WHO WILL WIN? — The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Progress Alliance will split the proceeds from the giveaway of a total electric vehicle donated by Wildfire Motors to raise money for economic development efforts. The car, seen at Blackhorse Landing in Toronto early last week, has been on display at various events and businesses throughout the summer. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and may be bought at participating businesses, from chamber or Community Improvement Corp. members or wherever the vehicle is on display. - Paul Giannamore

WINTERSVILLE - The hardest part about driving the Green Machine turned out to be untangling the extension cord at our destination.

The tiny all-electric Wildfire Motors Car, properly called a Wildfire model WF-120V, has been making the rounds of businesses and public events during the summer as part of a fundraising drawing to benefit the Progress Alliance economic development organization and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. The vehicle, donated by Wildfire owners Don and Lora Snyder, was unveiled in March at Progress Alliance's Best of Jefferson County dinner and will be given away to a lucky ticketholder at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce dinner in October.

The car was on display at Blackhorse Landing in Toronto earlier this week and it needed to make its way from there Wednesday to Valley Wine Cellar in Wintersville for a chamber Business After Hours event.

That's how this chance for a little test drive came about. Ken Perkins, president of the Community Improvement Corp., which oversees Progress Alliance, and chamber President Sue Hershey were more than happy to turn the keys over to a willing volunteer who wanted to drive and write about the car.

The smiling little car was plugged into an outlet at the Mile 58 tavern at Blackhorse Landing. A quick unplug, outlet first, then car, and wrapping of the extension cord and the Wildfire special plug, and it was time to go.

Two things stood out: The WF-120V runs on 12-inch diameter wheels. The WF-120V is really tiny.

Once seated inside, two things happen. The car is small because of what's not there behind you, as in length of a back passenger compartment and trunk, so the feeling of tininess melts away a bit.

The other is that, when the key is turned, nothing happens. There's a click and some LED gauges light up. And nothing else.

Release the parking brake, push the transmission selector switch to go forward and hit the "gas" pedal, which is actually a potentiometer that tells the electric motor just how much amperage to draw from the battery pack. The ammeter jumps, there's a bit of grunching and off you go. No fuss, no muss.

Little kids smile and wave. Pedestrians stare. A guy on a Harley gives a wave usually reserved for fellow motorcyclists.

The Green Machine has the software upgrade that allows it to go faster than the neighborhood electric vehicle standard of 35 mph. It maxed out around 45 mph or 50 mph on the highway, and it was surprisingly stable. It didn't dart about. It didn't feel scarily small next to passing tractor-trailer trucks. And they will pass you, going uphill.

Because, if you want to extend the range a little on our Ohio Valley hills, keep an eye on the ammeter and trade off some speed for a lower draw on the batteries when climbing hills.

That's a problem only on an expressway like state Route 7. Once out on Sunset, the Green Machine felt just like any other little car. It kept up with traffic and made its way out to Valley Wine Cellar with no problem.

Once there, the folks at the Valvoline Quick Lube next door provided the outdoor outlet to recharge the little guy, and in reaching the outlet came the hardest part of the drive - untangling a 50-foot electric extension cord.

Don Snyder is quick to say that, as a neighborhood electric vehicle, the little Green Machine and his fellow electric brothers coming off the line at Wildfire Motors in the Jefferson County Industrial Park aren't intended to be anyone's sole vehicle. It's not meant for driving in heavy snow. It's not really meant for freeway travel, though we proved it can do it, especially when followed closely by a chase car driven by Joanna Styczenski, Progress Alliance's project manager, just to keep folks from running too close to the Green Machine.

But, if you need transportation within the city, say, to run to the store or church or the office, and your drive doesn't take you onto freeways, the Green Machine serves the purpose. No, it's not smooth and quiet. It lets the driver know it's got an electric motor whining away.

But it's superb fun. It's kind of a kick to try to play the ammeter off the speedometer in trading energy efficiency for sheer speed while climbing the hills on Sunset Boulevard. And it feels really good to drive past the gasoline stations, knowing you don't have to stop there.

Just be sure to keep your extension cord coiled neatly. It makes life with the Green Machine a little easier.

(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)