PowerShift Solar powers Historic Cocoa Village tour shuttle with solar energy

Aug. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- Melbourne, FL. PowerShift Solar, a solar energy systems design firm, announced the completion of a solar power system used to power an electric shuttle in the Historic Cocoa Village district of Cocoa, FL. The shuttle will be used to give tours of historic sites, and will offer transportation to pedestrians visiting the collection of shops, restaurants, businesses, and boutiques in the area.

The solar array on top of the 6-passenger shuttle is expected to produce about a third of the power it consumes on an average day. It will produce clean, green energy from the sun, and allow the system to pay for itself many times over.

"The high-efficiency solar panels we installed are warranted to produce power for 25 years. If you take projected electricity rate hikes into account, this system could save over $5200 in electric costs during its life," said J.W. Jones, lead designer and co-founder of PowerShift Solar. "This cart is really unique because it gives people an opportunity to experience solar power firsthand as it operates today in a productive, everyday scenario. They can touch it, and see it, and that makes a lasting impression," he added.

The shuttle is pulling its environmental weight too. It will pick up recyclable materials from bins placed around Cocoa Village in a partnership with the city and BrevardsGreenTeam.org.

The shuttle was designed and built by ExtremeCustomCarts.com of Rockledge, FL. The vehicle was completely rebuilt from the frame up using refurbished and recycled materials. This reduced the overall environmental impact, and solidified the project's commitment to sustainable design.

"We love to challenge ourselves with new and exciting projects like this," explained Extreme Custom Carts’ owner Troy Tutterrow on his excitement over this project. He continued, "We were able to take our expertise in building alternative vehicles and add an element that benefits the community and our environment by using solar power. We can make the world a better place for our kids and grandkids, and we wanted to be a part of that. This whole project has been really easy to get behind."

The shuttle is owned by local entrepreneur Dewey Kessler. Mr. Kessler expects to have this shuttle running full time in Cocoa Village by the end of the summer, and plans to expand this concept to other locations in the coming months.

Those interested in learning more about solar power and its applications for use in their homes and businesses can call 321-385-SUN1 (7861) for more information, or to arrange a free in-home or in-office consultation.

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PowerShift Solar LLC is east central Florida's premier designer of solar energy systems for homes and businesses. PowerShift Solar specializes in designing systems that will maximize the amount of energy savings to its clients and help reduce or eliminate their dependence on utility-supplied electricity. The company is headquartered In Melbourne, FL, and serves all of Brevard and Volusia counties. Additional information about the company is available at www.powershiftsolar.com.