-
Either motor, electric or other, must be less than 2 BHP. The only reason the phrase "with an automatic transmission" is inserted is because:
1) Electric motors don't need transmissions
2) Automatic transmissions absorb some horsepower through internal losses. The rating is at the output shaft.
1) Electric motors don't need transmissions
2) Automatic transmissions absorb some horsepower through internal losses. The rating is at the output shaft.
-
I see your grammar problem, but other answers address the technical issues.. The common interpretation of that grammar construction is that the transmission belongs only to the "motor with an automatic transmission ".
This sounds like a village ordinance used to define what they are trying to regulate.
Unfortunately, this wording is rather poor as it stands and can only lead to misinterpretation as you have found. It should be re-written. I can only guess that they mean "...a *gasoline* motor with an automatic transmission ". In addition, it only makes sense that the maximum BHP and maximum speed both apply to either type of motor.
This more complete wording: "Either an electric motor, or a gasoline motor with an automatic transmission ."
Means either:
1 - An electric motor.
...OR...
2 - A gasoline motor with an automatic transmission.
However, this is from experience because the wording is so poor.
Also, the 30 mph is a maximum. The phrase "not more than" means that this vehicle may not go faster than 30 mph.
To specify the use of an automatic transmission with either type of motor requires a different construction. There are several ways to do this and it should be done in several sentences, not all crammed into just one.
Your shoe example is like asking for "a suitcase for a man with a zipper". This is poor because it sounds like the man has the zipper rather than the suit case having the zipper. Reading your shoe example, it is unreasonable to ask that a man wear high heels, so your interpretation is unreasonable. In addition, it is common for a man's suit to already cover the arms, so that part clearly belongs only to the dress. Again, using this kind of simplified wording only can cause confusion and is poor.
This sounds like a village ordinance used to define what they are trying to regulate.
Unfortunately, this wording is rather poor as it stands and can only lead to misinterpretation as you have found. It should be re-written. I can only guess that they mean "...a *gasoline* motor with an automatic transmission ". In addition, it only makes sense that the maximum BHP and maximum speed both apply to either type of motor.
This more complete wording: "Either an electric motor, or a gasoline motor with an automatic transmission ."
Means either:
1 - An electric motor.
...OR...
2 - A gasoline motor with an automatic transmission.
However, this is from experience because the wording is so poor.
Also, the 30 mph is a maximum. The phrase "not more than" means that this vehicle may not go faster than 30 mph.
To specify the use of an automatic transmission with either type of motor requires a different construction. There are several ways to do this and it should be done in several sentences, not all crammed into just one.
Your shoe example is like asking for "a suitcase for a man with a zipper". This is poor because it sounds like the man has the zipper rather than the suit case having the zipper. Reading your shoe example, it is unreasonable to ask that a man wear high heels, so your interpretation is unreasonable. In addition, it is common for a man's suit to already cover the arms, so that part clearly belongs only to the dress. Again, using this kind of simplified wording only can cause confusion and is poor.
keywords: to,engineer,rule,an,Need,legal,clarify,Need an engineer to clarify a legal rule