‘Green' cars seek go-ahead for area streets

Sunday, August 19, 2007

From an article by Hillary Woodruw in the Beloit Daily News:

Beloit, just let these cute cars in!

That's what the Thompson family, owners of Green Autos, is saying about the neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) they hope to sell. With the Janesville City Council not giving the go ahead yet, the Thompsons will be urging Beloit to pass an ordinance allowing the battery operated cars to be driven on the road.

After all, Stoughton and Monona are allowing them and Madison will open the roads to them in November. Wisconsin is the 46th state to allow the vehicles, but the state is requiring each municipality to pass an ordinance for the vehicles.

Because the Thompsons believe the cars are the first step towards freedom from the gas pump, they opened Green Autos on Aug. 1 in the former True Value Hardware complex on Milton Avenue. They have been trailering the NEVs over to the Sam's Club parking lot for test rides and have collected the signatures of more than 200 supporters via a tent at the Rock County Fair.

“The biggest misconception is that they are glorified golf carts,” Thompson said. “The Zenn and the Kurrent NV are four season vehicles with solid doors, glass, heating and air conditioning, power windows, door locks and CD players or satellite radio.”

NEVs are much different than the electric cars of the past, which can range from $40,000 to $50,000. The Thompsons' NEVs, ranging from $9,800 to $17,000, are only two-seaters and go a top speed of 25 miles per hour. What's so special about them, aside from their cuteness, is that they don't use any gasoline and have no emissions.

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