IMPORTANT NOTE: Electric vehicles are no longer being built at Stephen Heckeroth. We endorse the use of zero emission vehicles and use them ourselves. This article is offered in support of the movement toward appropriate transportation.

Introduction
     The 1990 California Zero Emission Mandate fueled an electric vehicle Rennaisance. My company, MendoMotive, came into being as a result of the prospect of mandated electric car sales in 1998. The company converted one Pontiac Fiero, one Volkswagen Vanagon, one Volkswagen Type 34 Karman Ghia, and produced 4 electric Porsche Spyders, between 1992 and 1994. All the cars used off-the-shelf, inexpensive DC technology. Sales projections were good for 1995 but that year the auto industry and the oil companies spent $30 million to turn public opinion against electric vehicles and push back the Mandate to 2003. MendoMotive went out of business but the cars produced are still on the road. This report focuses on the Karman Ghia which is used daily by the Heckeroth family.

Car Specifications
     The 1963 Type 34 Ghia is equipped with 24 6 Volt flooded, lead-acid golf cart batteries ($960); a 20 hp advanced DC motor ($1,200); a 144 V DC output, 110 AC input Zivan charger from Italy ($700); a 400 amp Zapi controller with regenerative braking from Italy ($1,200); an analog amp meter ($35); and a digital amp hour meter that acts as a gas gauge ($200).

Performance
     The electric Ghia can produce 60 hp for acceleration and hill climbing which is more power than the original gas version. The battery pack is rated at 150 amp hours when used in a two-hour period. The range with the regenerative braking and careful driving is 75 miles. It takes 8 hours for a full recharge from any 20 amp 110V outlet. So the daily mile range can be increased to 150 miles by charging at the destination, i.e. work. In the 6 years, the family has been driving the car, no battery replacement has been necessary and there has been no incident of inconvenience due to the electric conversion.

Solar Charging
     The electricity for the Heckeroth homestead is generated by a 3 kW photovoltaic array mounted on the barn roof. It satisfies all the electrical needs for the home and a barn loft apartment throughout the year. During the summer there is enough excess power to charge the Ghia. In the winter, the car is charged currently off the utility grid. But with the installation of micro-hydro, all charging needs will be met from renewable sources throughout the year.

Driving experience
     Stephen leads full-day workshops on electric cars and solar design at the Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland. On those occasions we use the Ghia for the 150 mile round trip, and by charging at home from the photovoltaic array and then charging during the 8-hour workshop from the solar array at the Real Goods site, we are able to rely entirely on renewable, non-polluting energy for my transportation.

Stephen was until recently a member of the Mendocino County Planning Commission which meets twice a month in Ukiah. The 66-mile trip includes 6% grades and elevation changes from sea level to 3,000 feet. On the level stretches the car performs just like any gas car at 45 mph to 60 mph, even passing RVs and slower trucks. On hills, Stephen drives conservatively, much as he would a loaded truck, at 15 mph to 35 mph. At the top of the Hwy. 253 grade between Boonville and Ukiah, the batteries are very depleted but going down into the valley, the two-stage regenerative braking recharges the batteries enough to complete the trip. Finding an outside plug at the County offices was a challenge at first but now there is a dedicated plug with a handy parking space. We look forward to the day when solar charging stations are available.

The Ghia is our car of choice for local trips. It allows us to run errands and go to job sites without producing air pollution or using non-renewable resources. We frequently take it to Fort Bragg (45 miles round trip) and Mendocino (30 miles round trip). During the tourist season because of the vintage of the electric car it often turns into a conversation piece with passers-by about the benefits of electric propulsion. Christiane has never gotten stuck anywhere because of low battery charge, and always stay with the traffic flow.

Conclusion
     Driving the electric Karman Ghia has never created a problem for anyone of us. Since the car will not allow frequent consecutive trips to town, we do a little bit more planning around our errands and appointments to reduce the amount of trips to town. This has proven to be a benefit rather than an impediment since it results in better time management. It also shows that an electric car can become the primary vehicle for households whose commuting distance is within its range.