Evolution D5 - Any issues with tunnels?
 

I'm very intrigued with the new Evolution D5 - it's a 4 passenger forward facing cart that is no longer than a standard cart.

The potential issue I see is that the specs shows the height to be 79.5". This is 10" taller than my Yamaha Drive 2.

Does anyone have one of these yet, and if so, have you had any issues with tunnels? I'm at the north end of The Villages so we have some of the shortest tunnels around.

Couple things about the Evolution D5: they can go up to 25mph without any adjustments made on them, making them - from a legal standpoint, not a "golf cart." But because they don't have windshield wipers, they are also not eligible for the LSV legal designation.

So no matter where you're driving it in the Villages, you would be driving it illegally.

You might want to look at this document that provides actual tunnel dimensions. They are all different, so it may hit the tunnel at the side, but only in places you may never travel.

https://districtgov.org/departments/...%20HEIGHTS.pdf

. I'd bet a McDonalds Happy Meal, that it's onboard programmable ESC can be programmed to max out at any speed required depending on use and local regs just like all current electric golf carts/LSV's are capable of. I highly doubt they would be willing to exclude this cart from being sold in FL (and maybe other states) as a golf cart. As examples, GEM, Atomic and others come in set at 25mph but all can be properly adjusted to be considered a legal GC. Of course that doesn't preclude it from being changed back. As for street legal, you are likely correct as it does not have a DOT Approved windshield which is required whether it had a wiper or not in FL but that could possibly be a manufacturer's option All that said it could still be driven at any speed inside private property such as a closed gated community UNLIKE T.V.

Interesting...

You car is capable of going 100 mph (or more), yet it is perfectly legal to drive on roads with a speed limit of 25 mph...

LSVs (which have an unaltered maximum speed of 25-30 mph) are allowed on the MMPs, as long as they do not exceed 20 mph...

So please explain why the driving an Evolution D5 would be "driving illegally", if you do not alter the speed regulator, nor exceed the allowed speed...

This has been discussed several times, FL law states (more or less) if a golf cart CAN go over 20 mph to is then classified as a Low Speed Vehicle, with an allowable top speed of 25 mph, and then all of the other required legal stuff. I do hot have the specific FL statute but I know it was previously referenced.

OP asked about tunnel heights which is important to know. Thank you Maker for providing the link for the answer. Now back to the speed diversion.

Right. It has to have the windshield, and be registered and insured as an LSV, IF it is made to go between 20 and 25mph.

Here are the actual rules, from the government website:
Low Speed Vehicles - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Section 320.01(41), Florida Statutes, defines LSVs as “any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour.” LSVs must be registered, titled and insured with personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Any person operating an LSV must have a valid driver license in their immediate possession.

LSVs may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 MPH or less and must be equipped with the following safety equipment:

Headlamps;
Front and rear turn signals;
Stop lamps;
Tail lamps;
Reflex reflectors, red – one each side and one on the rear;
Exterior mirror on the driver side and an interior rear-view mirror or exterior mirror on passenger side;
Parking brake;
Windshield;
Seat belt for each designated seat; and a
Vehicle identification number (VIN).

So if you want to buy an Evolution ED-5, and don't want to change its stock speed to go under 20, then you have to follow all the above. If you choose to change the stock speed to top out at under 20, then it's fine. But the way it comes from the manufacturer, is set to go 25.

As for the heights - most of the tunnels will be too short at the sides, requiring the OP to drive closer to the middle of the tunnel. That's all well and good until someone comes into the tunnel from the opposite direction.

A few of the older tunnels are pretty low. If you see the ceiling scrape marks in a low one such as the one next to Hawkes Bay golf course, proceed with caution.

Do the Evolution ED-5 not have all of those features?

Obviously, FL is allowing them to be sold, so where's the problem?

Seems like at 79.5” - it can go through about 75% of the tunnels only in the middle, which, to me, puts oncoming traffic in danger.

LSVs do not require a windshield wiper.

I have a Yamaha four-seater with a raised roof in the back. Tunnels going under Buena Vista north of 466 reqire going down the middle to avoid hitting the top. No problem with the others.

...

but they do require a DOT approved, automobile rated windshield. Used to be they could have those plastic golf cart front windows with the airholes in them but no more.