A local car dealer is looking to be out "in front of the wave" when it offers The Bahamas' first electric cars for sale and lease in short order, calling the vehicles more environmentally friendly, cheaper and easier to maintain than their fuel-fired counterparts.
Easy Eco Cars, a division of Easy Car Sales, is still "crossing the t's and dotting the i's" before it goes ahead with a full launch of the Wheego LiFe, a two-door, fully electric car, and the Nissan Leaf, a four-door electric car, in the next six weeks.
Able to drive for 100 miles - or five times around Nassau - and with a top speed of around 65 miles per hour, Pia Farmer, co-owner of the car dealership, called the vehicles "ideal" for island living.
Subject to a customs duty rate of 25 percent, much lower than the rate applied to any gas-burning vehicle, the cars are not only environmentally friendly but also potentially cheaper than the traditional alternative.
"We're going to ask the government to lower the tax further. The chargers for the cars are charged at a duty rate of 45 percent," added Farmer.
The launch of the cars appears timely, given the government's recent announcement of an interest in reducing air pollution via the implementation of legislation that will require emissions testing of vehicles.
Farmer said the company does not expect an "enormous" demand for the cars, but believes there's a definite niche it can cater to.
"It will be small but there will be those who are environmentally conscious and aware and who will see the benefits of having that available, and there'll be a lot of young people into it who are more aware of the environment and into new things.
"We also see the business aspect because there are people who have to have delivery vehicles and techs running around and the electric cars may be a very good deal for businesses.
"At the end of the day the wave is coming and we're just swimming in front of the wave and it will catch us up," said Farmer, adding: "Someone has to think outside the box."
The vehicles can be charged via a wall socket in a garage or driveway, or through a specially-fitted charger. Depending on which vehicle is used, charge time can vary from eight to around six hours.
The company anticipates becoming fully certified to service the vehicles.

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