Which is a better electric car?

Question

We have been toying with the idea of buying an electric car. There are two we have become interested in, the Gem and the Zap. They both run around $10,000 new and have about a 40MPH top speed with 25 mile charging life. Have you ever driven/rode in one? Are they worth it? Would we be better off looking into getting a hybrid?

Answer 1

Also look at just how much energy went into producing the car and batteries. If building such a car pollutes the environment more than building a traditional gasoline-powered car, then this needs to be taken into account as well. Disposal of the batteries needs to be considered as well.

Answer 2

Both of those cars are neighborhood vehicles that are restricted to 35 MPH and are intended for short errands and commutes. They are perfect for the intended use.

They both use lead acid batteries or gel acid batteries which are easily recyclable.  If a NiMH or even a Ni Cad battery pack was used the heavy metals could still be recycled. The cost of manufacturing them is less than a gasoline powered car because there are simply fewer parts to make for them and they are smaller.

As to which is better, you have to make up your mind as to which one fits your needs better.

Answer 3

No I have a Honda Civic and I have got 40 mpg. That is better than the hybrids and the new ones do better than that.

Answer 4

If you're in a private community they are both fine, the GEM would be my first pick.

If you don't live in a private community and have to use public roads, you can only use them on roads with speed limits no higher than 25 m.p.h.

My mother lives in a private community and everyone uses golf carts and lawn tractors to get around, one neighbor does have a four seat GEM, nice but very over priced, now another neighbor has one that looks like a 57 Chevy...very cool!

The ZAP three wheeler comes from China...enough said about that one.

Answer 5

Probably a hy.  It might make a good second car, a grocery getter but for sole transportation, I personally feel that it is short on delivery.

Answer 6

I have never driven one, but 25 miles range is pretty short and 40MPH top speed is pretty slow. And I bet that is with new batteries, it will probably degrade as the batteries age. I bet after a couple years of use you'll be getting 15 miles range at 30 MPH. And I bet it doesn't have air conditioning. That is OK in Seattle or someplace like that, but in Texas where I live, I would not enjoy driving home from work on a 100 degree day in heavy traffic on that hot pavement in the blazing sun with no air conditioning!

Now, if you only need to drive 5 or 10 miles to work, or maybe 10 or 15 if you can plug in at work, and if you commute only on streets with a speed limit no higher than 40MPH, then I say $10,000 is a pretty good deal. But I commute 13 miles to work, 26 miles round trip, and don't have a place to plug in at work, and I drive the freeway part of the way. So for me that car would not have enough speed or range (oh, and no A/C).