Driving Green in Vancouver

I have traveled over 1800 kilometers with the yellow & white GEM neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) in Vancouver - Conducted many test-drives, and presentations to all levels of local government, corporations, associations, businesses, and direct to the consumer - Logged daily tests in many different 'real world' situations. The all-electric NEV will not only change the way that you drive, but the way you live. It’s not a car, it’s a cause.

Test-Drive a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) in British Columbia

If you would like to test-drive a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) in British Columbia, please get in touch with me at 604-669-5564. The Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) will not only change the way that you drive, but the way you live. It’s not a car, it’s a cause.

Sign Up Now To Be The First In Line For A GEM (Global Electric Motorcars) Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV)

If you would like to test-drive a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) in British Columbia, please get in touch with me at 604-669-5564. The Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) will not only change the way that you drive, but the way you live. It’s not a car, it’s a cause.

They're here and available in British Columbia! Be the first in your community to become a leader in sustainable transportation. GEM NEVs are great for traveling around city centers or neighborhoods. GEM cars are perfect for short-distance transportation and can be used to transport people or for business services.

NEVs have a great safety record - NEVs are zero emission electric vehicles - NEVs improve air quality - The energy consumption of an NEV is less than 1/5 that of a conventional automobile - NEVs provide freedom and continued mobility for aging or impaired drivers - NEVs are affordable - NEVs support the local economy by encouraging residents to shop locally - NEVs encourage use of existing public transportation

Chrysler Selling Electric Vehicle Division

Chrysler announced the sale of its Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) subsidiary, makers of the all-electric neighborhood vehicles.

Chrysler reached a deal with Polaris Industries, Inc., makers of snowmobiles and ATV’s, to acquire the GEM division. Neither company has released details on how the sale will affect Fargo, North Dakota-based GEM or its network of more than 100 dealers worldwide.

GEM has been in operation in 1998 when they released its first 2-passenger vehicle. Two years later, Chrysler acquired GEM and looked to the small company to expand its Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) development.

Polaris Industries recently reported record earnings for the first quarter of 2011. Management reported sales of $537.2 million and net income of $47.3 million for the quarter compared to $361.7 million and $19.8 million in the first quarter of 2010. For the full year 2011 management expects sales to increase 17%-20% compared to 2010.

Higway-Speed Electric Cars Will Struggle After Normal Buyers Replace Early Adopters

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) are good for running errands or commuting to work. For short city/urban travel, NEVs make perfect sense. Replacing the 2nd or 3rd vehicle in household with a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is an appealing option. (picture of a GEM NEV e2 model)



Since 2006 Lang Motors the electric car company is on the right track with its continued focus with Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) , and city/urban transportation.

A new report from Trend Tracker, an automotive research company, indicates that higway-speed electric cars are unlikely to be able to raise their game to bail out the world's need for mobility as world oil supplies continue to decrease. The Detroit News reports that the planned production of highway-speed electric cars indicates they will still be a peripheral choice by 2050, with the global market rising to about two billion, with only about 30 million highway-speed electric vehicles. "Highway-speed EV (HSEV) production would need to increase by an average two million units a year over 23 years to effectively electrify the global car market by 2050 when the 'peak oil' scenario may have played out. In the medium term, HSEVs will continue to suffer adverse comparison in terms of price and utility with conventional cars and plug-in hybrids. Suppliers will need to develop more enticing value propositions," the Trend Tracker report said. The highway-speed electric car falls short of being ready for prime time on many fronts. Range needs to be improved by at least 100 percent. Battery prices need to be shaved at least in half. The problem of depreciation will undermine the value of the first electric vehicles. For more on the challenges facing electric vehicles in the coming years: http://www.detnews.com/article/20110223/OPINION03/102230301/1148/auto01/Battery-electric-cars-will-struggle-after-normal-buyers-replace-early-adopters

From the article: It is not too late for car manufacturers to change course and go for a much simpler, cheaper and less ambitious solution. Why not produce a little vehicle that doesn't attempt to emulate the car with its speed, range and comfort? Why not make something utilitarian which would go about 50 km/h down to the shops or around campus, where limited range would make no difference, and which many families could afford. Why not apply the new electric technology to the golf cart? This would be an affordable, unpretentious little utilitarian second car which didn't attempt to reinvent the wheel. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen any time soon. "The technology would be very suited for a golf cart," said Roland Berger's Blanchet, "but the car manufacturers are not in that market today. They are selling volume and they will hope that short range mobility will be more than a niche market. They aren't going to make a car that isn't a car."

Tour De Sol Results

Tour De Sol, America’s #1 Green Car Show and Competition, Demonstrates How to Reduce Oil Use and Climate Change Emissions By Over 100%.

The results are in – and over 50 light duty vehicles competing in the Tour de Sol, America’s #1 green car show and competition “driving toward zero carbon emissions” demonstrated their ability of reducing oil use and climate change emissions by over 100%, compared to conventional vehicles that achieve the 27 mpg CAFÉ standard for light duty vehicles.

Held at the Saratoga Spa State Park and Saratoga Automobile Musuem in Saratoga Springs, NY, the Tour de Sol featured entrants in three separate competitions who turned in spectacular results and took home trophies and $10,000 in cash prizes. Using many energy efficiency techniques, and in some cases switching to less carbon intensive fuels such as compressed natural gas, biodiesel, vegetable oil, or electricity and hydrogen from clean renewable sources, the entrants demonstrated an average of 66 mpg, 140% above the current CAFÉ standard, and reductions in climate change emissions of 130%.

In the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) division, competition was fierce with three GEMs entered – one from the Southern Berkshire Regional School, Sheffield, MA and two from the Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs, NY. All of the vehicles drove over 30 kilometers with conventional lead acid batteries and received a cash prize from the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium for their achievements. The Berkshire school also brought an amazing educational trailer with wind and solar demonstrations.

GEM Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV)

My yellow and white GEM Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) - Burrard Street, Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

The Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) will not only change the way that you drive, but the way you live. It’s not a car, it’s a cause

New Chrysler 2011 GEM Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV)

American manufacturer Chrysler or, to be more, precise, its Global Electric Motorcars unit (GEM) announced this week the release of a new generation Battery Electric Vehicles. Hoping to build on the existing fame of market leader in the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) industry, with more than 45,000 units sold, Chrysler will start retailing no less than six models.

For the GEMs, 2011 came with an entirely new energy monitoring system, used to determine the total amount of energy in kilo-watt-hours (kWh) that the GEM vehicle has removed from the grid. Drivers can see this energy saving information right on the vehicle’s LCD screen, making for one very neat, completely useless gizmo from the motoring point of view.

But, at least, if nothing essential has changed, there are a few optional features, also new, that might get your interest up: 12 inch turf tires for off-road applications, right-hand-drive package, short-bed package with 34 inch x 48 inch cargo bed on the GEM e4 four-passenger coupe or the GEM e6 six-passenger shuttle vehicle and utility tie downs for securing cargo.

Otherwise, the models remain pretty much the same: the drive train gives the models a top speed of 40 km/h and a range of up to 50 kilometers, making them ideal for use as running errands, driving to work or school, hauling equipment or transporting people around work facilities.

“The 2011 model year marks our 13th year in designing and distributing 100 percent battery-electric GEM vehicles,” said Rick Kasper, Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars CEO. “We’re always integrating new technologies and features into our product line that allow our customers to customize their vehicles and use them in a variety of capacities.”

Source: Autoevolution

TAKING STOCK

To date, GEM cars have driven more than 450 million emission-free miles and have saved more than 20 million gallons of gasoline. They also have prevented more than 190 tons of pollutants from reaching the air.