Go Green Electric Car LLC, of Post Falls, says it plans to open an electric car and scooter dealership in the former Wingers Restaurant building in Post Falls.


The dealership, which was scheduled to open this coming weekend, eventually will stock up to 30 new electric cars and scooters, along with a selection of used gas-powered cars, says co-owner Ken Votaw.


Votaw says that he and a partner, whom he declines to name, have invested about $750,000 in starting up the company, including about $45,000 to convert the front of the restaurant at 1780 E. Schneidmiller into a showroom. The building is just south of Interstate 90 off Seltice Way in Post Falls. Go Green Electric has leased the building with an option to buy, he says.


Go Greens business plan anticipates sales of at least 20 new electric vehicles and 40 used vehicles in the dealerships first year, and Votaw says initial interest from potential customers is high. Votaw says he can fit as many as 65 cars on the lot.


He says, though, that many of the vehicles Go Green expects to sell at first will be so-called neighborhood vehicles, which reach top speeds of about 25 to 30 miles per hour and have a range of 50 miles.


Votaw says the dealership will employ about six people, including four salespeople, and plans to sell electric cars in the $12,000-to-$19,000 range, including some that travel at highway speeds for distances of up to 200 miles.


We believe most of the traveling (that people) do is in the community, Votaw says. He says the company will focus on educating people about electric cars, to make sure they know whether a vehicle will meet their needs.


Votaw says the rechargeable cars can be plugged into any electrical outlet, and reach an 80 percent charge of their battery systems in four to six hours and a full charge in about eight hours.


He says many of the manufacturers of neighborhood vehicles contract with companies that have large campuses, such as Boeing Co., to supply cars for employees to use at work.


Votaw has one such car, the two-door Zenn LX electric car, in stock. He says Zenn cars are imported into Toronto from France, where electric motors are installed in them, and have amenities such as power doors and windows. From Toronto, the converted vehicles, which can travel between 30 and 50 miles on a single charge at a speed of about 25 mph, are distributed to other markets, he says.


In addition, Go Green will have EV 1000 Evader scooters in stock, which Votaw says have about a 35-mile range at about 30 mph.


Go Green Electric is the authorized dealer in Idaho for several electric vehicle manufacturers and distributors, including Wuzheng North America LTD, an Easton, Penn.-headquartered electric car importer, and Seattle-based distributor MCEV Co. LLC, Votaw says.


The company is awaiting a line of vehicles from Wuzhengs Spark-EV line, however, that can travel at highway speeds and have a range of about 200 miles. He says Go Green has contracted with an auto repair business in Hayden for warranty work for its vehicles.


Votaw says that depending on market demand, the dealership might expand its inventory to include other types of electric vehicles, such as 12-person buses, electric forklifts, and electric jet skis.


Contact Jeanne Gustafson at (509) 344-1264 or via e-mail at [email protected].