Article Appeared in the March 2015 issue of the East Coast Current
Interview by: Tiffany Evers
Photos of Kevin Mount by: Kelsey Arnold
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in New York, but I grew up mostly in New Jersey. My career brought me down to South Florida in 2008, and then NSB in 2011. There I was doing outside sales and had a big region to cover. Since I like to surf, I chose to live in New Smyrna Beach.
Q: How did you get involved with Flaunt Electric Vehicles?
A: A friend of mine’s father was interested in the idea. I was at a spot in my career where I was looking for something new and exciting. He told me the idea about ecofriendly, electric vehicles and I thought it was an awesome opportunity and I jumped right on it!
Q: What is your role in the company?
A: I am one of the partners and handle most of the day-to-day operations, from marketing to administrative work.
Q: Who came up with the original idea?
A: The president of the company, Kevin Wray.
Q: Who all is involved with Flaunt?
A: The president and CEO, Kevin Wray; Our Legal Director, Attorney Mark Hall, P.A.; and myself. We each have our individual roles in the company and our roles really tend to compliment each others very well.
Q: How did you come up with the name?
A: The name was one of the hardest parts. We consulted with trademark attorneys and just about every word out there is taken. We wanted to make sure that we were picking a name that fit our brand, where there wouldn’t be any instances of copyright infringement. Our plan is to be able to sell in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. We wanted to be sure we picked a name that fit us and fit the company and had the ability to grow with us. We came across the word flaunt, and it just worked. Our tag line is “don’t just ride it…flaunt it.”
Q: Who builds your bikes?
A: We do. For the past two years we worked on sourcing different parts and components, as well as experimenting with different modifications, so that the bikes could ultimately be made here in Florida but more importantly so that our bikes would meet or exceed the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Q: What sets your product apart from everything else available?
A: The fact that we are electric and don’t rely on any gas or oil. It is very eco-friendly. There aren’t a lot of other companies doing this and the idea is very attractive to our prospective clients.
Q: How many different models do you have?
A: We will be launching with four models. FEV 1000, FEV 1250, FEV 1500 and the FEV 2000. FEV stands for Flaunt Electric Vehicles and the number is an internal coding system.
Q: Are you only creating scooters?
A: No. Really we would like to explore other electric vehicle options as well. Rather than just being an electric scooter company, our vision is to start creating different types of electric vehicles.
Q: When does the company officially launch?
A: We are looking at late spring of 2015.
Q: How much will one of your scooters cost?
A: We are still finalizing the pricing for all of the models. An introductory model will cost around $1,500. The average scooter owner spends around $1,200 – $1,500 on gas a year, so you can easily get your investment’s worth by going electric.
Q: Are you planning on having a show room locally?
A: Our plan has always been to start a distributor network throughout the country and sell the scooters directly to dealerships instead of the consumer since it is against the law to do both. We are excited to bring this business to Florida, and from what we can tell we are the first vehicle manufacturing company to open in Volusia County.
Q: How far can a fully charged scooter go?
A: Our scooters can do 35 miles on a full charge.
Q: How fast can they go?
A: The FEV 2000 can go up to 45 miles per hour.
Q: Can you order custom colors?
A: Customers will be able to custom-order just about any color.
Q: How many people can ride on a Flaunt scooter?
A: Each bike can fit two people.
Q: Do you need a special plug for charging?
A: No, it is a standard 110-volt. You can plug it right into the wall.
Q: Where can readers find more information about Flaunt?
A: We are active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as our own website, www.FlauntVehicles.com. On our website we have an email sign-up list for anyone who wants to stay updated on what’s going on with the company, or be first in line to pre-order.
Q: You have a great website. Who designed it?
A: Thanks! Joe Sernio, founder of Shoreline Media Marketing. I have had a very long lasting personal relationship with him and know he is a hard worker and will do everything to get the job done.
Q: What are the benefits to owning an electric vehicle?
A: Besides not having to pay for gas or get your oil changed, there is little to no maintenance ever needed. It’s an impressive technology that is extremely efficient and eco-friendly.
Q: Who do you see as your average customer?
A: We see three main categories: 1) College Students – because of the affordability and the convenience of parking on campus. 2) Young Professionals – typically in an urban area where they want to do their part in helping the environment and save on gas. 3) Baby Boomers – because they have worked hard all their life and now they can afford a weekend vehicle to go to the beach with or just to run their daily errands.
Q: What else do you do around town?
A: Aside from working on this, I am enjoying my friends and family.
Flaunt Electric Vehicles
107 Magnolia Street
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
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