Pair planning to open electric-vehicle showroom on site of former Ford dealership

Pistons and spark plugs no longer have a home at Sebastopol's former Ford dealership, where two businessmen hope soon to open a showroom selling electric cars and cycles.

The Ford business closed two years ago, just down the street from where the Chevrolet dealership shuttered its doors in December. The two closures left the west Sonoma County town of 7,700 without a new-car showroom.

Now come Peter Oliver and Brian Hall, who propose to consolidate their separate electric-vehicle businesses under one roof. Together the men hope to also start a third business selling electric cars ready for the street or highway.

"Ninety percent of the people in our society drive less than 30 miles in one day," said Oliver, former owner of DataFlow, a computer support company. "So an electric car is perfectly suited to that commute."

They plan to open up in Sebastopol next month and soon begin offering new cars priced between $25,000 and $35,000. The cars could travel up to about 35 miles on a single charge.

The Sebastopol Planning Commission last week approved a use permit for electric-vehicle sales and repairs at the former Ford dealership at 6791 Sebastopol Ave.

City leaders, who speak with pride of their Solar Sebastopol program that has become a countywide model, are touting the new business.

"I want all of Sonoma County to come and support these people as we transition from gasoline to other sources, like electric," said Mayor Sarah Gurney.

While the nation's electric-vehicle industry is young, it has long had a presence in Sebastopol. The city was home to the county's first major electric-vehicle startup, U.S. Electricar, which moved to Santa Rosa in 1994 and later collapsed. Another high-profile electric car and scooter dealer, Zap, was founded in Sebastopol in 1992 and moved to Santa Rosa in 2003.

Electric cars, which unlike hybrids are solely dependent on a battery for power, are still a rarity in this country. But the U.S. Energy Department has $25 billion to give in loans for developing electric cars, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu has said the first loans should be made by early May.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler applied separately for loans that would total more than $18 billion.

Closer to home, Oliver's business, Make Mine Electric of Sebastopol, specializes in taking replica versions of classic cars and outfitting them with electric motors and battery systems.

Hall's business, ThunderStruck Motors of Santa Rosa, sells electric motorcycles, scooters and bicycles, plus the parts to convert two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles to electric propulsion.

Oliver said they have not yet settled on what they will put on the business sign above the dealership.

Besides vehicle sales and services, the businessmen want to offer instruction for motorists who wish to convert their current gas hogs into electric vehicles.

"We want to have classes for the do-it-yourselfers," Oliver said.

Hobbyists who want to put a vehicle together with professional guidance would spend about $20,000 on the conversion, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat

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