Eco Auto Inc

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Gearless - UK's "Gearless" drives a Mitsubishi iMiev on snowy roads.

NPR Interview - We discuss EVs in Montana. Segment starts at 7:59.

EV bumper stickers from Ride Magnetism Show that you're plugged in!

I'm Ron Gompertz, founder of Eco Auto Inc. We're based in the university town of Bozeman, Montana. We specialize in all-electric vehicles for fleet and personal use in the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and the Dakotas.
We've driven just about every electric vehicle available, and identified those that can handle this region's cold winters and hot summers. We believe "green" cars don't need to cost a lot of green, and driving an electric vehicle shouldn't require big sacrifices in ride, comfort and safety.
Electric cars are a revolution in motion and an evolution in personal transportation. If you're thinking about electrifying your ride, give us a call.
And if you're interested in energy-efficient buildings, check out our green building website.

New York Times - Electric Trucks
Electric trucks might be closer to ready for prime time, because in some ways it is easier to electrify a big vehicle than a small one.
New York Times - Baby it's Cold Outside for a Mini-e
Cold weather performance hasn?t been much of an issue for California cars, but many of the E.V.?s are on the road in New York and New Jersey ? and it?s definitely an issue there.
New York Times - Smart Car Sales Plummet 84%
A plug-in electric Smart will also arrive in the fourth quarter, but the number available - just 250 in select markets - will not make any dent in sales in the short run.
Inhabitat - Trexa debuts their EV platform and developers kit
Seth Seaberg's Trexa platform is an ambitious and visionary new approach to EV development.
Renault / A Better Place - The Renault Fluence ZE Concept
Video provides a preview of Renault's Fluence ZE concept, the first electric car with a switchable battery built for the Better Place electric vehicle network.
Oregon Business Journal - 11,000 EV Charging Stations
More than 11,000 charging stations for five states - Oregon, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington and California - using $99.8 million in federal funds.
China Real Time - Is BYD's Electric Car Ready for Prime Time?
Tech chief "is truly astonished that they plan to sell such a half-baked car"
CBC Canada - "Canadian Perspective - Plug-in's in winter."
Canadian perspective - How does cold weather impact plug-in car performance and how will it affect the utility company?
CBC Canada - "ZENN to cease production."
Sad news from our good friends in Toronto. A future collectible?
AP News - "Greenland, Antarctic Ice Melt Worsening"
"New satellite information shows that ice sheets in Greenland and western Antarctica continue to shrink faster than scientists thought..."
Local News video of Ron Gompertz - "Electric cars can be a substitute for taking the SUV to the grocery store in town."

President signs new tax credits for EVs - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1) - pages 214-217 for NEV rules.

Slide Show - "Top Twenty Electric Cars you can't actually buy"

New York Times - "Detroit Goes for Electric Cars, but Will Drivers?"

Great Falls Tribune - "Montana Senate Bill Benefits Electric Cars"

Seattle Post Intelligencer - "State Fleets should begin transition to electicity."

New York Times - "Montana Resort Buys Fleet of Eco Auto Electric Cars"

Helenair - "MT Governor Schweitzer Checks Out His New Eco Auto Electric Truck"

On April 23rd, 2007, Montana's Governor Schweitzer signed into law Montana SB 185 creating a new motor vehicle category adopting in Montana called "Medium Speed Electric Vehicles." Small, lightweight cars equipped with crash safety features became legal to drive up to 35 MPH in Montana. Soon after, Washington State passed a similar law. This year Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee passed have joined in by adopting MSEV-35 laws. Many other states are now evaluating MSEV laws including California. Call your local representative and ask them to propose similar legislation in your state.

(Eco Auto's Ron Gompertz (2nd from left) watches as Montana Governor Schweitzer signs SB185 (Medium Speed Electric Vehicle) bill into law using Ron's ZENN as a desk.)

(The SubiEVee is the world's first Ski-EV.)
The SubiEVee is our most ambitious project... we're converting a 2008 Subaru Forester into a highway speed, zero emission, winter ready, all-electric, all-wheel drive vehicle.

Reducing human-caused CO2 emissions has become a global priority, and there is a sense of urgency and purpose building. One of President Obama's priorities is to establish the US as a leader in alternative energy. Montana Governor Schweitzer's "20x10" initiative challenges state agencies to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by next year. Over 500 US cities have signed onto the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. "Energy Independence" has become a national priority and "Green" has gone mainstream. Cumulatively, our individual decisions: the cars we drive, the sort of houses we live in and the lifestyles we lead, do make a big difference.

Eco Auto's annual "Electric Avenue" EV parade in Bozeman (photo B. Costigan)

Last year, American homes and cars together emitted over 3 billion metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The US ranks as the highest greenhouse gas emitter on the planet, and the Northern Rocky Mountain states are among the highest in the US. Wyoming has the distinction of being the #1 CO2 emitter per capita. North Dakota is #2 and Montana #7. Together we face great challenges, but also unprecedented opportunities.

Eco Auto's solar electric truck in Bozeman's "Sweet Pea" parade (photo B. Costigan)

While traditional car dealerships have a vested interest in maintaining the status-quo, Eco Auto offers an alternative way of thinking about how we move around each day. Eco Auto was the first, and remains the only source for zero-emission, no-gas electric vehicles in the region. While others are busy hyping their future vehicles, we're doing it NOW: offering practical, affordable electric cars and trucks for all-season use. Owning an electric car means driving the road less travelled. Electric car drivers don't worry about the price at the pump. Our cars don't need oil changes, tune-ups, or antifreeze. Our cars are quiet and clean. They don't even need a muffler. They don't need to be warmed-up on cold mornings. They don't wastefully idle in traffic.

"Del Sol" Lithium EV - SOLD
1993 Honda "Del Sol" EV - Our friend and neighbor John Barton is a software engineer and EV enthusiast who's just completed his latest EV conversion: a red Lithium powered 2 seat open top sports car. John's asking a bargain $13,800 and we're helping him spread the word. Visit his Honda Del Sol EV EV album for photos, specs and details.
"SubiEVee" AWD EV $40,000-$60,000