Global Electric Motorcars Help “Green the Capitol”

March 16, 2008 , Washington, D.C. -  Members of Congress are truly driving change with their purchase of a fully electric, sunshine yellow GEM vehicle as a part of the "Green the Capitol" initiative.

On April 2, 2008, at 1 p.m. EDT, Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) will be behind the wheel of the zero-emission vehicle, with Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dan Beard in the passenger seat.

The cars are manufactured in North Dakota, Congressman Earl Pomeroy's home state, by Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler subsidiary. “North Dakota is at the forefront of our nation’s renewable energy production, from wind power to biodiesel and electric vehicles,” Congressman Pomeroy said. “North Dakota’s renewable energy industries are leading the way, and companies like GEM are playing a major role. This partnership highlights how the ingenuity of a homegrown industry can create jobs and benefit the environment.”

Begun in March 2007, the Green the Capitol initiative’s mission is “to make the U.S. House of Representatives a leader in providing an environmentally responsible and healthy working environment for our employees and a showcase for sustainability,” according to the CAO’s website.

The goal of the "Green the Capitol" initiative is to make the House carbon-neutral by the end of the 110th Congress. In addition to incorporating alternative transportation options, efforts include the purchase of wind power and converting to natural gas in the Capitol Power Plant. Details on the initiative can be found at www.cao.house.gov/greenthecapitol.

“Going green is becoming a core American value,” said GEM President and COO Rick Kasper. “And, as an American company, it’s a great honor for GEM to participate in the 'Green the Capitol' initiative.”

Improving regional air quality is a vital part of the "Green the Capitol" initiative and the more than 36,000 GEM vehicles on the road nationwide have spared over 150 tons of ozone-forming tailpipe pollutants from reaching the air, while also saving nearly 10 million gallons of gasoline.

The Capitol’s GEM eLXD, a two-seater utility vehicle, will be used to haul equipment and people around the Capitol grounds as appropriate, according to Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard.

GEM vehicles are battery-electric and produce no tailpipe emissions. GEM employs more than 100 green collar workers at its plant in Fargo, supports a network of nearly 500 dealership employees and scores of vendors and their employees in the U.S. Information on GEM electric vehicles is available at www.gemcar.com. To learn more about
"Green the Capitol," visit http://cao.house.gov/greenthecapitol/.

About Global Electric Motorcars (GEM)
A Chrysler company, GEM has manufactured and distributed more than 36,000 neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) worldwide. They are being used in communities across the United States, by individuals, resorts, university and corporate campuses, master-planned communities, and local, state and federal government agencies, including the U.S. military.

GEM has been producing street-legal NEVs for 10 years. GEM vehicles have many of the same safety features as regular cars, such as three-point seat belts, automotive safety glass and lights, but are much more economical in price and fuel consumption. The company produces six versatile, economical, eco-friendly and safe battery-electric vehicle models, ranging from two-seaters to six-seaters plus three utility models, all available with a variety of options. They are also fun to drive.

GEM recently was recognized by WestStart-CALSTART with the prestigious 2007 Blue Sky Merit Award for its positive impact on air quality in the state of California, where nearly 14,000 GEM vehicles are on the road.

GEM cars have driven a combined 200 million miles and have spared over 150 tons of ozone-forming tailpipe pollutants from reaching the air, while saving nearly 10 million gallons of gasoline. GEM vehicles cost approximately one-third the cost of gas-powered vehicles to own, or about two cents per mile, the equivalent of 150 mpg. GEM cars are eligible for incentives and tax credits from clean-air districts and other governmental agencies.

For more information, to build your own GEM or to locate a dealer, visit gemcar.com.