Thursday, Jul. 03, 2008
Consumers Look at Golf Cart Upgrades for Street Use
By Nicholas Sakelaris
Staff Writer
At first glance, the E-Merge looks like it was built to haul golf clubs, not groceries.
Upon closer examination, the vehicle has everything needed to hit the streets, including seat belts, mirrors, headlights, turn signals, a speedometer and a lockable trunk.
All that, and it doesn’t need a drop of gasoline.
With no end in sight for soaring gas prices, more people are turning to Neighborhood Electric Vehicles [NEV], like the E-merge models made by Tomberlin.
"We’ve seen more and more people buying them for the streets because of the gas prices," said Leslie Scott, who along with husband, David, own Adventure Golf Cars in Southlake at 275 Commerce Street, just across Texas 114 from Grapevine.
The E-Merge vehicles have a maximum speed of 25 mph, but they are legally allowed to travel on roads with 35 mph speed limits. The electric motor is promoted for its rapid acceleration.
The law also allows the vehicles to cross roads with higher speed limits at intersections.
"They can cross [FM] 1709 — they just can’t go down it," Leslie said.
It’s not just a local trend either.
Sales Skyrocket
Casey Cecil, regional sales manager for Tomberlin, said sales have gone through the roof as gas prices surge.
Sales of the E-Merge have skyrocketed in the last year from 120 a month to about 120 a week.
Every month this year the company has broken the previous month’s sales records. Less than two weeks into June and the May sales record was already smashed, Cecil said.
"For us, the gas prices have been a blessing in disguise," Cecil said.
Prices range from $6,000 to $6,500 for an E-Merge, which has two-seat and four-seat models.
Some states, including Texas, offer tax credits for people who buy electric vehicles.
Cecil said it costs less than $1 in electricity to fully charge the six 8-volt batteries, which have a range of about 30 miles.
By contrast, driving 25 miles in a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban with a V8 engine costs $6.73 in fuel, according to fueleconomy.gov, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site.
A 2007 Lincoln Navigator costs $7.21 to go the same distance.
Of course, an E-Merge won’t have air conditioning, a stereo or a fold-down flat screen television. Instead, you’ll have the wind in your hair.
The vehicles have to be licensed and insured.
Varied Uses
Some customers are buying them for their teenagers for learning to drive, while others buy them for their aging parents who don’t want to drive a car anymore. Young parents can use them for short errands or to pick children up from school.
Unlike most golf carts that have a universal key, each E-Merge has a unique key so they can be left in the parking lot.
With a little tinkering, the E-merge can become a make-shift hybrid for which the batteries are charged by a four-stroke generator hidden in the trunk, Cecil said.
They can also be upgraded with various accessories. The SS model sports even more features.
New Street Model Coming in August
Later this year, Tomberlin is expected to launch Anvil, a bigger, faster and stronger electric car that could reach speeds up to 45 mph. This car would require a new classification of vehicle, the Neighborhood Electric Car/Commuter [NEV/C] to allow it to travel on roads with 45 mph speed limits.
The Anvil will have a hard door, similar to a Jeep, a radio and CD player.
For more information, see www.adventuregolfcars.com/Tomberlin.htm.
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