Donated “˜gemcars’ green UCLA transportation

Quick, silent, clean and bubble-shaped ““ the UCLA
transportation service has a new fleet of electric cars, valued at
$1.1 million, but it didn’t pay a cent.

Late last year, Diamler-Chrysler subsidiary Global Electric
Motorcars donated to UCLA 127 low-speed, electric
“gemcars,” which sell for $7,000 to $9,000 apiece.

Gemcars are totally electric, zero emission vehicles that can
carry two to four passengers at up to 25 miles per hour, and run
for 35 miles on a six to eight hour charge. They plug into standard
110 volt wall outlets for charging, so UCLA will not have to
install or purchase any charging apparatus.

The donated cars will replace some of the old electric vehicles
that are currently in use on campus, diminish the need to purchase
traditional fuel powered utility vehicles, and quicken
transportation for workers who formerly traversed the campus on
foot.

Gemcars are categorized as low speed vehicles, and are legal on
streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

Global Electric Motorcars donated 184 of their gemcars ““
also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles ““ to the UC
system, 127 of which went to UCLA.

“We’re giving the types of organizations that have
the opportunity to use low-speed vehicles the chance to use them on
a large scale,” said Steve Shark, director of marketing for
GEM.

The new gemcars are also more maneuverable than either the
fuel-powered utility vehicles or the electric carts currently in
use, which makes them useful on small campus streets, said Sherry
Lewis, general manager of Fleet and Transit Services at UCLA.

“The gemcars will provide for transportation options that
we did not have in the past, and they are a major addition to our
alternative fuel program,” Lewis said.

Erin Walsh, a third-year chemical engineering student and
chapter president of the California Public Interest Research Group
““ whose mission is to “advocate and educate people
about environmental and social issues” ““ sees the
acquisition of the gemcars as a step in the right direction.

“These electric cars could be the first step for UCLA
going green and clean,” Walsh said.

Gemcars will be employed by departments as varied as athletics
and the night escort service, but their primary users will be
facilities management, housing and transportation — which includes
parking enforcement and parking services.

Gemcars will also be available to rent for campus businesses on
a daily basis.

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