California environmentalists have recognized Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler company, for its leadership in bringing environmentally-friendly technology to the state's residents. The company produces the nation's best-selling street-legal all-electric, zero emission vehicles, the GEM.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - California environmentalists have recognized Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler company, for its leadership in bringing environmentally-friendly technology to the state's residents. The company produces the nation's best-selling street-legal all-electric, zero emission vehicles, the GEM.
Global Electric Motorcars, a Fargo, North Dakota-based manufacturer received the Blue Sky 2007 Merit Award from WestStart-CALSTART for its "strong and enduring commitment to advanced transportation technology when many other companies were not even considering such options."
GEM began selling vehicles in California a decade ago and nearly 14,000 vehicles are now in use in the state. GEMs have been shown to reduce vehicle emissions when used instead of conventional vehicles for short trips. GEMs are used in a variety of settings, including planned and retirement communities, city centers, college campuses, state and national
parks, and business and industrial centers.
"The people of California have enthusiastically embraced GEM vehicles from the moment we first introduced them to the state in 1998," says Larry Oswald, Director, GEM and Electric Vehicle Product Team at Chrysler. "We are honored to be recognized for our contributions to the state's environmental efforts."
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WestStart-CALSTART is a non-profit organization based in Pasadena, California, dedicated to encouraging the growth of the advanced transportation technologies industry and its related markets, with the goals of cleaner air, improved energy efficiency and creation of high-quality jobs.
GEM produces six fully-electric vehicle models including two-, four-and six-passenger cars and utility vehicles. GEMs meet all Federal safety standards for low-speed vehicles and are legal in about 40 states. More than 35,000 GEM vehicles are in use worldwide, and GEM vehicles have been driven a combined 150 million miles and spared more than 100 tons of pollutants from reaching the air, while saving 7.5 million gallons of gasoline.
GEM vehicles are eligible for incentives and tax credits from clean-air districts and other governmental agencies.
WestStart-CALSTART's Charles R. Imbrecht Blue Sky Innovation Award(TM) recognizes outstanding marketplace contributions to advanced, sustainable transportation that cleans the air, improves energy efficiency and reduces
greenhouse gas emissions.
Award winners are selected by a multi-disciplinary selection panel made up of environmental and industry leaders, including representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Lung Association of California and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The awards will be presented in September in ceremonies in Pasadena.
More information on WestStart-CALSTART and the Blue Sky Innovation Award can be found at http://www.calstart.org/info/bluesky .
