The 21st Century Comes To Hoboken—And It's Eco-Friendly, Too

The next time you get a parking ticket, don't be surprised if the Parking Enforcement Officer drives away in a modern-looking golf cart. 

The City received two neighborhood electric vehicles Tuesday morning from a company named Monmouth Vans, Access & Mobility Equipment. The two electric vehicles are supposed to replace two old trucks and will be used to drive around town, put up signs and meterbags and instal and remove boots, said Director of Transportation and Parking Ian Sacs. 

"We're going to use these as a demonstration to the city that we don't have to use clunky pick up trucks all the time," Sacs said. "It makes more sense, economically and ecologically, to use electric vehicles."

The electronic vehicles cost $13,000 (the small pick-up model) and $14,000 (the larger pick-up model), said Craig Philips, Monmouth General Manager who delivered the cars Tuesday morning. 

It takes about eight hours to fully charge the vehicles, after which you can drive about 20 miles, Philips said. Batteries last between two and three years, he added and a new set of batteries for a vehicle is between $800 and $1,000. 

The vehicles are completely electronic and will be charged in the city's garage. No special cords are needed, just a normal extension cord. 

The maximum speed of the vehicle is 25 miles per hour (which is the speed limit all over Hoboken.)

Besides it being a more environmentally friendly option, the new vehicles are also cheaper, Sacs said. A regular truck costs $27,000 he said. "These two vehicles cost $27,000 combined."

Although it drives just like a golf cart, the drivers of the vehicles need a driver's license and they will get license plates, Sacs said. 

The driver can check the vehicle's electricity gauge (just like a fuel gauge in a regular car) to check how much power is left in the battery. 

"I'm sure there's an ap for that," Sacs said.