The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today announced that Global Electric Motors (GEM), the largest producer of electric vehicles in the United States, has donated 50 electric vehicles for use at Logan International Airport and other facilities. The two-passenger zero emission GEM vehicles are the most recent addition to a well established alternative fuel program at Logan Airport.

"We are extremely grateful to GEM for selecting Massport to participate in this program," said Massport CEO Craig Coy. " Massport is committed to testing and utilizing clean fuel vehicles at Logan Airport and the GEM vehicles will provide efficient, zero emission transportation."

GEMs are classified by the federal government as Low Speed Vehicles (LSV), with a top speed of 25 mph. They are ideal alternatives to full-size automobiles for short trips, as well as a primary people mover on corporate, academic and military campuses. Particularly suited to areas with both public and private roads between buildings, the GEMs will be used at Logan Airport, Hanscom Field, the Port of Boston and Piers Park in East Boston

Massport has been a leader in the field of alternative fuels and Logan Airport has served as a testing ground for a number of cutting edge alternative fuel programs and technologies. Massport began converting its Logan-based shuttle buses in 1995 and now all 33 of the shuttle buses operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). Logan Airport is also home to the region's largest CNG filling station. Massport has worked closely with environmental agencies and airport tenants to encourage airport companies to convert their fleets to alternative fuels. Currently 28% of Massport's Logan-based fleet operates on clean fuels.

Massport's efforts were recognized when the agency was named "An Alternative Fuel Hero" by the US Department of Energy. More recently, Logan Airport's CNG bus fleet was awarded "Concept Most Likely to Reduce Transportation Emissions" at the state's first conference on alternative fuel vehicles.

GEMs went into production four years ago in Fargo, ND. Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler. For more information on the company, visit the website at www.gemcar.com.

More in this Section