The Google cars are licensed as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Neighborhood_Electric_Vehicle" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Neighborhood_Electric_Vehicl...</a><p>This means they are legally limited to 25mph and legally allowed to drive on roadways with speed limits up to 45mph.<p>NEVs let you have very light weight, inexpensive vehicles with exceptional economy… that would be instant death traps in a high speed collision. They don&#x27;t undergo ordinary crash testing. Think of them as posh golf carts.<p>I looked into getting an NEV, but most of my local streets are 30mph and I can&#x27;t in good conscience drive down them at 25mph.