All about GEM® Electric Cars

With advances in technology come better and better vehicles every year. Gasoline engines are getting more powerful, they’re making hybrid cars that have more torque than ever, and best of all, the all-electric vehicle is on the rise! While other vehicles are improving, they’ll never catch up with the convenience and efficiency of an EV (Electric Vehicle), because you never know when gas prices will skyrocket again. Not to mention, these zero-emission cars make you feel good about driving, as you’ll perform all your daily commuting without burning one drop of fuel. If you’d like to get on board with this eco-friendly trend, while also benefitting from the savings on gas and added convenience, come check out our new GEM electric cars at Richmond Equipment. We’re located in Richmond, serving Houston and San Antonio, Texas.

What’s an All-Electric Car?

The first key aspect of an electric car is it’s motor — that is, it relies on electricity instead of gasoline or diesel. This is actually completely different from the engines in hybrid cars, which still use a fuel-powered motor. While hybrid vehicles take charge from the battery to generate torque, they pair that with fuel from the engine. This makes delivery much more efficient, but they still rely heavily on gasoline. Fully electric cars, on the other hand, don’t have a drop of fuel in them. These wonderful vehicles power an electric motor with a controller, which is charged by a series of batteries. Just like you fill up your gas tank, these batteries can be recharged at electrical stations. The result is a completely functional vehicle that releases zero emissions through the exhaust. Not to mention, you save a bunch of money on gas by driving one of these efficient cars.

For those of us who really like to cut back on our carbon footprint, an EV is one of the best choices we can make. You don’t need gas, which means no emissions from you and no drilling from the people harvesting fuel for your vehicle. Of course, electric companies still create emissions to bring you your power, but these aren’t nearly as potent as the ones released from a gas-powered engine. Without a doubt, you’ll feel good about yourself and the planet when you drive one of these cars.

Picking the Right GEM Car for You

Electric cars are getting a lot more popular nowadays, so GEM makes a nice selection of EVs for different needs and applications. Smaller passenger cars are great for everyday use, as long as you don’t ever plan on bringing more than two people with you. There are other electrical passenger vehicles from GEM that can carry up to four people, and even one that seats a driver and five passengers. That’s just about as much room as a minivan, meaning you can bring the whole family along without burning a drop of gasoline.

If you’re looking for a vehicle for work, though, GEM makes utility trucks too! These can haul anywhere from 1,250 to 1,400 lbs, depending on the model. These are great for the worksite and for the road, providing you an efficient way to haul your materials anywhere you need to.

Tips for Owning an Electric Vehicle

You’re probably used to driving a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, so there’s going to be a few adjustments you have to make when driving an electric car. This will be tricky and maybe even a little frustrating at first, but with practice, you’ll see how these things can be way more convenient than any fuel-powered vehicle.

Your EV’s Range

While a gasoline engine can get up to 300 miles on a single tank, the farthest you’ll ever drive on a fully-charged battery is about 70-80 miles. This sounds a little inconvenient, but keep in mind that you’ll never have to go to a gas station again! You can charge it from home, or even at a charging station. Nonetheless, you should take some time to learn how to get the most out of your charge. Use every opportunity you have to take your foot off the accelerator, like when you’re going downhill or rolling to a stop. Also remember that GEM EVs have their highest torque at 0 mph, meaning you don’t have to push too hard on the pedal to get moving. Once you get used to the style, you’ll have no problem pushing your car to its maximum range.

Charging

Like we mentioned earlier, one of the best things about electric cars is that you don’t have to take them to the gas station. However, you do need to be diligent about charging them up whenever you have a chance. Although they’re initially expensive, we strongly recommend installing a home charger. You can “fill up” every night, and still make it to work and back, if your round-trip commute is under 80 or so miles. If you don’t have access to one of these tools, or simply prefer charging up at public stations, you can get a monthly subscription or pay as you go. These are extremely convenient, since you can find them just about everywhere, but they’ll be a little more expensive in the long run than using your own home charger.

There’s a bit to get used to with a GEM electric car, but it’s pretty clear that the benefits and savings outweigh the costs of the learning curve. These vehicles are becoming more and more trendy for short-distance commuters, so if you want to start saving money and the planet, don’t hesitate to test drive one this amazing technology! You can check out our full lineup here at Richmond Equipment at our dealership in Richmond, near Houston and San Antonio, Texas.