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The Past & Present Meet At E Company

Everyone I have spoken with lately has agreed that the gas prices in this country are a bit out of control. But what can we really do about it, other than complain and participate in an occasional gas-out? Actually, there is a solution right here in Traverse City.

Thanks to a company called E Company, you can drive your gasoline-powered vehicle to Traverse City’s Grand Central Station (formally known as the Depot, near the public library), park it, grab your choice Starbucks coffee to go and rent a car fuelled totally by electricity. These cars are available by the hour, day, week, month or season. If you really like them, you can even buy one.

Electric cars are definitely the wave of the future. The first of the type in E Company’s rental fleet rolled off the line in Italy in 2000. Only a few years later, electric vehicles became mandatory within some Italian city limits. That trend is spreading throughout Europe. Why?

Electric cars have many benefits. Along with zero tailpipe emissions, they are cheap to run, literally pennies a day. Compact and easy to park, they are fun and innovative and come with all of the conveniences of the car you already drive. The batteries in electric vehicles service a 25 to 40 mile range and the vehicles are virtually maintenance-free. They are safe, as well, meeting all of the road tests and safety standards for cars traveling on streets rated 35 MPH and less. Eco cars, as E Company refers to its rental fleet, are ideal for both people who live and work in town, and those who are visiting. What’s more, in Traverse City, E Company guarantees its patrons that every mile driven in an eco rental vehicle will be done so with energy derived from solar and renewable resources. Now that’s green!

In 2006 Michigan-based American Electric launched the Kurrent, a head-turning electric car available in two, and soon four-passenger models, and now featured in E Company’s fleet. Those who choose to drive the Kurrent can be confident that they are supporting Michigan and doing their part for the environment while they drive, yes, past the gas station, which of course saves them a bundle of money.

Check out this fun alternative method of transportation. E Company and their eco cars are located in Traverse City’s Grand Central Station, the historic Depot building, where the Station Espresso bar serving Starbucks is situated. E Company intends for the building to be a terminal, and activity center where people can meet, greet and move about, as they did 80 years ago when the original train station was constructed. Perhaps electric trains will someday arrive at the Traverse City’s Grand Central Station, as well. But for now, you can relax in the Starbucks coffee house, take in Friday and Saturday night movies on their big screen television while sipping your favorite Starbucks beverage. Or, try a Liquid Gold Sipping chocolate and curl up in front of their fireplace with a good book or take advantage of the Station’s free WIFI access.

Traverse City’s Grand Central Station is filled with forward-thinking people who are leading the way into the future, from E Company and their eco cars, to Starbucks Espresso bar and even to the Traverse City Film Festival, which is housed there as well. They are excited to be offering their ideas in a location as historic as the old Depot. This is definitely a Traverse City landmark destination not to be missed.

Grand Central Station is located at 8th St. and Woodmere Ave., Traverse City. Call E Company at 231-947-1277 or visit their website www.ecocarstc.com for more information.