16) The SunCar

Before there was a SunCottage there was a SunCar. We've had this electric vehicle for 8 years and it runs as well today as the first day it showed up in South Woodstock. It's a NEV, or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. From the beginning the plan was to have it powered by the sun. And with the completion of the SunCottage, the dream will be reality.

It has a top speed of 25 miles per hour. In theory, it can go thirty 30 miles on a charge. But with all the hills in Vermont, you're lucky to get 20 miles out of the batteries. Still, it's perfect for puttering around town, we mostly use it get the mail at South Woodstock Post Office or to hit the Kedron Valley Inn or the South Woodstock Store. It can easily make it Woodstock village 5 miles away and back, and the best of all, it's practically free transportation. The electricity required for a full charge is just 67 cents. That's 3.3 cents a mile. If your car gets 20 miles to the gallon, you're paying 4 times as much!. 13 cents per mile!

And once the sun starts shining on the solar panels, SunCar transportation is going to be free, thanks to the big shiny fiery ball in the sky.

If you stay at the SunCottage, you get the SunCar, too!

For more info see GEM Car