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GWR
08-06-08, 01:38 AM
As advertised regularly in local English Language dailies. It's a Chrysler Offshoot. I thought they were made here, but now I'm not so sure:

Headlines > GEM electric vehicles' sales rising
GEM electric vehicles' sales rising
By Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation

http://www.gemcar.com/images/home/random/four.jpg

Global Electric Motorcars Asia, sole distributor of GEM brand electric vehicles, enjoys an increase in sales revenue of 30 per cent a year thanks to a rising oil prices and concern over global warming.

The company is in talks with several operators of conventions and exhibitions centres to provide GEM scooters for rent at the centres when having events or fairs, said Ekasit Kunanantakul, managing director of the company.

He said the GEM scooters was set to rent children and old persons who visit any fairs at the centres as main customer target.

"GEM scooter is alternative for tradefair attendance especially younger and older persons. They can ride scooter during the fairs because it is convenience and we considered that it is our opportunity to serve the market," he said.

GEM scooter is becoming a new trend of people, he said. Its price is range at Bt39,500 to Bt72,000 which lower than electric car with price start at Bt425,000.

The company shrew its scooter as well as electric cars and golf cars at the motorshow, which children preferred scooter including old persons led the idea to talk with MICE operators to provide scooters at the fairs.

The sharing revenue will be equal among the centres' owners and the company, said Ekasit, adding that it should have no any because it is a winwin deal.

Global Electric Motorcars Asia has been started in the past six years, which sales volume has soared in the past three years; the rising oil price is a factor to boost its sales.

Main revenue comes from leasing and selling with proportion 50:50 per cent.

"We have Bt50 million in the first year operation, sales growth is climbing to 300 million last year. Sales revenue increased by 30 per cent in average due to the rising oil price and concerning climate changes," he added.

With 97 per cent of clients is property segment including reports and hotels, he added that six star hotels in the south used GEM brand because it is more luxury electric car than golf cars.

He admitted that the car price seemed high, but if the state provides free tax like other countries in Europe and United States, the price will be reduced and more attract buyers.

Currently, tax for electric spare parts for electric car is 40 per cent.

Ekasit said that the company has attempted to ask for the transport ministry to register electric car, adding the registration of electric cars will more attract people to ride electric car on main road beside second road.

"GEM car is different from golf car due to its top speed is 75 kilometres per hour and 70 kilometres driving range per charge," he added.

The company has head office and service centre in Samut Prakarn where covers in nearby provinces and other at Phuket where covers in the South. Its technician staff has standby in the North and the Northern as well.

The company also exports to other country in Asia.

Report with videoclip:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/06/08/headlines/headlines_30074995.php

http://www.gemcar.com/

Note that the range stats in the following article are at variance with the above:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Electric_Motorcars

GWR
12-07-08, 08:23 PM
Thai researcher introduces fuel cell-powered car

BANGKOK, July 11 (TNA) – The Office of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has launched a prototype of a fuel cell car, urging the government to support its production for commercial use.

NRCT secretary-general Ahnond Bunyaratvej said the ten kilowatt fuel cell sedan was developed from 960 kilowatt fuel cell car by Air Marshall Morakot Charnsamruat.

The car is powered by electricity produced by proton exchange membrane fuel cells which transform the chemical energy liberated during the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to electrical energy.

The car can last about ten years. The car's maximum speed is 93 kilometres per hour and it doesn't emit smoke or noise, so it can help reduce pollution.

AM Morakot said a fuel cell car produced in other countries costs about Bt32 million but his prototype car costs only two million baht.

Hydrogen used in producing electricity to run the car came from factories in the eastern province of Rayong. He said about eight million litres of hydrogen annually are wasted from these factories.

The NRCT executive added that if the government supports fuel car production and hydrogen filling stations, the amount of hydrogen can serve about 126,000 cars. He added that hydrogen can also be produced by solar cells. (TNA)

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=5186