Banner year for electric-vehicle maker

Fargo, N.D.-based Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) has reason to celebrate, according to GEM President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Kasper.

“We employ over 100 people nationwide directly and have indirectly helped create about 500 more ‘green-collar’ jobs in the U.S. through our dealer, vendor and supplier relationships,” Kasper said. “It’s great to be experiencing our best year ever as we celebrate 10 years in business.”

GEM manufactures and distributes six models of battery-electric vehicles, including passenger and utility models. GEM vehicles drive the equivalent of 150 miles per gallon and cost about 2 cents per mile, according to the company.

U.S. government agencies already own thousands of GEM cars. The list of federal agencies includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Park Service, Veterans Administration hospitals, NASA, Capitol Hill and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the departments of Agriculture, Energy and Homeland Security. Local and state governments as well as colleges and universities also have acquired GEM vehicles for their fleets.

GEM cars offer lifecycle costs that are about one-third of gas-powered vehicles, and the vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, according to GEM. To date, GEM cars have been driven more than 250 million emission-free miles, and have saved more than 12.5 million gallons of gas, according to the company.