Neighborhood Electric Vehicles: A Gem Of An Idea

American consumers are demanding greener"Consumers are looking for ways to reduce their
transportation options and one company has beengreenhouse emissions and NEVs can help fulfill that
providing them for more than 10 years.need," says Rick Kasper, GEM president and chief
During that time, Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), aoperating officer. "Realizing that 80 percent of all car
Chrysler LLC company, has manufactured andtrips are 10 miles or less, NEVs make a great
distributed over 35,000 neighborhood electric vehiclestransportation solution."
(NEVs) worldwide. These emission-free vehicles areGEM was recently recognized by
used in planned communities, on university andWestStart-CALSTART with the prestigious 2007 Blue
corporate campuses, and by local, state and nationalSky Merit Award for its positive airquality impact in the
government agencies, among others.state of California, where nearly 14,000 GEM vehicles
GEM vehicles have many of the same safetyare on the road.
features of regular cars (such as three-point seatOver the last 10 years, GEM vehicles have driven a
belts, automotive safety glass and lights) but are muchcombined 200 million miles and spared more than 150
more economical in price and fuel consumption. Today,tons of tailpipe pollutants from reaching the air, while
GEM produces six fully electric vehicle models, rangingsaving nearly 10 million gallons of gasoline. These
from two-seaters to six-seaters to utility models.vehicles are eligible for incentives and tax credits from
GEM vehicles are powered by six batteries and emitclean-air districts and other governmental agencies.
no pollution. They can be recharged at home.