Atlanta — Next time you’re stuck in traffic in Georgia’s capital city (and if you’re there, it’s inevitable), look for Hannah Solar’s cars. Believe us, you can’t miss them.
Brightly wrapped in orange and blue, with Hannah Solar (number 83 on the Solar Power World Top 250 Contractors list) and the company’s phone number emblazoned in clean white lettering on the sides, they’re sure to catch your eye — and that’s just what owner Pete Marte wants.
When we reached Marte, he was at a gas station in Baxley, Ga., where a man came up and told Hannah’s president that he wanted to put a solar array on his farm. Could Hannah do the work? Marte readily said yes.
The wraps cost $2,300 for Hannah’s two cars because the company had already created the logos and artwork for another vehicle. But what inspired Marte to purchase the electric vehicles in the first place was a $700 expense check he wrote to one of his employees.
“He was driving this nasty old Cadillac with a big engine, and it needed repairs,” Marte says. “As soon as I signed that check, I thought: ‘This is ridiculous.’ We’re in the renewable energy business — we should have electric cars.”
So Marte invested in two Nissan Leafs, following a growing trend among Atlantans who have jumped on the electric-vehicle bandwagon. It just made sense, as a renewable energy company, to join the revolution.
“The economics made so much so much sense,” Marte says. “Between the state and federal rebates, the cars were practically free.”
Marte says it was one of the best investments he’s ever made.
“We only have three vehicles with the wrap, but people are always telling me they’re seeing my vehicles,” says Marte, laughing. “Our cars can’t be everywhere, so they must be making an impact.”
SolaRoller says
Great article!! 🙂
gogreenie says
Were there supposed to be other solar companies mentioned here from the Southern region? Great marketing by Hannah Solar none the less. 🙂