Give your wallet a rest
Scooters, electric cars can help ease the pain at the pump.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
With gas priced the way it is, Little Rock doctor Lee Nayles was paying $100 or more to fill up his Cadillac Escalade. But dropping those c notes became a lot more infrequent about two months ago when Nayles purchased a “Baja,” a Jeep-like vehicle that runs only on electricity.
“I decided to experiment with alternative transportation to see how it works, and it works so great,” said Nayles, 65, who lives in Little Rock's Quapaw Quarter and owns Nayles Medical Clinic downtown. “I really enjoy going by the gas station and not having to stop.”
Whether for economic or environmental reasons (Nayles cited both), more and more people are apparently looking for that same feeling. Some are looking at a gas-free alternative, others are content with just reducing their consumption by hopping on a scooter. Either way, those in the business say interest in alternative transportation is at an all-time high.
“It's been phenomenal,” said Lynn Willbanks, co-owner of BMW Motorcycles of Little Rock, which sells a variety of scooters, including the Vespa and models of its parent manufacturer Piagio.
Willbanks said the business has been selling scooters for two years and that sales during that time have grown from one or two a week to one or two a day.
“We're sold out of particular styles because the distributor doesn't even have them the demand is so high,” Willbanks said.
Ditto in the electric vehicle arena.
“When we opened up in February, we expected to get a bit of inquiry and interest, but it was just overwhelming. We were waylaid,” said David Bevans, part-owner of Electric Transportation of Arkansas, the dealership that sold Nayles his car. “We've had inquiries from all over the state — and throughout the world, really.”
But how do these modes of transportation compare with the standard automobile?
Though still consuming gas, scooters are likely to be a lot more efficient. Willbanks said their models can travel at 35 to 90 mph and get anywhere from 60 to 80 miles per gallon. The average gas tank holds about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of fuel, which costs $10 or less to fill at current gas prices. Scooters in the basic Vespa line run from $3,600 to $6,400.
Scooters are classified by the volume of their engine, ranging from 50cc up to 200cc or so. Beyond that, you're talking about a motorcycle and need a special endorsement on your license to drive them. Anything less than 200cc shouldn't be on the highway, Willbanks said.
In the electric realm, products range from a three-wheeled, Segway-like personal transport to a 14-passenger electric van, all street legal. With such variety, prices are likewise going to vary greatly, but the average electric car runs $7,000 to $15,000. The cars will go anywhere from 40 to 60 miles on a single charge and may take six to 10 hours to fully charge, which is as easy as plugging it into a standard wall socket.
When you do the math, Bevans said, it works out to about 2-cents a mile, compared to 30- to 45-cents a mile for gasoline. A full electrical charge might cost as much as $1 if it takes the maximum charge time.
The downside to electric vehicles is that, though the cars are street legal with a windshield, mirrors, turn signals and seat belts, they are crash-test rated for only 35 mph streets. That means they can't be driven on the highway. However, Bevans argues avoiding the major thoroughfares won't be a hindrance in getting around town, because there's a back way to almost anywhere — and you won't mind the few extra miles because you're not wasting gas. Still, he acknowledges that the electric car, in its current form, is a better augment than replacement.
“It's not a total replacement for the gas engine yet, but it's sure to cut expenses down,” Bevans said.
Nayles agreed, touting the biggest benefit of his new electric car, which he drives “all day, everyday.”
“It sure gets good gas mileage,” he said with a laugh.
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