Jalopnik: chrysler gem

GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, Rock The Vote: Round One, Group Four

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:20:00 EDT

If you've already stepped into the voting booth for Group One, Group Two and Group Three of our first round of voting in our GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, you're ready to take a walk through these, the final 47 entries. We call them Group Four. Again, to remind everyone, voting in this first round — in all groups — ends at 11:59:59 PM tomorrow (Wednesday). The top five vote-getters from each group will move on to a final round of voting running from Thursday at noon to 11:59:59 PM Sunday. We'll announce the winner of the iPod Touch Monday morning (thanks to the good folks from GEM at Chrysler!). With that, here's group four, hit the jump for the poll. Remember to vote early — and come back in an hour for the last of the four groups! As always, standard contest rules apply.

GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, Rock The Vote: Round One, Group Three

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:20:00 EDT

When you're done punching through the chads in Group One and Group Two of our first round of voting in our GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, take a gander through these 47 entries in Group Three. Again, to remind everyone, voting in this first round ends at 11:59:59 PM tomorrow (Wednesday). The top five vote-getters from each group will move on to a final round of voting running from Thursday at noon to 11:59:59 PM Sunday. We'll announce the winner of the iPod Touch Monday morning (thanks to the good folks from GEM at Chrysler!). With that, here's group three, hit the jump for the poll. Remember to vote early — and come back in an hour for the last of the four groups! As always, standard contest rules apply.

GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, Rock The Vote: Round One, Group Two

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:20:00 EDT

If you enjoyed voting in Group One of our first round of voting in our GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, you're going to love the 47 entries in Group Two. What's that you say? You haven't yet voted for your top pick from Group One? Well, maybe you should remember to do that! Just to remind everyone, voting in Round one ends at 11:59:59 PM tomorrow (Wednesday). The top five vote-getters from each group will move on to a final round of voting running from Thursday at noon to 11:59:59 PM Sunday. We'll announce the winner of the iPod Touch Monday morning (thanks to the good folks from GEM at Chrysler!). With that, here's group two, poll after the jump. Remember to vote early — and come back in an hour for the next group! As always, standard contest rules apply.

GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest, Rock The Vote: Round One, Group One

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:20:00 EDT

OK, put down your pens, pencils and mice — time's up. Now comes the fun part — voting for the best of the best of the GEM Peapod photoshop contest entries and crowning a winner to receive the grand prize — an iPod Touch (courtesy of the folks with the GEM team at Chrysler)! And while fun, it's going to be a huge job. We received an amazing 188 p-chopped entries of the happy little electric car for "gated communities." That's way too many for our piddly-dink poll software to deal with, so we've gone and split them up into four groups, each with 47 entries. We'll run all four rounds today, an hour apart. This first round of voting will run until 11:59:59 PM tomorrow (Wednesday). The top five vote-getters from each group will move on to a final round of voting running from Thursday at noon to 11:59:59 PM Sunday. We'll announce the winner Monday morning. With that, here's group one, poll after the jump. Remember, vote early — and come back in an hour for the next group! As always, standard contest rules apply.

Shiny, Happy Chrysler EV Really Called GEM Peapod

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EDT

We got a look at the Chrysler "Peapod" this morning, though at the time we didn't know it was actually the GEM Peapod. The "Global Electric Motorcars" all-electric range of "community vehicles" has been on sale for ten years now. The Peapod is the latest concept set up for a debut in GEM's 2009 lineup, which also gets an updated and greenwashed name - GreenEcoMobility (blech). If you're into the details of an electric, four-passenger, 25 MPH, 30-mile-range overgrown golf cart, there are plenty of 'em in the official press release below.

GEM Introduces Peapod Neighborhood Electric Vehicle – the Next Generation of Clean and Green Transportation – No Gas. No Emissions. Pure Electric.

* Chrysler LLC's neighborhood electric vehicle gets a new name - 'GreenEcoMobility' - and new styling that will define and set a new standard for environmentally responsible vehicles
* Sleek, streamlined styling and breakthrough innovations converge in the next-generation eco-friendly car
* More to come as Peapod leads expansion of GEM's 'no-gas, no-emissions' clean vehicle lineup

Auburn Hills, Mich., Sep 23, 2008 - Clean and green transportation gets a new look and feel as GEM, a Chrysler LLC company, introduces the next generation of clean, gas-free and emission-free, battery electric vehicles.

The vehicle’s innovative, groundbreaking design, with its striking pod-like shape and sleek lines, reflects the environmentally friendly nature that has been the hallmark of GEM since its founding 10 years ago.

The user-friendly mood of the vehicle, named the GEM Peapod, is enhanced with the newly designed center console that will offer iPod integration, as well as hands-free operation of the customer's iPhone. Other innovations include ergonomic, supportive, mesh seating, which enables air circulation for comfort and uses eco-friendly recycled and recyclable materials.

“We have evolved the GEM design language to better reflect its eco-friendly performance and its upbeat, positive image,” said Peter Arnell, Chrysler LLC’s Chief Innovation Officer who led the design process. “These vehicles use no gasoline and emit no pollutants. So whether it’s a trip around the neighborhood or the drive to school or work, the GEM Peapod is the ideal way to contribute to a greener planet, and a healthy lifestyle."

GEM will also get a new name – GreenEcoMobility, Arnell said, signifying the company’s goal to redefine environmentally friendly vehicles.

Chrysler will show the styling model for the production 2009 GEM at the company’s headquarters Sept. 23. The re-designed GEM is scheduled for production in 2009.

The Peapod represents the first in a series of product launches that will redefine the future of electric vehicles, said the company’s CEO Bruce Coventry.

“With this next generation GEM, we will broaden the market for this clean, emission-free technology,” Coventry said.

In addition to the 2009 GEM Peapod neighborhood electric vehicle, Coventry said, GEM has plans to market a new light-duty, battery electric commercial truck and a larger city electric vehicle, with more range and performance. These vehicles are scheduled for production within the next year, he said.

Today’s GEM is the nation’s No. 1 zero-emission electric vehicle, with 38,000 produced and in use. GEM vehicles are used in settings such as city centers, planned communities, military bases, college campuses, corporate and commercial centers, and city, state and national parks.

“Over the past decade, GEM has established itself as the nation’s leading battery-powered, pure electric vehicle,” said GEM President and COO Rick Kasper. “We have done that by responding to the needs of our customers for safety, utility, versatility and performance in environmentally friendly vehicles."

GEM cars are available in six models: two-, four- and six-passenger cars and three utility vehicles. GEM neighborhood electric vehicles have a top speed of 25 miles per hour, a range of up to 30 miles per charge (battery charge is extended through use of regenerative braking) and are street legal in more than 40 states. The vehicles can be recharged anytime, anywhere with a standard 110-volt outlet. Recharge time is approximately six to eight hours.

By replacing conventional vehicles, GEM vehicles can reduce overall emissions of pollutants, particularly during short trips when conventional vehicles create the most tailpipe emissions. GEM vehicles have been driven a combined 200 million miles and averted more than 150 tons of pollutants from reaching the air, while saving 10 million gallons of gasoline.

About Global Electric Motorcars
Global Electric Motorcars LLC assembles and markets neighborhood electric vehicles. The 10-year-old company is based in Fargo, N.D. For more information about the company and GEM vehicles, to build your own GEM or to locate a dealer, visit www.greenecomobility.com, or find out more about the Peapod at www.greenecomobility.com/peapod.

[Chrysler]