Local resident turns heads with his solar-pedal vehicle

CELINA - Those who frequent local bike paths may spot a peculiar solar-powered "bicycle" joining them for a ride.

With three wheels and an egg-shaped cab, the "ELF" doesn't resemble a bike at first glance. Yet according to Organic Transit, which produces the ELF in North Carolina, it is deemed a bicycle under federal consumer safety law. And Ron Stalder, 72, Celina, thinks he is likely the only person in the area - possibly even the state - with one.

ELF stands for electric, light and fun, Stalder explained. From inside the cab, Stalder can use pedals to move the vehicle forward and handlebars to steer it just as he would a regular bike. However, the ELF also has an "electric assist" option. With the push of a button, the electric motor can give a boost of power whenever Stalder needs or wants it, such as when he goes up a hill or pedals into the wind.

"It's kind of a cross between a car and a bicycle," he said.

The electric assist, and several other features of the ELF - including turn signals, headlights and brake lights - are made possible by Lithium-ion batteries. They're removable, so Stalder can take them inside during extreme weather conditions or even charge them through an outlet. Most of the time, though, they're kept charged by a solar panel on top of the cab.

"There's a whole lot of people interested in them. It's exercise, plus when the gas price hits $3 a gallon, you're not using gas, you're not polluting the air," Stalder said.

Stalder first learned about the ELF from a YouTube video, and said he was drawn to it because he'd been riding bikes his entire life. He still has a motorcycle as well as a recumbent trike he'd previously used on the Celina/Coldwater Bike Path. As he got older, though, he said it became harder to get up from the trike. The ELF looked like it would be easier to get into and out of, and he figured people would see him more easily.

The wait time to fill an order is anywhere from 4 to 6 months, according to Stalder. Organic Transit first required him to make an appointment to ride one and then decide if he wanted it or not.

He's had several people express interest in the ELF after seeing him ride it, but once he tells them the price, they usually back off, he said, laughing. An ELF can cost between $8,000 and $10,000, getting more expensive depending upon the add-ons chosen. For instance, he added USB ports to charge his phone as he rides. The batteries also are expensive, costing between $900 and $1,000 each.

Stalder said while people could probably buy a good used car for about the same price, with an ELF, he avoids the price of going to the station and paying for gas, and the only extra maintenance it requires is brushing the solar panel from time to time to keep it dust-free.

He's had his ELF since January, and while the weather has kept him from using it more frequently, Stalder said he's already gotten plenty of use and enjoyment out of it. His ELF is equipped with a back seat, and he and his golden retriever, Chance, love to ride together. He likes to take rides on the Celina-Coldwater bike path, both to visit his family in Coldwater and just to get some exercise. It even has a small trunk about the right size to hold a few groceries.

So as the weather gets warmer, cyclists who see this unique "bike" on the paths shouldn't be alarmed. It's just Stalder and Chance out for a ride.