4 ms·

The mayor of Indianapolis implemented this program by fiat, without any legal basis. The city-county council is furious. There are no special legal carve-outs

by hapless 11y ago

The mayor of Indianapolis implemented this program by fiat, without any legal basis. The city-county council is furious. There are no special legal carve-outs for the use of city parking spaces or municipal land by the autolib vehicles -- they're parked illegally and they'll start getting towed the minute a new mayor enters office. As far as I know, it's not even legal to import the electric cars, much less drive them on public roads. They certainly don't meet NHTSA standards.

mecameron 11y ago
> As far as I know, it's not even legal to import the electric cars, much less drive them on public roads. They certainly don't meet NHTSA standards. Why would it not be legal to import electric cars? The cumulatively most sold electric vehicle in the US, the Nissan Leaf, started off manufacturing in Japan only, and the initial batch in the US was all imported. The just launched BWM i3 and i8 are both imported, as well as the VW e-golf and a number of others. And not be legal to drive? By the end of 2015 we will be at nearly 400k electric vehicles sold in just the US [1]. A faster adoption rate than hybrid vehicles [2]. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_t... [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_the_United_States#/media/File:DoE_EV_Everywhere_Blueprint_p5.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_t...
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- jpollock 11y ago
  From a quick google search: > We are currently making the modifications necessary to meet the Department of Transportation (DoT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requirements. Fully compliant Bluecars will be produced in Q4 2014 and will be brought to Indianapolis for the public opening of the BlueIndy service. Among the modifications are additional airbags, braking and bumper modifications. A first set of European Bluecars is being brought to Indianapolis for demonstration and testing, under a temporary import authorization from NHTSA. A first batch of 10 will be used for a public demonstration starting on May 19. These temporary import Bluecars will subsequently be shipped back to France and replaced by the US model. [1]: http://www.in.gov/oucc/files/44478_OUCC_Testimony_of_Edward_T__Rutter_.pdf http://www.in.gov/oucc/files/44478_OUCC_Testimony_of_Edward_...
  - mecameron 11y ago
    Thanks. I actually mis-read the parent comment as "it's not even legal to import electric cars" instead of "it's not even legal to import _the_ electric cars" referring specifically to the Bollore Bluecars. Though I don't know much about the local controversy with the blue car launch in Indy, I highly doubt the relevant federal agencies would allow the importing and driving of hundreds of vehicles that have not passed through the relevant steps.
    - jpollock 11y ago
      Ah, but they do, as long as it's for "demonstrations, racing, training and investigations"... :) http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/06/17/indy-councilors-question-blueindy-safety/28878131/ http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/06/17/indy-councilor...
      - jsprogrammer 11y ago
        10 == 100s?
  - Steko 11y ago
    > under a temporary import authorization from NHTSA Sounds legal.
tobltobs 11y ago
Are there any special laws which would prohibit the use of city parking spaces as recharge stations?
- mikeash 11y ago
  If "city parking spaces" means parking spaces designated for city vehicles (and not just public parking on the street or whatever), then it's prohibited simply because this is a private company that doesn't actually have any agreement to use those spots.
QuercusMax 11y ago
What are their reasons for being furious, aside from that it wasn't their idea?
- jsyedidia 11y ago
  They are responsible for approving funding, and the mayor appropriated $6 million for the project without getting their approval. They would now have to find a way to pay for it, but their main point is that he overstepped his authority. It is unlikely to have been approved by the council if it was brought to them, because probably a majority of the council believe it's a poor use of Indianapolis' funds. The above information is based on a quick Google search.

by hapless 11y ago

mecameron 11y ago

> As far as I know, it's not even legal to import the electric cars, much less drive them on public roads. They certainly don't meet NHTSA standards. Why would it not be legal to import electric cars? The cumulatively most sold electric vehicle in the US, the Nissan Leaf, started off manufacturing in Japan only, and the initial batch in the US was all imported. The just launched BWM i3 and i8 are both imported, as well as the VW e-golf and a number of others. And not be legal to drive? By the end of 2015 we will be at nearly 400k electric vehicles sold in just the US [1]. A faster adoption rate than hybrid vehicles [2]. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_t... [2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_the_United_States#/media/File:DoE_EV_Everywhere_Blueprint_p5.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug-in_electric_vehicles_in_t...

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
jpollock 11y ago
From a quick google search: > We are currently making the modifications necessary to meet the Department of Transportation (DoT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requirements. Fully compliant Bluecars will be produced in Q4 2014 and will be brought to Indianapolis for the public opening of the BlueIndy service. Among the modifications are additional airbags, braking and bumper modifications. A first set of European Bluecars is being brought to Indianapolis for demonstration and testing, under a temporary import authorization from NHTSA. A first batch of 10 will be used for a public demonstration starting on May 19. These temporary import Bluecars will subsequently be shipped back to France and replaced by the US model. [1]: http://www.in.gov/oucc/files/44478_OUCC_Testimony_of_Edward_T__Rutter_.pdf http://www.in.gov/oucc/files/44478_OUCC_Testimony_of_Edward_...
- mecameron 11y ago
  Thanks. I actually mis-read the parent comment as "it's not even legal to import electric cars" instead of "it's not even legal to import _the_ electric cars" referring specifically to the Bollore Bluecars. Though I don't know much about the local controversy with the blue car launch in Indy, I highly doubt the relevant federal agencies would allow the importing and driving of hundreds of vehicles that have not passed through the relevant steps.
  - jpollock 11y ago
    Ah, but they do, as long as it's for "demonstrations, racing, training and investigations"... :) http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/06/17/indy-councilors-question-blueindy-safety/28878131/ http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/06/17/indy-councilor...
    - jsprogrammer 11y ago
      10 == 100s?
- Steko 11y ago
  > under a temporary import authorization from NHTSA Sounds legal.

tobltobs 11y ago

Are there any special laws which would prohibit the use of city parking spaces as recharge stations?

mikeash 11y ago
If "city parking spaces" means parking spaces designated for city vehicles (and not just public parking on the street or whatever), then it's prohibited simply because this is a private company that doesn't actually have any agreement to use those spots.

QuercusMax 11y ago

What are their reasons for being furious, aside from that it wasn't their idea?

jsyedidia 11y ago
They are responsible for approving funding, and the mayor appropriated $6 million for the project without getting their approval. They would now have to find a way to pay for it, but their main point is that he overstepped his authority. It is unlikely to have been approved by the council if it was brought to them, because probably a majority of the council believe it's a poor use of Indianapolis' funds. The above information is based on a quick Google search.