GEM Electric Car

GEM Electric Car

In our opinion green cars (electric cars, hybrid cars, alternative energy vehicles) are cars that are more energy efficient than your average car especially when the manufacturer has made a special and concerted effort to develop new approaches or new technologies. An efficient vehicle runs on less fuel which saves more of the world’s finite natural resources. And this, my friends, is good for the health and future of the planet.

GEMs... the stats

GEM electric cars are battery operated low speed vehicles that are also called neighborhood electric vehicles of NEVs for short.

-The image to the left represents the GEM electric car. Photo is by Troy Junkin.-

GEMs are street legal in almost all the 50 states on public roads with posted speeds of 35 miles per hour or less. GEMs can go up to 30 miles without recharging with a top speed of about 25 miles per hour.

GEMs are powered by a 72 volt battery system and can be charged in 6-8 hours using any standard 110 volt outlet. These vehicles are ideal for traveling around urban centers, neighborhoods, and job sites.

Most urban driving and traveling needs can be covered by the GEM however it does it will only a few of the creature comforts that you have been used to in your regular car.

You need to be especially patient with it when it comes to features drivers think are essential in an automobile. Air conditioners, glass side windows, and side mirrors. Tests show that the GEM has extraordinarily low driving cost per mile but creature comforts in the GEM are of equally low level.


GEM Electric Car / The Good and the Bad

On the road the GEM is reminiscent of the old days. Body parts shake and rattle when hitting rough patches on the road.

The image to the left represents another example of the GEM electric car. Photo is by Bronco 944.-

Side windows are sheets of plastic attached to a grab bar that you use for lifting and lowering. Below the back seat is where the six 12 volt batteries are stowed away.

Take a look at the batteries and you also see some of the road below you. There is a nice thing about the GEM the wide front window is safety glass.

The ignition switch, transmission button (low, high, and reverse), turn signal lever, and steering wheel can be found are the instrument panel which is quite rudimentary and really very Spartan.

There is no power draining air conditioning but you have the option of driver and passenger side fans at $65 a pop. The wide front window also has wide pillars resulting in a large blind spot for the driver.


Safety First

The safety system dispenses with front, side, and side air curtain airbags and just trust to the shoulder harness and the hope that the top speed of 25 miles per hour won’t result in an especially strong impact if you crash.


2 Reason to Purchase the GEM

The two major reasons for using electric powered cars are cheaper driving costs and lower pollution. Electric motors are extremely efficient sources of mechanical power. The cost of recharging the batteries of an electric car like the GEM is the equivalent to paying $1 per gallon. Also for the same amount of power that you’d generate with diesel or gasoline the utility costs less to generate an equal amount. Of course there is the pollution that the utility generates. This just means that using an electric vehicle is means less pollution but not as is usually claimed zero pollution. 

Sources

http://www.thecarelectric.com/content/gem-e6-electric-car-review.php
http://www.distrocar.com/2009-chrysler-gem-peapod-electric-car/

For more information on hybrid cars follow these links:

What is a Hybrid Car

Who Makes Hybrid Cars

Who Makes Electric Cars

Flex Fuel Vehicles

Top Green Cars

Honda Insight Reviews

Smart For Two

ZENN Electric Car

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

GMC Savana Van

Hummer H3 Reviews

BMW Hydrogen 7

Alternative Energy Vehicles/More You Need to Know


Return From GEM Electric Car to the Benefits of Recycling home page.