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Blog Entry 37 of 60 Carless in Boulder
What it's like to voluntarily go carless as a way of life in Boulder, Colorado.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~carless

Spotted at Boulder dealer: Electric, smart cars

Contributed by: Amy Gahran   on 3/28/2007

I don't know if this is a "first" for a car dealership in Boulder, but I was just walking pastFirst Class Imports on 30th St. (on my way to catch the 206 bus) when I noticed a couple of new models parked right out front: A Zenn 2.2 all-electric car, and a gas-powered, ultra-low-emission Smart PassionTurbo.

The Zenn, which was offered at $14,570 according to the sticker, is billed as a " 25mph controlled Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) 35 miles per charge." So there's probably a pretty limited market for it, even in Boulder.

There was no sticker on the Smart Passion Turbo, but the First Class Imports site reports that it's selling for $26,699. It "can travel up to 85 miles per hour and personal reports that it can get 60+ highway miles per gallon." The last couple of times I was in Europe, Smart cars were everywhere on the streets of London, Rome, and Amsterdam. I'd love to see them catch on here.

Has anyone else seen cars like these at other Boulder dealerships? Please comment below. From my perspective, it's nice to see at least one dealer testing the waters beyond the Prius market around here.

...Not that I'm in the market for a car. But I have been researching new auto technologies. In fact, just yesterday the Society of Environmental Journalists' TipSheet published an article I wrote about what's new with plug-in hybrids.


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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
Submitted By: Bob Andersen
posted on 7/4/2008 @ 5:21:15 PM
(Not Rated)
thanks for this article.. I would think that Colorado would have more gas-saving cars.. I know the electric car is a new thing.. there are a lot in the wings from China and India.. right now I think most are 'jazzed up golf carts'.. NEV's don't have all the safety features.. and aren't aloud on State Roads or interstates.. I keep thinking for my short run to the store.. hair cut or doctor appointment.. one would fill the bill.. I really like the GEM car.. www.gemcar.com/ has a couple of models that are interesting and not too expensive.. just trying to convince the bride that it is something that we REALLY need.. have a Prius.. last tank 56mpg.. tough sale on my part..
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Submitted By: Ron Gompertz
posted on 3/29/2007 @ 5:18:01 PM
(Not Rated)
Bravo to First Class Motors and greetings from Bozeman Montana, where I have a specialty car store that sells Smart cars and ZENN electric cars too. WE opened for business last Summer and since January, have sold more than a dozen smart cars and ZENN EVs, which is not too shabby for the "middle of nowhere" Montana. The busines is called Eco Auto and my entire focus is on super fuel efficient microcars and zero emission electric vehicles. Bozeman lags about 25 years behind Boulder in terms of growth and politics, but even here, traffic has become a problem during rush hour, and parking is scarce downtown. Our Governor Schwietzer is very supportive (and vocal) about alternative fuel vehicles. He drives a bio-diesel VW, and has supported our attemts to change Montana's laws to allow cars like the ZENN to go 35 miles per hour on city streets.
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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Amy Gahran

Boulder , CO

Amy Gahran has posted 60 blog entries and 39 comments since joining on 11/30/2005. Amy Gahran 's average blog rating is 4.99.
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