JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Huff Ford Subaru sells Tomberlin E-Merges decorated for Hokie fans. E-Merges range in price from $6,000 to more than $8,000.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Huff Ford Subaru in Wytheville sells Tomberlin E-Merges. Because the low-speed vehicles' battery life will last about 30 miles, the ideal use for the E-Merge would be for errands and short trips.

Driving an electric-powered, low-speed vehicle is an interesting experience.

Such vehicles -- also referred to as "golf cars" -- have been a topic of discussion for town councils in Christiansburg and Pulaski in recent weeks as some residents look for ways to cut down on fuel costs while taking short trips through town.

According to Virginia code, low-speed vehicles are legal for road use as long as they meet certain safety requirements. However, towns and cities can disallow such vehicles if they deem them unsafe or a hindrance to traffic.

Christiansburg Town Council formed an ad hoc committee to look into the safety of such vehicles and whether they would be a hindrance to traffic on town roads.

Though the committee had concerns about the safety of the vehicles, its members ultimately recommended that the council take no restrictive action against motorists who wish to operate low-speed vehicles, which was upheld with a vote at the Aug. 19 meeting.

A proposal to allow golf carts on Pulaski's roads died Sept. 3 after town council members said studying whether streets could safely handle the vehicles would be too costly.

So what's all the fuss over these vehicles? I decided to find out by taking one on the road for a test drive.

First of all, don't expect to be able to do the speed limit in most areas. These are called low-speed vehicles for a reason. According to its specifications, the maximum speed on a Tomberlin E-Merge is 25 mph.

When I took a right turn out of Huff Ford Subaru, a Wytheville dealership that sells the vehicles, I immediately found out just how slow 25 mph really is. Though it was a very routine turn, a person in a sport utility vehicle who was several hundred feet behind me in the same lane soon had to brake to keep enough distance from me.

Because the E-Merge has no doors and is lower to the ground than normal-size vehicles, I felt exposed when vehicles would fly past me.

Because the vehicle's battery life will last about 30 miles, the ideal use for the E-Merge would be for errands and short trips.

To get a feel for this type of trip, I decided to visit nearby shopping centers about two minutes from the dealership. At this point the vehicle became fun to drive. I no longer had to worry about traffic lights, switching lanes or other motorists going noticeably faster than I was traveling, so I was more at ease and allowed myself to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I soon had to turn around and head back to the dealership, because after about 15 minutes my battery was nearly dead. It was only half charged when I began driving, so sales specialist Randall Spencer was nice enough to allow me to try another vehicle with a fully charged battery.

The second vehicle I drove would be a perfect fit in the New River Valley -- it was decorated in Virginia Tech colors and had the Hokie Bird painted on the front.

This E-Merge vehicle was a 48SS model, one of the special editions. The interior also had been modified with wood grain kits for the dash, steering wheel and cup holders.

The two vehicles drove almost the same, except that the standard E-2 model had better handling. The SS model's steering seemed a bit loose at times, and I really had to make sure I pulled the wheel with more force to make a proper turn. Both vehicles also tended to vibrate or shake slightly when stops were made.

Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Wythe Albert drives his Tomberlin E-Merge in Wytheville. Albert says the E-Merge vehicle saves him money on daily commute and errands. He has owned his E-Merge for two months and has already put 531 miles on it.

When driving through Wytheville I happened to meet Wythe Albert, an owner of a Tomberlin E-Merge.

Albert was making a stop at a local store before heading back to Wytheville Fas-T-Lube, his place of employment. Also the owner of a pickup truck, Albert said the E-Merge saves him money on his daily commute and errands.

"I put $60 worth of gas in my car a week," he said.

Albert has owned his E-Merge for two months and has already put 531 miles on it.

He isn't discouraged by the vehicle's stature or light-weight frame and said it offers plenty of safety for the purpose of his trips.

"I don't worry about it as long as I watch my mirrors to see what's behind me," Albert said.

The E-Merge vehicles are equipped with four-wheel braking; three-point seat belts; head, tail and high-mount lamps; a horn; and downhill regenerative braking with roll-away protection.

Albert said that his battery power lasts all day and that he's never had a problem with it. He said he bought his vehicle for $6,100.

If I were making a quick stop to a supermarket or to see a friend, the vehicle does what it is meant to and is definitely an option to consider.

I can also understand why Christiansburg council hesitated about the vehicles and considered banning them.

When driving on a 35 mph street, the maximum speed limit area the vehicles are allowed on according to Virginia code, I felt as if I were holding up traffic. At one point, Albert and I were driving alongside each other on a two-lane street, and I could only imagine the frustration of the people behind us. Though the vehicles have a maximum speed of 25 mph, most of the time they will do about 18, which is only a little more than half of the speed limit.

The low speed at which the vehicles travel, along with an open frame, could also possibly pose safety issues. However, I think they are still safer than motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds -- and the latter two don't even require a driver's license to operate.

The E-Merges range in price from $6,000 to more than $8,000.