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Interest sparks in making electric cars By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
When Steve Azzoli pulls his bright blue car into an auto parts store and pops open his hood, he invariably draws a crowd. That’s because the retired Land O’ Lakes man is tooling around in an all-electric car, and people want to take a look. Azzoli got the car for his project in 2011, and didn’t get the parts to convert it into an electric vehicle until the middle of 2012. It took six months to restore the car and another 18 months to convert it. Rebirth Auto of St. Petersburg helped Azzoli get the right battery system and motor controller, while Diamond Auto Works Inc., in Lutz did the bodywork, welding and fabrication work, and car painting. Diamond Auto’s Bobby Boles said when Azzoli first told him what he was planning to do, he thought he was crazy. But Boles figured if Azzoli was willing to invest so much in the electric car project,Azzoli must know what he was talking about. The bodywork made the car more aerodynamic,Azzoli said. Since completing the project,Azzoli has driven 5,700 miles without using a drop of gas. He estimates he saves about $300 a month with his electric car. Beyond saving money on fuel, he’s also spending less on maintenance. The project cost about $23,000, but Azzoli said that is less than what it would cost for a Chevrolet Volt, a popular gas and electric hybrid car. He also notes his car gets more mileage per charge than a Nissan Leaf, another popular electric car.
B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO
Steve Azzoli said his electric car creates a buzz when people take a look under its hood. He invested about $23,000 on the car, but gets 200 miles per battery charge, and doesn’t have to spend a dime on gasoline.
Before a recent upgrade that reduced the weight of his car,Azzoli said he was getting about 200 miles a charge.Azzoli recently removed about 150 pounds of steel, and changed his battery boxes from steel to aluminum. Once he does some more testing,
he’ll know how much the mileage between charges has improved. Azzoli’s next project will be to change the 14-inch tires to 16-inch tires, improving See ELECTRIC, page 12
Trolley rolls into mobile food service market By Michael Murillo
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While brainstorming that idea, they considered launching a traditional food truck. But then they got really creative. When the owners of Lutz Mail Depot on “We thought, let’s do something cool Dale Mabry Highway found that customers with this and let’s do something that’s kind enjoyed spending time at their business and of interesting and unique,” said Greg socializing, they wanted to provide a small Skibbee, who owns Lutz Mail Depot with cafe so they could sit and eat. his business partner, Paul Fischer. Make way for the trolley. Skibbee and Fischer converted a working, 35-foot motorized trolley from Paris, Texas, into the Route 66 Kitchen & Dining Car, a mobile food service vehicle that will sit outside their business during the week serving food, and hit the road throughout Florida on weekends. It officially opened for business last week. While converting a trolley into a food truck is an unusual concept on its own, Skibbee explained that there’s more to it than that. At more than twice the length of a typical 17-foot food truck, they can offer something missing from mobile food vehicles: inside seating. Between eight and 10 patrons can eat inside the trolley, and awnings will provide shade for MICHAEL MURILLO/STAFF PHOTO customers who use tables and Greg Skibbee and his partner at Lutz Mail Depot, Paul chairs outside. Fischer, have put around $125,000 into their Route 66 In addition to getting the trolley Kitchen & Dining Car. The trolley/food service ready for inside customers and dec-
Richard Schmetisch’s fascination with coins began when he was about 8 years old. His dad took him to a flea market, and as they browsed through tools and lawn mowers, Schmetisch spied a coin dealer. And so his passion began. “I just went, ‘Wow!’” the now 51year-old Land O’ Lakes man said. “I think coins interest a lot more kids than adults.” Schmetisch began Richard Schmetisch by collecting wheat pennies, buffalo nickels and Mercury dimes, but has branched into more sophisticated
See TROLLEY, page 12
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vehicle is now parked in front of their business during the week, and will travel the state on many weekends.
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Collectors can purchase coins from other collectors during the Tampa Bay Coin Club meetings, which are on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., at Forest Hills Park Community Center.
Coins offer glimpse into history, politics By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com