Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) is an American manufacturer in the

low-speed vehicle In the United States and Canada, low-speed vehicle (LSV) regulations allow relaxed design and registration laws for four-wheel vehicles that have a maximum capable speed of about . Several other countries have similar regulations. Canada Under ...

category, producing neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) since 1998 and

s (LSVs) since 2001. It has sold more than 50,000 GEM battery-electric vehicles worldwide . GEM was formerly owned by Chrysler. It was purchased by Polaris Inc. in 2011, and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Waev in January 2022 .

History

The company was founded in 1992 by a team of ex- General Motors engineers from Livonia, Michigan, under the name Trans2. The company was purchased by a group of North Dakota investors and was moved to Fargo, North Dakota. Global Electric Motorcars manufactured its first vehicle in April 1998, a 48-volt GEM car that accommodated two passengers and had a top speed of . Less than two months later, the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rel ...

(NHTSA) designated a new class of motor vehicle, the low-speed vehicle, also known as the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). This allowed GEM cars to be driven on public roads if they met certain safety criteria such as having safety belts, headlamps, windshield wipers, and safety glass. GEM battery-electric vehicles are street legal in nearly all 50 US states on public roads posted at or less. With a top speed of , GEM cars have a range of on a charge depending on the installed battery technology. They are battery-electric, operate on a 72-volt battery system and plug into a standard 3-prong 120-volt outlet for recharging, and fully recharge in six to eight hours. There are currently six different models of GEM cars available primarily suited for intra-city use. GEM cars are used by local, state and national government agencies, resorts, master-planned communities, universities, medical and corporate campuses, as well as by sports teams, taxi-shuttle services, and by the general public.

Timeline

* April 1998 ** First GEM car produced in Fargo, North Dakota * October 1998 ** GEM eL first produced * November 1998 ** GEM eS first produced * December 1998 ** GEM e4 first produced * December 2000 ** DaimlerChrysler Corporation acquires Global Electric Motorcars, LLC *March 2004 **2005 models begin production *June 2005 **Global Electric Motorcars receives its ISO 9001 Certification *January 2006 **GEM has 150 dealers *April 2006 **GEM e6 first produced *December 2007 **Global Electric Motorcars celebrates its 10th Anniversary **GEM eL XD first produced *June 2009 **Global Electric Motorcars remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC *June 2010 **Global Electric Motorcars introduces the new Right Hand Drive GEM electric vehicle *July 2011 **Global Electric Motorcars is sold to Polaris *August 2014 **GEM receives first minor refresh under new owners Polaris **GEM eM1400 utility vehicle first produced *October 2015 **GEM eM1400 LSV first produced *October 2016 **GEM launches full redesign of e2, e4, e6, & eLXD models including lithium-ion battery offerings

Vehicles

, the GEM neighborhood electric vehicle is the market leader in North America, with global sales of more than 50,000 units since 1998. *Passenger Vehicles: ** GEM e2 LSV — A two-passenger vehicle ** GEM e4 LSV — A four-passenger vehicle ** GEM e6 LSV — A six-passenger vehicle *Utility Vehicles: ** GEM eLXD LSV— A heavier duty version of the GEM with a bed, which comes in several different configurations, and a cargo capacity. ** GEM eM1400 LSV— A heavy duty GEM based on the Polaris ranger with a bed with a payload capacity.

Gallery

Image:2june 2007 453.jpg, Image:2008-09-06 GEM car charging 1.jpg, Image:GEM e4.jpg, Image:NEVMexico.jpg, Image:GEMcar.jpg, Image:GEM e6 5458 DC 03 2009.jpg, Image:NewYorkFlushingParkingLotSecurityVehicle.jpg,

References

External links

* {{Automotive industry in the United States Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1992 Battery electric vehicle manufacturers Companies based in Fargo–Moorhead Car manufacturers of the United States Low-speed vehicles Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States Manufacturing companies based in Minnesota Manufacturing companies based in North Dakota