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Electrified VW Is 'Liberating' For Boulder Man

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Jul 3, 2008 9:27 pm US/Mountain

Electrified VW Is 'Liberating' For Boulder Man

Written by Paul Day
Reporting
Paul Day
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) ― A Colorado man says he has ended his addiction to foreign oil by converting an old Volkswagon Beetle to run on electricity.

"Its a feeling of liberation," says Marty Geist.

The charged-up bug is his only car and has a limited range of just 60 miles, but the Boulder resident takes delight in never having to stop at gas stations, where prices have jumped to record levels.

"I drive past the pumps," says Geist.

Using a book titled "How To Convert To An Electric Car" and a small inheritance, Geist paid for and completed the conversion in about 6 months.

"It's very simple to do," he said.

His electric vehicle used to be a gas powered, 40 horsepower VW bug, built in 1966. Prior to conversion, it delivered about 25 miles per gallon.

Geist now figures the same car can travel nearly three times as far on $4, the current price for a gallon of regular unleaded.

He recharges the car using household current and an extension cord.

Besides passing up the gas pumps, converting to electric means eliminating oil changes and tune-ups.

He uses the car for around town errands.

Marty admits he's not comfortable driving the converted beetle on highways like the Boulder turnpike, but there's no doubt what he's done is a tremendous source of pride.

When a passerby recognizes Marty is driving an electric vehicle, "You just smile all over the place, you can't help it," he says.

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