Chrysler launches 2011 line of battery-electric vehicles

Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars LLC (GEM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC, recently launched the 2011 GEM vehicle line of battery-electric vehicles. The GEM line is the market leader in the low-speed vehicle industry and more than 45,000 vehicles are on the road worldwide.

“The 2011 model year marks our 13th year in designing and distributing 100 percent battery-electric GEM vehicles,” said Rick Kasper, president and chief operating officer for Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars LLC. “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.”

New for the 2011 GEM model year is the energy monitoring system, which allows drivers to determine the total amount of energy in kilo-watt-hours (kWh) that the GEM vehicle has removed from the grid. By using the trip meter, odometer switch in the vehicle, drivers can view the energy saving information right on the vehicle’s LCD screen. This feature is the first of its kind in the industry and allows drivers to actually see, and quantify, the positive impact that a GEM vehicle makes to the environment.

Also new for 2011 are four vehicle options including:

• 12-inch turf tires for off-road applications
• Right-hand-drive package that converts the GEM vehicle into the perfect police or security vehicle
• Short-bed package that provides a 34” x 48” cargo bed on the GEM e4 four-passenger coupe or the GEM e6 six-passenger shuttle vehicle
• Utility tie downs that allow cargo to easily be secured in any of the GEM utility vehicles

With a top speed of 25 mph and a range of up to 30 miles on a charge, GEM electric vehicles are perfect for short-distance transportation and are driven on medical and corporate campuses, universities, military bases, resorts, sports stadiums, gated communities and residential streets. Classified as Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the GEM vehicle line is street-legal in most states on roads posted 35 mph or less.

GEM vehicles are available in six models and can be customized with a variety of options and accessories. They can be used for running errands, driving to work or school, hauling equipment or transporting people around work facilities. With operating costs of only about two cents per mile, they have become an eco-friendly and cost-effective transportation alternative.