Low-speed car gathers buzz (1/4ページ)

Chris Cole's ride to work is fueled by electrons, not gasoline.

In warmer weather, Cole uses his all-electric GEM car to ride the mile or so to his office Red Bank, N.J., or to go other places around town.

You can't call the car a speed demon. The GEM car, made by Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars unit, is in a class of cars that travel no faster than 25 mph. Called low-speed vehicles, by law they can only travel on roads where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or less.

Approximately 50,000 low-speed electric vehicles are in use worldwide. About 36,000 GEM vehicles, which sell for $7,500 to $13,500, are on the road in the U.S, according to Lawrence J. Oswald, chief executive officer at Global Electric Motorcars.