“Marketing electric cars is a very different ball game than selling gas powered cars. It’s selling a concept. The customer has a different motivation. Most of our customers are already environmentalists or are just rebelling against gas prices,” -Larry Dye of Electric Wheels
(SALEM) - Oregon’s only exclusive electric vehicle dealer has reported earnings of one half million dollars in the first nine months of 2006.
Most gas powered car dealers would scoff at this amount but for an electric car dealer – it’s a milestone. “Larry Dye, CEO of Electric Wheels has set a record,” says Gary Starr, Chairman of the Board of ZAP, the importer of the Xebra. “Electric Wheels is the #1 Xebra dealership in the country.”
EWI has sold Xebras to customers in Salem, Eugene, Portland and as far away as Montana and Connecticut. 86-year old senior citizens, to a pizza delivery guy in Cannon Beach, are riding around in this three wheeled electric in-town car.
“With the fuel prices so high, we couldn’t afford to continue pizza delivery service to outlying areas. We don’t like to disappoint our customers but the fuel costs left us no choice,” says Dave Johnson of Fultano’s Pizza in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Technology advances, environmental concerns and high fossil fuel costs have compelled consumers to seek alternative modes of transportation. At least 19 companies are building or importing electric cars, according to the Electric Drive Transportation Association.
The same group estimates that about 70,000 electric cars are driving the U.S. roads, that number is up 25 percent from 56,000 in 2004. “They're used in planned communities, in large office complexes, on university campuses and for parking enforcement”, said Jennifer Watts, spokeswoman for the association.
“Marketing electric cars is a very different ball game than selling gas powered cars. It’s selling a concept. The customer has a different motivation. Most of our customers are already environmentalists or are just rebelling against gas prices,” says Dye.
ZAP, Zero Air Pollution®, has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering 90,000-plus vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. ZAP is at the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies, including energy-efficient gas systems, and hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, alcohol, hybrid, trybrid and other innovative power systems. For more information, visit zapworld.com
Oregon Dealer Says There is No Killing the Electric Car in Salem
Salem-News.com