Don Hewett thinks he has a solution for city or beach residents who need a convenient and inexpensive way to get around their neighborhoods.
Hewett sells low-speed carts, equipped with safety features and legal to drive on the road. His business, Argo of Tidewater, is in downtown Pungo.
The electric-powered vehicles can cruise along at 25 mph and can go about 35 miles "on one charge, or on about $1 worth of electricity," Hewett said. They're legal to drive on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less, but only licensed drivers can operate them.
Hewett, who also sells golf carts and utility carts for off-road use, said that he has seen the demand for the road-legal vehicles increase with recent gas prices.
Some Sandbridge and Oceanfront residents are buying them to drive to the beach, he said, and others use them to run short errands around the neighborhood.
Hewett stocks the Tomberlin E-Merge, a street-legal vehicle first manufactured in 2007, and he plans to carry a second type, the “Carryall,” manufactured by Club Car, by mid-August. These range from two-seaters to family-sized, and some come equipped with trunks for groceries, beach gear or other items .
Bay Colony resident Chris Cronin drives his vehicle to the beach. It's more convenient than walking the mile with his daughters, Hannah, 8, and Casey 4, or driving the family car, he said.
"It's about a mile to the beach, and that's too far to walk with the girls and all of their stuff, and it's not far enough to drive," Cronin said.
He doesn't have to hunt for a parking space and " can just park in a grassy area," he said.
The vehicles must be charged overnight. Hewett said he's heard of people carrying extension cords if they planned to drive more than 35 miles.
Three-point seat belts, horns, turn signals and other safety features are standard. The vehicles include enclosures for inclement weather. Although the prices start at about $6,200 for the basic model , luxury items such as stereos, are available.
Hewett, and his son, Todd, will service the vehicles, which come with a two-year warranty.
"We'll go to your house and work on it, and if we can't fix it there we'll bring it back here," he said.
The carts must be registered and titled.