CALIFORNIA MAYOR WINS GEM ELECTRIC CAR

The grand prize: A real GEM

February 10, 2008—Executives of Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler company, presented Brentwood, Calif., mayor Robert Taylor with the keys to a new electric car on the floor of the NADA exposition. Taylor was awarded use of the car for one year at a meeting of California mayors. The four-door sedan is fueled completely by electricity and can reach up to 35 mph and cover about 30 miles between charges. Taylor, a self-proclaimed “green mayor” who lives in a solar-powered house, said he’s planning to organize a contest with his local school system in which students who do well in school will win a ride in the GEM car. “I’m actually going to probably drive this more than my own vehicle,” Taylor said. GEM has sold more than 30,000 vehicles since its launch in 1998.