PRINCETON, MN – (April 4, 2006) - e-ride Industries, a manufacturer of full-sized neighborhood electric vehicles based in Princeton, Minn., announced today that state legislators are expected to green light a bill to permit neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) to be operated on streets with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.

A vote is scheduled late this week in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support for the legislation (HF 1838 & SF 1811). The bill is expected to move quickly through the legislature and then be signed into law by Gov. Pawlenty.

"Minnesota is already a national leader in developing alternative energy sources and NEVs are a step forward in providing environmentally-friendly transportation alternatives," said Rep. Greg Blaine, the House bill's key author. "I am very confident about the passage of this legislation and pleased to be supporting e-ride Industries in expanding its business."

e-ride has been selling its brand of full-sized NEVs nationwide for various commercial and private uses for more than two years. The vehicles meet or exceed all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and are "street legal" in more than 40 other states.

"Minnesotans will soon discover what much of America already knows about NEVs," said Craig Lietha, general manager of e-ride Industries. "Our fully electric vehicles are more efficient, economical transportation alternative that allows individuals to conduct their everyday duties without burning a drop of gas or adding any emissions to the air."

Designed for shorter travel distances, which accounts for the majority of driving trips, an e-ride vehicle can travel up to 55 mils on a single charge, costs just 1.5 cents per mile to operate and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Utilizing advanced "plug-in" technology, e-ride vehicles can be "plugged in" to a standard 110-volt AC power outlet for recharging.

The "e" in e-ride stands for electric, environmental, and economical.