A 1977 news clipping from the Green Bay Press Gazette tells the story of Jim Eland, then general manager of Eland Electric Corp., Green Bay, Wis., getting stranded overnight.  

He and two friends had crammed themselves into a prototype for an electric vehicle for a quick jaunt to pick up a pizza. On the way back to their friend’s house, it lost charge. 

“It was a glorified golf-cart,” Eland said. “It had a range of only 50 miles in optimal weather and a top speed of 40 mph. It caught a lot of people’s attention.” 

News clipping of circa 1977 EV provided by the Eland family, owners of Eland Electric Corp., Green Bay, Wis.

The car’s batteries occupied space beneath a bench-style seat. “You just used a regular outlet and let it charge overnight,” Eland said. “If you put on the gas and the brake at the same time, it would blow a fuse.”  

Eland’s wife, Carolyn, remembers taking a ride. “It was interesting. You could hear everything working—it was noisy. We rode around the block and that was enough for me.” 

Despite her sentiments, the small red buggy emblazoned with the NECA logo had a popular run with the NECA Wisconsin chapter’s eight divisions. Members took turns driving it, one week at a stretch.  

Eland Electric is a three-generation family business started by Eland’s father in 1958. It operates with 80 employees.  

About 30% of the company’s business entails setting up solar power generating and energy supply storage systems (ESS).  

“Fifteen years ago, my uncle (Rick Eland) got us into renewables,” said a younger Jim Eland II, now president of Eland Electric and vice president of the NECA Green Bay division of the Wisconsin chapter. “We were the first electrical contractor in our area to obtain NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification.” 

The certification prepared Eland Electric to capture new business doing solar photovoltaic system repairs resulting from two installers going out of business, said the younger Eland, who also serves on the Wisconsin Electrical Apprentice & Training apprenticeship committee.  

Eland Electric also forged a relationship with a local Chevrolet dealer, offering discounts to EV customers choosing to set up home-based EV charging stations.  

The contractor serves other homeowners looking to set up EV charging systems, the younger Eland said. Which sometimes brings additional work installing ESS’s and backup power generators. 

“Though EV-charging work comprises only a small portion of our business right now, we want to pursue this. We’ve always embraced new technologies,” he said. 

Back 1977, Eland floated the concept of electrical cars charging in mall parking lots while their owners shopped. In many parts of the United States, that’s happening now.  

Wisconsin recently passed legislation paving the way for a consistent EV charging network along its interstate system. The new state laws free up nearly $80 million in federal construction aid and make it easier for gas stations, convenience stores and other businesses to operate EV charging stations.  

In addition, federal funding supports Level 3 charging stations, which enable passenger EVs to recharge in less than an hour. As a result, Eland Electric will see more opportunities to install EV chargers. 

Header image: The Eland family, owners of Eland Electric Corp., Green Bay, Wisc.: James Eland, Mary Eland and Michael (Rick) Eland in the 1990s. Members of the family now drive EVs and hybrids. Photo provided by Jim Eland II.