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Chrysler shows off GEM Peapod, the neighborhood electric vehicle/clown car
Take a golf cart, put a smiling face on the front and four seats inside, wrap it in a body that might have once been seen in an animated Disney feature, and what do you get? Peapod, Chrysler's answer for that pesky petroleum problem. The 1290-pound electric car is positioned as a neighborhood vehicle, aimed at planned communities, military bases, college campuses, and any other places where you won't get run over by poking along at a top speed of 25mph.
Don’t get us wrong — we love this little car with its four seats, iPod/iPhone dock, hands-free iPhone integration, 30-mile range (on a 6-8 hour charge from a standard 110-volt outlet), and kooky appearance that grows on you the more you look at it.
Could fill a niche, and we're sure Chrysler can get this cute conveyance on the road in 2009 as promised, because there are already 38,000 of its $10K predecessor on the road already. In 2000, Chrysler bought the North Dakota company formerly call GEM (but whose initials meant Global Electric Motorcars), and has now changed that name to GreenEcoMobility, added some cool design, and here's the result. So how about it, readers? Is Peapod the next-gen of neato electro-cars, or the next Segway?
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GreenEcoMobility, via De Zeen
By Tnerb at 1:06 PM ON 09/24/08
GEM it is. Love the looks, Chrysler has another winning design. BUT what about some power to go with it. 25mph or 40kph just doesn't cut it and 30 miles/50kilometers... well one or two trips per day is not worth the $20-30k they will charge for this enclosed golf cart. Come on Chrysler my scooter does a better job.
By CJW at 2:16 PM ON 09/24/08
I think it shares DNA with an AMC Pacer and a Segwey. It's nice to see Chrysler getting back to their core values and traditions: Hideous design and catchup technology.
It looks like a vehicle designed for exploring intestines.
By CarShow2008 at 6:17 PM ON 09/24/08
can you say HOAKY? better to stick with a Goss132 EV, or a tesla if you got the money. Goss132 is by far the cheapest, and made in the US so that makes it easy. Change out the batteries as i see fit. thats part of their program
By ke6drl at 10:15 PM ON 09/26/08
Looks good, but you can bet it will be too expensive. The GEM. shouldn't cost much more than a golf cart, but it does. Make the price point where low income people can get one and air pollution might just disappear!
By CaptainSurb at 10:22 PM ON 10/02/08
I own a GEM now, and it is hardly a golf cart. It has a front drive transmission, not a robber drive belt. It has cast iron control arms and spring-over-coil suspension and power brakes. Hardly a golf cart. And it really isn't much more than the cost of a golf cart--about $8600 new. This vehicle is made in America. It's also really fun to drive!
By Remo W. at 8:44 PM ON 10/23/08
Looks like crap on crap. I remember when cars had style and class.
By Remo W. at 8:51 PM ON 10/23/08
Man if one of these ever got hit on the highway. It would roll like a pool ball all over the field. That's what I call sinkin the 8-ball on the first shot. No one survives.
By judy gee1 at 2:49 PM ON 03/02/09
How much do these cars run in the united states?
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