GEM and EV Rental Cars Bring Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Rentals To Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 10 -- Looking to capitalize on the City of Santa Monica's love for setting trends, Global Electric Motorcars and EV Rental Cars are teaming up to launch California's first-ever ``beach rental'' business featuring the GEM neighborhood electric vehicle.

Beginning April 10, 2002, EV Rental Cars and Global Electric Motorcars, LLC (GEM), a DaimlerChrysler company, will establish a literal beachhead for the new rental business in the heart of Santa Monica's historic Main Street business district.

The newest EV Rental office will be at The Victorian, a renovated turn-of- the-century house located at 2640 Main Street, a block from the beach and host to the renowned Santa Monica Farmer's Market. The EV Rental Cars program will open its doors with eight GEMs and expects to be renting 50 of the innovative NEVs throughout the city by the end of the year.

``For visitors and local residents who really want to experience the beauty of Santa Monica, we think the GEM is an irresistible cruising option,'' says GEM President Ken Montler. ``Because it's an open air vehicle, it's totally silent, and it doesn't pollute, the GEM is a vehicle that will get you where you want to go and make you feel good about getting there.''

Terry O'Day, chief operating officer of EV Rental Cars, says his company's successful track record of renting alternative fuel vehicles at some of the nation's busiest airports offers the right background for the new venture.

``The success of EV Rental Cars and our track record of making and growing businesses around alternative fuel vehicle rentals proves there is a market for these products in California,'' O'Day says. ``We're thrilled to once again be pioneering a business model that is good for customers and good for the environment.''

``We're excited about partnering with a company like EV Rental Cars that has the vision and ability to move forward and be a leader with GEM in promoting vehicles that will have a positive impact on the community,'' says Montler. ``We look forward to a growing business in Santa Monica and elsewhere renting GEMs to both tourists and local residents.''

The EV Rental Cars' pilot NEV program will offer both two- and four- passenger GEMs, and rentals will be available to hotel guests and walk-up customers. The special introductory rate for GEM rentals will be $25 for one hour, $45 for two hours, and $80 for the day.

EV Rental Cars began rental operations in December of 1998, with a fleet of 11 cars at Los Angeles International Airport, and has grown to more than 350 cars at 14 airport locations in California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. The company also sells alternative fuel vehicles. One can call 877-387-3682 or visit EV Rental Cars on the web at www.evrental.com for more information.

The affordable GEM neighborhood electric vehicle is designed for downtown driving, college campuses, formal and informal office campuses, planned communities, industrial parks, military bases, resorts, and similar localized uses. It costs only pennies per mile to operate and is easily charged by plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet. GEM complies with all applicable federal safety laws.

With prices starting under $7,000, GEMs are available in two- and four- passenger models as well as short- and long-bed utility versions. Global Electric Motorcars, LLC, is the largest U.S. producer of street-legal electric vehicles. DaimlerChrysler Corp. purchased it in December 2000. Marketing GEMs is part of DaimlerChrysler's continuing effort to develop, produce, and sell the world's most environmentally friendly vehicles.