Global Electric Motorcars

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Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) is a Fargo, North Dakota-based manufacturer of electric cars. The company was founded as in 1992 by a team of ex-General Motors engineers from Livonia, Michigan, under the name Trans2.

The company was nearly bankrupt by 1997, when it was purchased by a group of North Dakota investors. The company received its current name and was moved to Fargo. In 2000, the company was purchased by DaimlerChrysler.

GEM has produced more than 26,000 vehicles and currently offers four different models primarily suited to intra-city use. GEM vehicles have found use in fleet service, hospitals, military bases, airports, golf courses, and seniors communities.

Vehicles

The company produces five vehicles based on similar designs:

GEM e2 NEV — A two-seat vehicle similar to a golf cart
GEM e4 NEV — A four-seat version of the e2
GEM e6 NEV — A six-seat version of the e2
GEM eS NEV — A two-seat pickup truck
GEM eL NEV — A longer-bed version of the eS

The original vehicles operated on a 48-volt system with four 12-volt batteries and a 3.5 hp drive motor. Later models introduced an option of a 72-volt 5hp system, which is now used in all current models.

The 2005 models feature four-wheel disc brakes instead of drum brakes, and fully sealed electronics, as previous models suffered from electrical problems when driven in wet conditions.

All of the vehicles use a separately excited motor and controller from General Electric. The vehicles have a 72-volt battery pack provided by six 12-volt flooded lead acid or (optional) gel batteries.

External links

[Global Electric Motorcar site]

Members and holdings of DaimlerChrysler :
Chrysler Group: Chrysler \| Dodge \| Jeep
Defunct Marques: Colt \| Commer \| DeSoto \| Eagle \| Fargo \| Hillman \| Humber \| Imperial \| Karrier \| Plymouth \| Simca \| Sunbeam \| Singer \| Valiant
Mercedes Car Group: Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) \| Maybach \| Mercedes-Benz \| Mercedes-AMG \| Smart
Commercial Vehicle Brands: Freightliner \| Mercedes-Benz \| Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation \| OriOn \| Setra \| Sterling Trucks \| Thomas Built Buses \| Western Star
Participations in: EADS (30.17%) \| Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (85%) \| Freightliner \| McLaren Group (40%)

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