EMISSIONS IMPOSSIBLE 'CLEAN' VEHICLES DONATED FOR CITY MAINTENANCE USE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Twenty-five tiny electric cars will carry city maintenance workers around Lancaster, replacing gasoline-powered carts, as part of the city's plan to cut emissions.

Hunter Dodge-Chrysler provided the 25 GEM cars, which are worth $223,000 and are manufactured by a Daimler Chrysler company, Global Electric Motorcars.

``We made a request to GEM and asked for 24,'' said Tim Fuller, who owns the auto dealership with his brother Tom. ``They gave us 25 for the 25th anniversary of the city of Lancaster.''

The donation allows the city to replace aging vehicles with cars with zero air emissions. At the same time, the donation showcases the car for the dealership, which the Fullers say is among the top five GEM dealers in the nation.

The GEMs have a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 30 to 35 miles on one charge. The cars are powered by 72-volt General Electric motors, and each operates on a pack of six industrial 12-volt batteries.

Each car has an onboard charger that can be plugged into any 110-volt outlet. It takes about eight hours to fully charge the battery pack.

GEM gave the city three four-passenger cars and 22 utility vehicles - 16 with long beds and six with short beds.

``They are more than GEMs; they are jewels,'' said Mayor Frank Roberts.

The cars will be used by the city's Parks, Recreation and Arts department to replace the maintenance vehicles used at city parks, the soccer center, the baseball stadium and the Prime Desert Woodlands. The cars will also be used for maintenance of downtown facilities and at special events and sports tournaments.

The cars fit in with the city's goal of promoting the use of vehicles that do not use gas or diesel fuels.

In the 1990s, Lancaster joined other government entities and private businesses to form the Clean Cities Coalition. The group is one of 80 such coalitions nationwide that have joined the U.S. Energy Department's Clean Cities program, a voluntary program to reduce air pollution by promoting alternative fuel usage.

The coalition's goals include increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles and refueling stations and supporting alternative fuel legislation.

The Antelope Valley Clean Cities Coalition includes the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District, the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, Los Angeles County, the California Energy Commission, representatives of utility companies, aerospace companies and private businesses with vehicle fleets.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Employees with the Lancaster Parks, Recreation and Arts department applaud as 25 electric cars are donated to the city.

(2 -- color) This battery pack lies under the seat of one of the vehicles.

(3) The 25 electric vehicles donated to the city of Lancaster sit in rows in the Public Works maintenance yard.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer