Moke America Ohio Assistant Manager Donene Simmons, left, and her daughter, Manager Briana Adams, pose in a pink Moke. The street-legal electric vehicles are available in 13 different colors. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Moke America Ohio is bringing a unique driving experience to Port Clinton with its street-legal, low-speed recreational vehicles. The Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Port Clinton hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Moke America Ohio on Friday, May 12.

Mokes were originally designed as a British military vehicle in the 1960s.

“They were designed by the British military to be dropped from aircraft in remote areas,” said Moke America Ohio owner Craig Durnwald.

Mokes were eventually marketed to civilians outside the U.S., and, in 2016, an electric version was designed for American sales.

Moke America Ohio, located at 120 Buckeye Blvd, Suite A, Port Clinton, is a Moke distributor which offers wholesale and retail sales, leases, and rentals. It can be reached at 419-722-0769.

Retail cost begins at $27,000. Daily and long-term rentals are available in Port Clinton.

Moke America Ohio offers a redesigned, historic Moke for unique recreational fun. Mokes are street-legal on roads with maximum speed limits of 35mph, making them perfect for rides around Port Clinton and the islands. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Mokes are classified as low-speed vehicles. They have a top speed of 25 m.p.h. and are street-legal for roads with speed limits of 35 m.p.h. and less. Mokes can legally and easily be driven around most of Port Clinton.

“They have full suspension like a car. They ride really smooth,” Durnwald said.

Mokes can travel 40 miles on a charge and are equipped with onboard chargers.

“They can be plugged into any household 110-volt outlet to charge it,” Durnwald said. “They have 10 batteries and a 60-volt system.”

Durnwald said his staff will transport Mokes to boat docks for trips to the island. Moke America Ohio is partnering with a business which will rent them on Kelleys Island.

“Even if you’re not a buyer, you can rent one,” Durnwald said. “The first thing we hear from people is, ‘I’ve never seen one of these before.’”