Jefferson County electrifies travel with no-gasoline car
Al Scalf, Jefferson County director of community development, plugs in the county's first electric car, which Departments of Community Development and Public Works employees will use in town instead of a gasoline-fueled Ford Taurus. -- Photo by Jeff Chew/Peninsula Daily News
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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The acquisition is intended to help cut emissions and save money on gasoline.
County Departments of Community Development and Public Works staffers have already racked up about 180 miles on the ZENN (zero emissions, no noise) car.
It plugs into the exterior wall of the public works building off Sheridan Street to charge up.
A charge allows up to 25 miles of travel.
The vehicle, built by Toronto-based ZENN Motor Co. moves silently up to 25 mph.
"I can get to Glen Cove. I can get to the landfill with the ZENN," said Al Scalf, director of Community Development, whose building and planning staffers are encouraged to use for trips in and around Port Townsend.
Scalf enthusiastically demonstrated the vehicle, which has all the external street-legal features of a fuel-driven car, including headlights, tail lights, a horn and a single wiper for its tiny windshield.
The two-door vehicle seats two and has a heater and cargo space.
"It serves a really good purpose and is certainly a start in the right direction," said Terry Logue, county fleet manager.
"We wanted to find an electric car that people will actually drive — one that feels like a real car."
The $15,000 vehicle was acquired a month ago through an Olympic Air Pollution Control Authority grant, in which the county agreed to swap the ZENN for a gas-fueled 1999 Ford Taurus.
County Commissioner Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend, worked with the pollution control authority to secure the vehicle.
Five years ago, the county acquired two Honda Civic gas-electric hybrid cars. Officials use those for trips out of town.
Climate Action
Like the city of Port Townsend, which has two hybrids and two electric vehicles in its fleet, Jefferson County has joined the Climate Action, committing to addressing energy use and climate change and global warming.
The committee was formed in January to develop a local action plan and has already released initial data showing that the total cost of county diesel and gas fuel was at $468,844 in 2005.
Joining in the committee's efforts, county and city leaders in January adopted formal resolutions, with each government agency agreeing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to levels 80 percent lower than those in 1990.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335.or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: February 23. 2008 9:00PM