Battery Vehicle Society

The golf-buggy derived GEM vehicles are back on sale in the UK, imported into the country by a company called ITF, based in Dorking.

You can find out more at www.gemcars.co.uk . The website claims the GEM cars are the best selling electric cars in the world, with sales of 40,000 vehicles over the past few years.

I can see why: in the US, they sell successfully as park estate vehicles, luxury golf carts and the alike. As road going vehicles, however, they're fairly basic.

All of that is understandable though when you see the prices in the US. The cars start from $6795 - which is £3450 based on the current conversion rates. The UK prices, however, are a bit different:

GEM E2 US price - $6795 (£3450)
GEM E2 UK price - £8250 + £395 delivery +VAT = £10,157.88

GEM E4 US price - $9695 (£4925)
GEM E4 UK price - £10,450 + £395 delivery +VAT = £12742.88

In other words, the UK price is TWO AND A HALF TIMES MORE than their US price. That is just silly - anyone can see these cars cannot hope to compete at this price point.

Another confirmation that we live in Rip Off Britain there sadly.

I am really looking forward to this summer when I can announce the availability of a new electric car that will completely wipe the floor with the GEM vehicles. Better performance and range for half the price, using the latest battery technologies.

I'm looking forward to you telling me about it!!!!

See you at the show

Mike,

Let us know if anyone puts pressure on you not to release these car details in the summer. promise?

Why would I want to buy a glorified golf-cart when there's much more interesting vehicles out there, eh Mike?

That's just stupid. So self-defeating as well.

If only they'd bring the prices of electric cars down they'd take off like a rocket. Sadly EV-dom is still awaiting its Henry Ford...

badnewswade wrote:That's just stupid. So self-defeating as well.

If only they'd bring the prices of electric cars down they'd take off like a rocket. Sadly EV-dom is still awaiting its Henry Ford...

I think it's about to happen possibly in the form of Tata

Might even see an Electric Jaguar or Land Rover since TATA brought them this year

You have to give the Indians credit, 1st the Reva then the Nano, really goes to show what a state the European Car manufacturing is in

Not so many years ago Europe was at the cutting edge of Automotive technology, Battery technology, Ship Building technology --- look at us now

electricvehicles wrote:Not so many years ago Europe was at the cutting edge of Automotive technology, Battery technology, Ship Building technology --- look at us now

Yeah sad isnt it, thats whats happened to the UK and Europe now we've somehow let a bunch of do gooder's into power that just want to make up and make us follow more and more daft rules and less about getting on and actually DOING stuff ..........sort of reminds me of somewhere else dosnt it you

Tut tut Chris did I really say that

ChrisB