Eco Auto Inc
  HOME   |   NEWS   |   SMART   |   ZENN   |   MILES   | EVADER |   SUBIEVEE   |   MORE INFO   |   ABOUT US   |   CONTACT  
Hi, I'm Ron Gompertz, CEO of Eco Auto Inc. We're located in the Rocky Mountain college town of Bozeman, Montana. We specialize in zero emission, no-gas, electric vehicles and we service the Northern Rocky Mountain Region - Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.
When I opened the doors to Eco Auto in 2006, gas was seling for $1.95 a gallon, "Global Warming" was a debatable theory, and few were interested in our small, zero-emission vehicles. Since then, opinions have changed along with gas prices. Now big oil, car companies and home centers are busy "Green-Washing" their images and the "Green-Tech" boom is full on.
With scientific concensus that human caused CO2 emissions has altered our climate, comes a new sense of urgency and purpose. While the current administration continues to procrastinate, new policies are being implemented on a state and local level. Montana Governor Schweitzer's "20x10" intititve challenges state agencies to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% within 2 years. Over 500 US cities have signed onto the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Today "Sustainabilty" has become a national buzzword and "Eco" has become mainstream. Cumulatively, our individual decisions... the cars we drive, the sort of houses we live in and the lifestyles we lead... can make a big difference
Last year, American homes and cars together emitted over 3 billion metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The US ranks as the worst per capita greenhouse gas emitter on the planet, and the Northern Rocky Mountain states are among the worst emitters in the US. Wyoming has the distinction of being the #1 CO2 emitter per capita. North Dakota is #2 and Montana #7. It's clear the cheap fossil fuel era is coming to an end. Together we face great lifestyle and technical challenges, and an unprecedented opportunity for cooperation on a global scale.
While the major car companies have a vested interest to maintaining the status-quo, Eco Auto challenges the norm; one of a few leading-edge businesses offering zero-emission, no-gas vehicle options. The big auto makers may issue press releases about their future plans, but we're doing it NOW - offering electric cars that are practical, affordable and here today. Without the massive resources of the auto industry, you won't see our ads on TV. Owning an electric means driving a less travelled road. Electric car owners don't need to be concerned about the price at the pump. Their cars don't ever need oil changes, or tuneups, or a radiator flush or antifreeze. Electric cars are quiet and clean. They don't need a muffler or a catylytic converter. They don't need to be warmed up on cold winter mornings. They don't sit idling in traffic.
Electric cars are a revolution in motion and an evolution in personal transportation.
Eco Auto specializes in Miles Electric Vehicles and ZENN. I've driven most every elecrtric vehicle (including a few that sell for $100,000 plus), and Miles and ZENN are the most practical, affordable, safest, year-round electric cars on the market. Green cars don't need to cost a carload of green, and driving one shouldn't require making big sacrifices in ride, comfort and safety.

Until next-generation, energy-dense batteries become more affordable, today's "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles" are still limited in range and top-speed and won't replace Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars or SUVs for heavy-duty long distance highway use. Yet, they're the perfect second car for all those local trips... the commute to work, dropping off the kids at school, the trips to the store, errand running. Turns out that covers 90% of the times we get into our car, and 90% of the gas we buy, and 90% of the CO2 our car's emit.

Please explore the pages of this website to learn more, or call to make an appointment for a test drive.
Ron Gompertz
CEO
Eco Auto Inc.
Medium Speed Electric Vehicles

On April 23rd, 2007, Montana's Governor Schweitzer signed into law Montana SB 185 creating a new motor vehicle categoryin Montana called "Medium Speed Electric Vehicles." Small, lightweight cars equipped with crash safety features (such as Miles and ZENN) became legal to drive up to 35 MPH in Montana. Soon after, Washington State passed a similar law. This year Minnesota, Oklahoma and Tennessee passed have joined in by adoptiong MSEV-35 laws. Many other states are now evaluating MSEV laws including California. Call your local representative and ask them to propose similar legislation in your state.

(Eco Auto's Ron Gompertz (2nd from left) watches as Montana Governor Schweitzer signs SB185 (Medium Speed Electric Vehicle) bill into law using Ron's ZENN as a desk.)

Our electric cars

We've thoroughly investigated the alternative vehicles on the market, and wittled away those that didn't meet our expectations.

Eco Auto is the authorized dealer (serving Montana, Idaho, Wyoming) for Miles Electric Vehicles and for the award-winning all-electric ZENN (Zero Emissions, No Noise). Miles work truck and passsenger cars are perfect for use on college campus, resorts, and in state and local government fleets. The ZENN is a lightweight 2 seat car categorized as a "Neighborhood Electric Vehicle." (NEV) The ZENN was featured in the film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" and won the gold medal in the 2006 Michelin "Challenge Bibendum," an internationally recognized event promoting sustainable vehicle technologies.


(The SubiEVee is the world's first Ski-EV.)

The SubiEVee is our latest and most ambitious project... we're in the process of converting a new 2008 Subaru Forester into a highway speed, zero emission, winter ready, all-electric, all wheel drive cross-over vehicle.

Along with the SubiEVee, we're also prototyping a high-quality, high-performance electric drive for bicycles, powered by Lithium Polymer batteries. Our human-electric hybrid bikes in late 2008.

MILES Electric Vehicles
Miles Electric Vehicles - Real cars and trucks with all-steel unibody construction, roll-up windows, steel doors and all the quality, comforts and features you'd expect in a small Asian-built car, plus the reliability of US engineered and manufactured electronics and motor. While these vehicles are capable of going much faster, US federal law limits use of all Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (which don't have airbags) to a top speed of 25 MPH speed. New state laws in Montana, Washington, Minnesota, Tennessee and Oklahoma challenge that, and permit a 35 MPH top speed. Check your local laws for applicability. Miles vehicles can get up to 60 mile per charge. Like any vehicle, mileage varies with driving style and environment. Expect an average of 40 miles per charge. Plug-in during the workday and double the daily range. Costs less than 2 cents per mile in electricity, depending on local utility rates. Lead-acid AGM atteries are rated for 25,000 miles before recycling. These are the perfect no-gas, zero-emissions vehicles for in-town driving. (Miles highway speed vehicle is undergoing crash testing for release in model year 2010.) Visit MilesEV.com for details.
2008 Miles ZX40ST Electric Work Truck - MSRP $18,400 plus $795 destination. Fleet customers earn volume discount. Warehouse stock available now.
2009 Miles ZX40S-AD 4 Passenger Electric Mini-SUV - MSRP $19,900 plus $895 destination. Fleet customers earn volume discount. Order now. Cars arrive in September.
2009 Miles ZX40ST - Work Truck - MSRP $19,900 plus $895 destination. Fleet customers earn volume discount. Order now. Trucks arrive in September.

ZENN Neighborhood Electric Vehicles
AC ZENNs are available by factory order to local Montana customers. MSRP $15,995 plus destination.
'07-1/2 Silver 2.22 LX+ Demo in stock now. MSRP $16,050 Now $11,750
European Smart Fortwo
2008 "SubiEVee" Subaru Forester
'08 Subaru Forester Sport All-electric - This "one-off" prototype is under development and available for coorporate sponsorship. A limited-edition hand built series will follow testing.

SNUGG Electric Bike Drive
Hi-Performance SNUGG hybrid electric drives - Prototype under now under development. Amplify your pedal power without breaking a sweat.

Electric Scooters
"Small Cars for People Who Think Big"
Eco Auto Inc | 920 West Main St. Bozeman, MT 59715 | (406) 587-9196 (office) | 406 223 3242 (cell)
Comments or questions? Send email to: Ron Gompertz - CEO
©2007 Eco Auto Inc | updated on Sept 1, 2007