N. Carolina Parks Using Solar Electric Cars to Replace ATVs
A North Carolina Parks Department has bought three electric cars as a way to lighten their impact on nature preserves.
Custom Solar Array
Two of the vehicles charge by plugging into the wall. The third has been specially retrofitted with a solar array over its flatbed, freeing it from the grid and allowing it to charge while in the field. The vehicles, which all have small flatbeds, will be replacing ATVs and trucks for hauling maintenance and landscaping materials. The Mecklenburg County Department of Park and Recreation bought the three GEM vehicles (Global Electric Motorcars - a Chrysler company) with help from the Solar Center at North Carolina State University.
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Global Electric Motorcars vs ZAP Xebra
GEM has been working on EVs for the past 10 years and has a pretty cool car coming down the line (although we’ll see how Chrysler weathers our current economic storm). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a GEM in person - most of what I see driving around Portland are the ZAP Xebras. Personally, I can’t get over the fact that ZAP Xebra cars and trucks have only three wheels. I know that it is totally a perception thing - but I just couldn’t see myself ever buying a three-wheeled car.
Image Credit: Image is in the public domain as it appears on the Mecklenburg Park and Recreation website.
Edit: Changed South Carolina to North Carolina.
I live in New Jersey, and a couple months ago my town had a festival where all the local businesses come out and advertise their services, and there are plenty of free things too.
One thing I learned there was that our sewage authority has its own GEM car to get around! I’ve seen it several times since then, even once while I was at school.
I really wish manufacturers would quit wasting their time with golf carts and build a true EV!
This is happening in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and not South Carolina. Thanks.
Thanks for pointing out that mistake Fred!
A significant difference between the GEMs and other low speed vehicles (LSVs) and the Zap Xebra is that the Xebra,because of its three wheels, is classified as a motorcycle. Therefore the Xebra is not constrained to a top speed of 25 mph like the LSVs. I believe the Xebra has a top speed of 40 mph which is a more convenient and efficient speed than 25 mph when using it as a neighborhood vehicle.
How many companies are taking the same golf cart platform and putting a different shell over it? Make mine look like a rocket ship, please. Then it could be a carnival ride. At least small children will get a thrill.
@Marc Cesare - you are quite correct about the Xebra not being constrained by the low speeds that restrict golf carts. ZAP is also offering several other exciting products such as the Xebra truck, the XL truck and soon the high speed sports car the Alias.
But,ZAP, isn’t that just constraint just a legislative issue? Are your 40 mph vehicles actually any safer than the (more comparable than GEM;) ZENN EV for example?
That’s an example of an EV restricted to 25 MPH, but I have driven both your ZEBRA and the ZENN, and I thought the ZENN felt just as safe as my daughters early 90’s VW Golf.
Sasha, I see GEMs all over here in Berkeley, at farmers markets and delivering flowers for small businesses.
They are actually not quite as goofy looking in real life… Target uses them to drive around their parking lots.
I even once saw a hopped-up one doing 40 on a 35 MPH road in an industrial park area in Fremont! Not for me; 40 MPH with no doors. (But then - I’d never get on a motor bike either, for the same reason; no doors!)