Montgomery County, PA

NORRISTOWN — The Montgomery County Commissioners recently test drove an electric car that is on loan to the county to see if it would be an appropriate vehicle for patrolling parks, historic sites and along the our network of recreational trails.

Great Britain Automotive Group of Willow Grove has agreed to lend the car to the County at no charge for three months.

The Miles ZX40S is a zero emission vehicle that can be plugged into any electrical outlet to be charged. It has a runtime of about three hours and a range of about 60 miles.

It has a maximum speed of 25 mph on a flat surface. The MSRP for the vehicle is $16,950.

The County Parks and Heritage Services Department plans to test the car by having rangers use it to patrol inside the County’s parks and historic sites and on the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen trails.

Human industrial processes and motor vehicle use are driving up the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is leading to global warming and dramatically affecting the environment. How dramatic that affect will be remains unknown.

This is part of the County’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas production as a government and, hopefully, serve as an example to private industry to do the same.

The County Commissioners appointed a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task Force earlier this year. This effort dovetails with other programs the County Commissioners support, including open space preservation, public transit and the revitalization of older towns.

Pictured above is "The Miles ZX40S", a zero emission vehicle from
Great Britain Automotive Group of Willow Grove, who has agreed
     to lend the car to Montgomery County at no charge for three months.
 

Pictured above left to right:  Montgomery County Commissioners'
Chairman Thomas Jay Ellis; Montgomery County Commissioners
Ruth S. Damsker and James R. Matthews look at the car's motor
before they test-drove it.