GEM Electric Cars

If you've seen them without, don't be alarmed: The GEM electric cars do come with doors...

...but they're not standard equipment; )

The GEM's roots are showing, I'm afraid, but don't worry - they've come a long way off the golf course.

(Doesn't mean you can't get a scorecard keeper as an optional feature, though...)

One more thing I'll mention before we get to the features: GEM stands for Global Electric Motors, and is owned by Daimler/Chrysler, so if a friend mentions that she just bought a Chrysler electric car or a Daimler electric car or a GEM electric car, it all amounts to the same thing.

GEM Specs

• Range: 30 miles on a charge, BUT they have regenerative braking, which feeds energy back into the battery when you use your brakes.
• Speed: 25mph is the top speed. There's a high speed and low speed setting.
• Battery: The usual. Six twelve-volt lead-acid batteries, like the ones you used to start the Buick.
• Charger: Comes with a standard onboard 110v charger for a six to eight hour charge up. A GREAT new option on the 2007 models is a FAST CHARGER. You can charge them up in an hour, and it's also ONBOARD... ...and comes with a special plug-in station that can be installed at home or wherever.

• Safety Equipment: Just like a regular car...it's got headlights (halogen, even!), brake lights, turn signals, horn, and automotive safety glass in the windows. Three-point safety belt (yee-HAW!!) comes standard, too.; )
• Speed: 25mph is the top speed. There's a high speed and low speed setting.
• Warranty: Comes with a 12 month limited warranty. You can buy another 12-24 month extended warranty, including roadside assistance and towing, if you choose. Not that it's likely you'll break down with an electric car, but if you do, and you live within their service area, GEM has VANS loaded with technicians and tools that come right to you!
• Custom Ordering: You can order these bad boys right off the website.

  Model? click. Add doors, click. Add Alpine stereo system and heated seats, click. It tallies up the total as you go.

• Price: Loosely, between $7,000-$12,000 base price, depending on the model.
• Operating Costs:Always depends on how much electricity costs per kilowatt hour in your neighborhood, but we're talking about pennies per mile, not dimes. This company is an Energy Star Partner, which tells you they worked at energy efficiency.

Tax credit for GEM electric cars

Video from the GEM company which talks about the tax incentive for buying an electric car.

What are owners saying about their GEM electric cars?

Warning: This video also came from the GEM company's YouTube channel, so it's a little "advertis-ey", but it's kind of nice to hear what actual owners of GEM electric cars are saying about them, don't you think?

Speeding up your GEM electric car with a 7.5 motor

...and finally, one more video to show you how GEM owners beef up their motors to run at the higher speeds that are legal in more and more states these days.

I want one of these! What a great little car!