Thursday, January 14, 2010

Wheels


Detroit Auto Show: Chrysler's Electric Star, the Gem

By PAUL STENQUIST


 
Paul Stenquist for The New York Times Chrysler's Gem is a neighborhood vehicle, with a top speed of about 25 miles per hour.

It's not easy to find Chrysler's world-beater plug-in electric vehicle at the Detroit auto show. You have to work your way past the Ferraris, Fiat 500s, Dodges, Chryslers and Jeeps. There, tucked in a corner, you'll find Chrysler's green transportation star: the Gem. Chrysler has sold more than 40,000 Gems since 1999 and reportedly owns about 70 percent of the neighborhood electric vehicle market.

Some might tell you that the Gem is no more than a golf cart, albeit a golf cart that's available in six different configurations. But consider that the little Gem sprints to 25 miles per hour rather promptly, thanks to the torque of its electric motor. Zero to 60 comes at, well, infinity, and its top speed is right around 25 miles an hour. That means it's awesome power can be unleashed on roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less in more than 40 states. Rechargeable on standard 110-volt household current, Gem has a range of about 50 miles on a single charge. With safety glass, three-point seat belts, turn signals, headlamps, brake lights and more, it meets federal safety standards for low-speed vehicles.

Despite the fact that the Gem's performance is somewhat limited in comparison to, say, a Tesla plug-in electric, the Gem's build quality is comparable to, well, a golf cart. The doors shut with a pronounced shudder. High-gloss plastic is applied abundantly inside and out, and the dash features a rough-textured material that looks like the underside of a fiberglass body panel.

Nevertheless, Gem is a regular means of transportation in warm-climate beach communities and suburban neighborhoods. Because it's apparently a money-maker for Chrysler, we have to wonder if it will soon be rebadged as a Fiat and sold in Italy.

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