equipped with headlights, taillights, brakelights, turn signals, windshields, a parking brake, rearview mirrors, VIN and seatbelts. Unlike the U.S., however, Canadian LSVs are defined as four-wheeled, zero emission, electric vehicles. The Electrical Vehicle Association of Canada (EVAC), which includes Dynasty Motorcar Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Bombardier, applauded the August 16 initiative. Lobbying Transport Canada since 1998 to create this new vehicle class, EVAC has argued that where high speed and long distances are not a requirement, LSVs provide a quiet, clean, economical and environmentally friendly alternative to the internal combustion engine. Dynasty Motorcar Corporation chairman Barry Good comments: “We congratulate Transport Canada on this initiative. Dynasty will continue to work with EVAC and other interested parties to encourage the provinces to amend their respective Motor Vehicle Acts to reflect this new vehicle classification.” The full text of the Transport Canada initiative can be found at www.dynastymotorcar.com/s/ArticlesAndComments.asp.