Bowing to the trend of buying small electric vehicles for short commutes in order to save fuel costs, the Ohio state legislature is legalizing the use of three-wheel electric cars, which will be classified as motorcycles - at least if Governor Ted Strickland signs the bill next week, as is expected.
Under current Ohio state law, says Julie Eherhart, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the three-wheeled cars are, "…not qualified as a motorcycle because they don't have a saddle, but they're not qualified as motor vehicles either because they don't meet federal safety guidelines."
She added, "The lawmakers need to change the motorcycle outline from having a saddle to having a saddle or a seat."
This change is exactly what an amendment to the state construction budget bill has done, and as soon as Governor Strickland signs it, and a 90-day waiting period elapses, the change will be legal.
The proposed law would require people operating three-wheel electric vehicles to comply with state laws for motorcycle use, including the use of a helmet for the first year despite the fact that these cars are fully enclosed. As well, a motorcycle skills test would be required in order to get the proper endorsement on their driver's license.
It has not yet been decided whether three-wheeled electrics that are street-legal will be insured as motorcycles or cars.
