communityspotlight


Eco-Friendly Transportation Services


by Lee Walker


When CEO Quentin Sponselee and co-founder Dustin Amelotte drew up their business plan for Terramoto Transportation, they didn’t begin with the intention of creating San Diego’s only carbon- negative, full-service private transportation com- pany. Rather, while looking for ways to differentiate their service, their business philosophy took a green turn when they discovered that the most fuel- efficient vehicles were also kindest to the environ- ment. Today, their eco-friendly approach translates into economical rates for customers and enhanced, Earth-friendly surroundings for the community—but these aren’t the only benefits that place them ahead of their competition. “Before creating Terramoto Transportation, we


weren’t green fanatics who thought we were going to change the world,” says Spon- selee. “However, we did intend to impact the transportation business with the high- est levels of customer service, more eco- nomical price points and accountability. “Anyone who


creates a sustainable 16


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business for which they charge a premium and then expects everyone to flock to it just because it’s green, won’t be successful,” he continues. “You can’t develop a business and make it only about sustainability.” The proof that Sponselee offers are his own


statistics: Approximately five percent of Terramoto’s business is the result of their green branding—to leave the lowest environmental impact possible and create a positive effect by donating a dollar from every trip to an organization that plants protected trees, in order to offset the company’s carbon foot- print completely. “In fact, we net a negative carbon footprint, a first in transportation history,” notes Sponselee.


Terramoto’s vehi-


cles are hybrids. After considering factors such as rear passenger seat legroom, bench space, cargo capac- ity, fuel economy and vehicle purchase price, the founders decided the Toyota Prius was the perfect fit. Today, there are nine cars in the fleet. “Right now, we are low-emission


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