This car is certainly the right tool for the job, according to rangers at the Bandy Creek camping area in Big South Fork National Park here in Jamestown, Tennessee. It clearly is some sort of environmentally-friendly car and what better place for a super-efficient "green car" than a national park!
It's called a "GEM Car" because it is made by a division of Chrysler called Global Electric Motors, which is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota and which has been in operation for ten years. They weren't "street legal" until 1998 when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) designated a new class of motor vehicle, the low-speed vehicle, also known as the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). This allowed the GEM Car to be driven on public roads if it met certain safety criteria.
You'll find GEM cars in cities in cities, where they present a solution to congestion and fossil-fuel emission issues, in planned communities, universities and colleges, industrial complexes, airports, state and government agencies, resorts....and national parks. They have a top speed of 25mph and can legally be driven on public roads posted at 35mph or less in nearly all 50 states. They can travel 30 miles on a charge and can be re-charged in about 6-8 hours. Customers around the world are discovering how affordable and cost-effective it is to own and operate a battery-electric vehicle. GEM cars plug into a standard 110-volt outlet to recharge and don't require the usual maintenance, such as oil changes, that a regular gasoline-powered vehicle needs. In addition, GEM vehicles are eligible for incentives and tax credits from clean-air districts and other governmental agencies.
Comments(1)