Fargo-Made Vehicle Receives Federal Approval

1 July 1998

    FARGO, N.D., June 30 -- Global Electric MotorCars, a Fargo
firm, has announced that its GEM Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is
included in a new classification of federally approved "low speed vehicles"
which may now be driven on community streets if they meet certain safety
criteria. The classification was created in a June 9 ruling by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
   GEM is the first multi-purpose NEV automotive-engineered for both street
and turf. Manufactured by Global Electric MotorCars, L.L.C., 3601 7th Ave. NW,
Fargo, it is the only NEV produced in the United States.
    Global CEO Mike Hofer said the ruling affects NEVs and other electric
vehicles such as golf carts that have top speeds of 20 to 25 miles an hour.
(GEM travels at speeds up to 25 mph.)
    "Under the new rule," Hofer said, "electric vehicles traveling over 20
miles an hour, including thousands of golf carts now used for transportation
in retirement communities and on golf courses, will be required to have seat
belts, headlight, windshield wipers and other safety devices before they can
be used for street travel."
    "GEM, however, already comes with anchored 3-point seatbelts, headlights
and windshield wipers as standard equipment, Hofer added. "GEM's other
standard safety features include four-wheel hydraulic brakes, rack and pinion
steering, safety-glass windshield, front-wheel drive, tail lamps, front and
rear turn signals and stop lamps."
    Hofer said the NHTSA ruling is intended to set up safety criteria for low
speed vehicles (LSVs) and provide individual states with uniform regulatory
guidelines. The ruling does not alter the ability of states and local
governments to decide for themselves whether to permit on-road use of LSVs and
golf carts.