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Steve Herron
"I've always loved people and I've always loved
cars," says Steve Herron, certified Nissan Leaf salesman at Lithia
Nissan, who has sold more electric cars than anyone else in Eugene.
"The typical Leaf customer asks a jillion questions. The Leaf doesn't
work like a regular gas car, so there's a bit of a learning curve." A
Bay Area transplant who grew up in San Jose, Herron came north in 1980
to study at Oregon State University. He got a degree in marketing
management and computer science from OSU in 1990, then worked on music
video production and earned a two-year music-industry degree from the
Art Institute of Seattle. He worked in "construction and golfing" in
Portland and Eugene until age 44, when his back told him, "No more
heavy lifting!" He took a job at Lithia Nissan in 2007. "The economy
was taking a turn for the worse," he notes, "and the job market was
competitive." He persevered while the economy improved and became
certified to sell the Leaf in 2013. He points out that the Leaf's
full-charge range of 150 miles makes it most suitable for commuting.
"The batteries are happiest between 20 and 80 percent charged," he
adds. "Fuel costs are a fraction of a gas-powered car, and another big
benefit is little-to-no maintenance cost." Electric cars are especially
beneficial to the environment in Oregon, where most electricity is
generated from hydro and other renewable power sources. "Steve is
incredibly knowledgeable about the Leaf, its range, charging, tax
credits, and battery life intricacies," says Steve Mital, Director of
Sustainability at the University of Oregon, who recently purchased a
Leaf. "It takes 2-3 times the effort to sell one compared to a
conventional car. He does it because he believes in it."
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happening peoplephotograph and story by Paul Neevel Eugene Weekly / 28 March 2019 |
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