Electric GEM Car

[yakers]

With all the talk about the Volt and the Leaf I was contemplating buying a GEM car. Anyone have one? Or a NEV? I don't know too much about them except for seeing them run around where used to work. They only go 25 MPH, the key question is actually range. Seem pretty simple and good around town on slow streets.

 

[73ss454]

I think you should opt for the Volt. It's cost is about 33K from what I hear and if your light on the pedal you can go 100 miles. Sounds like a great deal to me.

 

[ERD50]

Why spend that kind of money for such a limited use vehicle? $6-13,000 according to this:

5 electric cars you can buy now - GEM Car (2) - CNNMoney.com

and a 30-40 mile range. You can buy a decent used vehicle for that, and you won't be limited to streets with a posted speed limit of 35mph or lower. I couldn't get out of my neighborhood with that thing. And I can walk there.

edit: Note that while it says "now" in the title, the article is from 2008... I wonder how many of the predictions of "available in late 2008, 2009 or 2010" came to pass?

-ERD50

 

[ERD50]

Ah, here's one:

The article says (in 2008) -

Its maker, ZENN Motor Company Inc., claims its energy efficiency is equivalent to a gasoline-powered car getting 245 miles per gallon.

The Toronto-based carmaker recently announced plans for a highway-capable auto to go on sale in the autumn of 2009.

But the current (Nov 2010) wiki says -

In September 2009 CEO Ian Clifford announced that ZENN was ceasing car production to concentrate on selling its drive-train technology to other manufacturers. The company confirmed it will launch its 2010 model but not the CityZENN model. The company had only sold a total of 500 vehicles and cited slow sales as a reason for the decision.[1] In December 2009, the company made a further announcement confirming its new strategy and announcing that it will cease production of the ZENN LSV by April 30, 2010.[2]

Lotta money to put into something with such an uncertain future, IMO.

-ERD50

 

[yakers]

The one I am looking at is a 2000 with only 750 miles for $2,500, people do not put a lot of miles on these things, maybe that tells me something? A new set of batteries would cost $1,200 which the seller claims the current ones are good. If I drive it to the metro rail parking there is a free electric charging station. If I were still working I could actually get that far on a nice back street. But we already have two cars & DW does not want another one. If it would replace one of our cars it would be compelling but thats not the case here. I'm sort of satisfied with the prospect of the whole deal but DW is not and thats kind of the end of it.

 

[ERD50]

If it would replace one of our cars it would be compelling but thats not the case here.

I guess I could see where it might fit the bill for some as a second car. At $2500 it could make economic sense (low insurance I assume). Low miles would be expected - it takes a long time to put on miles at 25mph.

I'm sort of satisfied with the prospect of the whole deal but DW is not and thats kind of the end of it.

I'm still trying to learn that! I'm stubborn, stupid, or both!

-ERD50

 

[Sam]

They only go 25 MPH, the key question is actually range. Seem pretty simple and good around town on slow streets.

Before you commit yourself to one with a 25mph (or even 40mph) top speed, I would suggest a personal real life test for a least one week: Use you current conventional gasoline burning car and limit yourself to that top speed at all time, no exception.

It's not fun to see a long line of vehicles in the rear view mirror driven by frustrated drivers on the verge of road rage.

 

[travelover]

I had a 50cc motorcycle with a top speed of about 40 mph and it very quickly became frustrating and dangerous to drive just because of limited acceleration and top speed. I'd pass on this opportunity.

 

[Sam]

I had a 50cc motorcycle with a top speed of about 40 mph and it very quickly became frustrating and dangerous to drive just because of limited acceleration and top speed. I'd pass on this opportunity.

My city scooter is an air cooled 250cc with a top speed of 74.4mph (tested it myself). It cruises comfortably at up to 55mph. Anything above that is a strain on the engine and suspension. I avoid using it on roads with a 50mph or higher speed limit.

A 3 to 5 years old 250cc scooter with low mileage (usually less than 1,000 miles,) in excellent to mint condition are sold for $1,000 - $2,000 range. Fuel efficiency should be around 80 miles/gal. Maintenance is super simple and cheap if you do it yourself. Geico insures both my 250cc and my 500cc Ninja for $100/year (yes, $50/bike/year.)

 

[Bimmerbill]

We have a bunch of the GEMs here. I think I saw a TV segment about how horrible they do in crashes with "real" cars weighing many times what they do. I'd be afraid of driving one mixed in with other cars. Of course, they are probably about as safe as a motorcycle or scooter.

 

[travelover]

My city scooter is an air cooled 250cc with a top speed of 74.4mph (tested it myself). It cruises comfortably at up to 55mph. Anything above that is a strain on the engine and suspension. I avoid using it on roads with a 50mph or higher speed limit.

A 3 to 5 years old 250cc scooter with low mileage (usually less than 1,000 miles,) in excellent to mint condition are sold for $1,000 - $2,000 range. Fuel efficiency should be around 80 miles/gal. Maintenance is super simple and cheap if you do it yourself. Geico insures both my 250cc and my 500cc Ninja for $100/year (yes, $50/bike/year.)

I guess my point was that a vehicle that can only go 25 mph is a pain to own unless you are driving it around an area closed to regular vehicle traffic.

 

[Sam]

I guess my point was that a vehicle that can only go 25 mph is a pain to own unless you are driving it around an area closed to regular vehicle traffic.

Agreed. Even a 40mph top speed vehicle has no safe place in traffic, even city traffic.

 

[Sam]

We have a bunch of the GEMs here. I think I saw a TV segment about how horrible they do in crashes with "real" cars weighing many times what they do. I'd be afraid of driving one mixed in with other cars. Of course, they are probably about as safe as a motorcycle or scooter.

I'm not promoting motorcycles. However, compared to these "golf cars", motorcycles are safer simply because they have the power to stay away from trouble spots.

 

[Texas Proud]

The other problem you have is safety.... what happens when that drunk driving an F-350 plows into the side of you doing 40


I have a neice that has one... she lives in a neighborhood that has BIG yards... and they use it to get around the neighborhood... this and golf carts are common there... but it never gets out of the neighborhood....

What do you do on a cold day OR hot

 

[Sam]

The other problem you have is safety.... what happens when that drunk driving an F-350 plows into the side of you doing 40

Not to belittle the safety aspect but what difference would it make if you were driving this golf car or a conventional car? In either case the damage done by that F-350 would be the same, for all practical purposes.

 

[Texas Proud]

Not to belittle the safety aspect but what difference would it make if you were driving this golf car or a conventional car? In either case the damage done by that F-350 would be the same, for all practical purposes.

OK.. lets change it to 25.... now I am still alive in my car... the person driving this electric car is dead...

And there is a possibility that I can live even at 40 in a car as there are side curtain airbags and steel beams helping out... none in this...

 

[Walt34]

I had a 50cc motorcycle with a top speed of about 40 mph and it very quickly became frustrating and dangerous to drive just because of limited acceleration and top speed. I'd pass on this opportunity.

That was the reason I didn't get one of those. There's a short stretch where I need 50 mph uphill and a 50cc just doesn't have it.

Then I beat the bushes for 6 - 7 months looking for a suitable used motorcycle, but at a time when gasoline was $4/gal and headed higher they were grossly overpriced. A few were asking more for a used bike than sticker on a new one!

So I ended up with a touring bike that's just under 1500 cc and in hindsight I'm glad I bought the larger bike. It was heavily discounted because I bought it in December and the dealer clearly wanted it out the door. Mileage is usually about 45mpg but I did get 50 once.

 

[Midpack]

It's not fun to see a long line of vehicles in the rear view mirror driven by frustrated drivers on the verge of road rage.

May be different where others live, but this would not be an issue where I live. I seriously considered an NEV for commuting. But in the state/county where I live, an NEV is not allowed on any road with a posted speed limit of more than 35. They would not be allowed on major roads where speed limits are 45, 55, etc. I can go the back way to work and stay on 35 mph roads most of the way, not all of it. I asked the county if they'd allow me the exception to drive for a few short stretches on roads with higher limits (in the interests of promoting environmental citizenship) and they said absolutely not.

So you might check the laws/regs where you are. The laws where I am make buying an NEV a non-starter...

 

[Sam]

... in the state/county where I live, an NEV is not allowed on any road with a posted speed limit of more than 35.

Thank god for that! Are you sure about 35? 35 seems high to me. 25mph would be more reasonable.

 

[Rustic23]

Texas low speed vehicle Law
Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs), also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), and golf carts are regulated by state and federal laws. Registered, titled and insured NEVs may be legally driven at a maximum speed of 35 mph on public roads with a posted speed limit of 45 mph or less, unless a city or county ordinance prohibits their operation.

 

[HFWR]

Most of my driving is the commute to/from the asylum. A vehicle with a range of about 25 miles, including a/c and the radio, and with capabilities of 45mph would do it for me. But I really don't want two vehicles, so it's a non-starter for me.

My subdivision is landlocked, so I have to use major streets to get about anywhere...

 

[Lazarus]

If we were talking about a car that had a one gallon gas tank that could only go 35 MPH no one would ever buy one. Change that to electric with the same range and performance and now its a good thing?

 

[Rustic23]

Lazarus,
Make that 45, and go about 100 miles on that gallon of gas, sell it for less than ten thousand and you might have a run away best seller. I have a Honda Ruckus scooter, 50cc engine, 80-100 mpg, 40 mph, and it cost two thousand. I use it for most of my trips to the mail box, 2.5 miles away, and such, not so much in the winter. I would pay a couple thousand more to get an enclosed vehicle. Trips are short, so AC, even here in Texas, would not be mandatory. Most folks here use their golf cart, and they go about 20 mph.

 

[Lazarus]

You could be right. If I had an electric car with a solid 100 mile range that cost 10K I might be interested. I still would not pay more for an electric than a gas car unless the performance was compariable and there was a cost savings operating it.

 

[Rustic23]

The leaf has the range, but a $34,000 price tag is ridiculous! A Honda Fit will run you about $15,000, with the Leaf's gov. subsidy, it would be about $27,000. If you drove the 100 miles 5 day a week and your electricity was free, you would save $2,000 a year if gas was $3.00 a gallon. It would take you 6 years to make up the difference, not counting the time value of money, or the replacement of the battery pack that would be looming. Golf carts make since if you can use them in your neighborhood safely. There problem is speed. The fastest one in our neighborhood is about 22 mph.