Global Electric Motorcars – Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Take
Care of Your GEM
Answers to frequently asked questions about GEM® electric cars
answered for you.
Q:
What is a GEM® electric vehicle?
A:
GEM® electric vehicles are multipurpose, low-speed neighborhood
electric vehicles available for sale by Polaris®, a leading
manufacturer of off-road vehicles and motorcycles for nearly 60 years. GEM®
cars are 100% electric, battery powered, and comply with U.S. federal safety
requirements for operation as low-speed vehicles (LSVs). GEM®
cars are for sale at a variety of authorized dealerships across the United
States and worldwide.
Q:
Who is Global Electric Motorcars® (GEM)?
A:
The GEM® line of electric vehicles have been designed and
manufactured since 1998. Owned by Polaris Industries and produced in Spirit
Lake, Iowa, GEM® is the market leader in the low-speed vehicle
(LSV) industry and has sold more than 45,000 vehicles worldwide. These GEM®
cars have been driven more than 450 million miles and, as a result, have
saved almost 20 million gallons of gasoline. Our goal is to continue to
design innovative, environmentally friendly, worry-free and
low-cost-of-ownership vehicles that solve all your transportation or light
utility needs.
Q:
How fast do GEM® cars go?
A:
GEM®
models achieve a top speed of 25 mph, in line with Federal Low-Speed Vehicle
requirements.
Q:
What is a GEM® car's driving range on a single charge?
A:
Many things can affect the driving range of the GEM® car,
including ambient temperature, terrain, driving conditions, payload, driving
habits, battery age and tire pressure. It is hard to say exactly what your
range will be, but a typical GEM® car, used under proper
conditions with fully charged batteries, can get up to 30 miles on a charge.
The GEM® e6® with the nine 8-volt battery option and
the GEM® eL XD can have a driving range of up to 40 miles per
charge.
Q:
Where can GEM® cars be driven?
A:
GEM® cars can be driven on many roads with a posted speed limit
of 35 mph or less. It is an ideal vehicle for driving in work sites,
campuses, military bases, gated communities, resorts, sports stadiums, or
just around the neighborhood. Uses include running errands, commuting to
work or school, hauling equipment, transporting people, maintaining grounds,
or patrolling parking lots. Visit our
Markets & Applications
page for more information.
Q:
Where can I see and purchase a GEM® car?
A:
GEM® cars are available at authorized dealers throughout the
country – locate one near you on our
Find A Dealer
page.
Q:
How much does a GEM® car cost?
A:
With less maintenance and no fuel costs, GEM® electric vehicles
are significantly more affordable and cost-effective than traditional
gasoline-powered vehicles. Visit our
Cost Of Ownership
page to see how you can save by choosing GEM®. You can also find
current deals on our
Special Offers
page or find individual pricing on our model pages.
Q:
What’s new for the 2013 model year?
A:
GEM®’s performance has been proven around the globe. Our 2013
vehicles bring new refinements and innovations aimed at raising the bar
again:
•
2013 GEM® vehicles have higher capacity front brakes for improved
stopping power, improved front wheel bearings and suspension for
long-lasting performance and better ride, improved steering components for
greater control, and improved foot pedals ergonomics for easier operation.
•
Hi-Lo Beam Headlights and are now standard on every GEM® vehicle.
Adding style with a classic black trim, these headlights improve your
lighting while driving at night or in limited visibility.
•
A
Day-Night Mirror is also now standard.
With the flip of a lever, the interior rearview mirror option offers
the ability to reduce the reflectiveglare from the sun or vehicles that are
following behind you at night.
•
You’ve also got some new options to choose from when you order your GEM®.
MAXBOX, one of our most popular accessory items, is now available as
a factory installed option at order! Perfect for any commercial or
industrial need, this 44" high cab canopy box offers maximum storage and
protection for industrial or commercial needs. Available with either
fold-out or roll-up cargo doors.
•
Also added to factory options is a Dual Tool Chest, a double-set of diamond
plate tool chests with plenty of storage, lockable doors and a fold-out rear
tailgate section for a fully functional utility bed solution.
These new features help GEM® cars stand out from the competition
even more.
Q:
How safe are GEM® cars?
A:
Each of the six GEM® models meets all U.S. federal safety
standards for low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and is equipped with automotive
safety windshield glass, three-point safety belts, turn signals, headlamps
and brake lights, horn, mirrors and windshield wipers.
With thousands of miles accumulated on GEM test vehicles, you can be
assured that quality and safety are our top priorities.
Q:
What powers the GEM® car?
A:
GEM® cars are powered by a 72-volt-battery system, which provides
power to a custom controller and powers the electric drive motor. The GEM®
e2, GEM® e4, GEM® eS, and the GEM® eL
contain six 12-volt batteries, the GEM® e6® contains
six 12-volt maintenance-free gel batteries, and the GEM® eL XD
contains nine 8-volt maintenance-free gel batteries. Visit our
Service & Support
page for more information.
Q:
Is special equipment needed to charge the batteries?
A:
The batteries are charged with an onboard charger that plugs into a standard
110-volt outlet. It takes approximately six to eight hours to recharge a GEM®
car from a completely discharged state. In addition, with an optional fast
charge package, GEM® cars can be optimally charged in less than
one hour. The ideal time to charge is at night when the demand for electric
power is at its lowest, although the GEM® car can be plugged in
virtually anywhere, at any time, to top off the charge or to completely
charge the vehicle. Visit our
Service & Support
page for more information.
Q:
How much does it cost to charge a GEM®?
A:
It depends on the cost of electricity in your area. To fully charge a GEM®
car from a completely discharged state, it takes approximately 5 kwH of
power. Multiply that by the local cost per kwH and you will have the cost
for charging your GEM® car.
Q:
Will I damage the batteries if I plug the GEM® car in when it may
only need a partial charge?
A:
No. You can give your batteries an “opportunity charge” at any time. Whether
you are plugging it in for 30 minutes over your lunch or letting it charge
for four hours, there is no problem with topping your batteries off. The
best practice is to fully charge at the end of each day of use.
Q:
Do my batteries have a memory?
A:
No. Unlike the old cell phone batteries, you do not need to fully discharge
the GEM batteries before charging. We do recommend that you do not leave the
batteries in a discharged state for any length of time. Always try to keep
the batteries charged.
Q:
What types of options are available?
A:
Personalizing a GEM® car is easy with an array of options that
include everything from doors and custom wheels to a lockable TrunkBack™ or
other cargo carriers. Available colors include red, green, white, blue,
silver and black. Visit our
Build A GEM
page for more information and to configure yours exactly how you need it.
Q:
How much are GEM® car parts and aftermarket options?
A:
All GEM® car products are sold through authorized GEM
dealerships. Visit our
Parts & Accessories
page to view and price available options for all GEM models.
Q:
How do I become a GEM® dealer?
A:
If you are interested in becoming an authorized GEM® dealership,
please visit our Dealer Development
new dealer inquiry page on
www.polaris.com.