Electric Car Dealers Hoping for Uptake in Business
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: November 13, 2012
Tesla Motors' Model "S" is the first electric vehicle to earn Motor Trend's prestigious "Car of the Year" Award. Tesla's aren't available in Lubbock, but Nissan offers an all electric option called the "Leaf."
"It has all the comforts and convenience. It's just like any other car," said Steve Green of McGavock Nissan.
He says the "Leaf" offers both short and long-term savings. Buyers get a $7,500 tax credit up front, and the car needs very little maintenance long term.
"It's very economical. I mean its, when you figure less than 3.20 cents a night and most people spend 10-15 a day in gas there's a lot of savings," said Green.
The "Leaf" has a zero maintenance battery, so car owners save both on gas and car repair.
But Green says these savings aren't enough for local buyers. His dealership has only sold four in Lubbock, two of those to Texas Tech for research.
"Its not to say that we are behind everybody, its just you know you charge it for 100% and 100 miles is all you are going to get. Where most of the time in the big cities they are not going to drive over 100 miles, here most people will drive over 100 miles to work," said Green.
Green says the next versions
of the electric car will allow for more mileage in between charges, something he
thinks will boost their popularity around Lubbock.
He said, "The mileage is what's killing it out here and then with no charging stations around, but you know eventually I think it will catch on."
Green says he wasn't surprised an electric car won the award. He says their dealership gets calls everyday with questions about the "Leaf."
