Trucks are hugely expensive right now. Even with Ram's fall from the consumer zeitgeist and it offering insane deals on its full-size pickups, and GM's new incentives on the turbocharged 4-cylinder model Silverado and Sierra trucks, they still cost two arms and five legs.
Add to the fact that repairs have become insanely costly, and those repairs being more intensive to complete than modern brain surgery, and it's easy to see why more and more folks who actually used to use their trucks for truck things aren't doing so anymore. They're switching to side-by-sides like Can-Am's Defender, Polaris' Ranger, and Kawasaki's Ridge, as they're the same price as old trucks, but can take a beating like yesterday's rug.
It's also why more companies are entering the segment, as the demand for utility side-by-sides is increasing with each year. Especially for those that can be made street legal where allowed. That's why the GEM eX exists, though instead of internal combustion, it's powered by electrons, and as we've discussed before, that makes a ton of sense for those doing work. And it's built here in America.
For those unfamiliar with GEM, it's a US brand out of Minnesota and is a subsidiary of Waev Inc., after a brief stint with both Polaris and General Motors. And it's most known offering is the brand's LSV all-electric golf-cart type vehicle that can be seen around the world. Basically, this is what Kawasaki's NAV is going up against.
But the eX is all-new, all-electric, and supposedly ready for anything. Though it's only rear-wheel drive.
According to Waev Inc.'s CEO Keith Simon, "UTVs are everywhere, but most are either cart-based or designed for recreation. Until now, there has not been a purpose-built, street-legal vehicle that is all-terrain capable, commercial-grade and affordable. The GEM eX changes that, delivering reliable electric power and all-weather comfort in a work-ready platform. Fleet managers have been looking for a vehicle that can meet the diverse needs of modern worksites – one that transitions seamlessly from city streets to off-road sites – and the GEM eX finally makes that possible."
As for specs, what you get is a rear-wheel-drive platform that's powered by a 8kW Lithium-ion battery that can be paired with either a 120v, a 240v, or J1772 EVSE charging cord, depending on the end user's needs. And because it lacks power going to the front wheels, Waev states the eX "powertrain is 20% more efficient than AWD alternatives." Which, sure, but also reduces your capabilities, though it doesn't seem like Waev's going after some of the utility side-by-sides mentioned above. Rather, it seems like the company is going after the municipalities that use golf carts for maintenance or locales where EVs make more sense than gas-powered machines.
That said, they're still fairly capable things, as the machine can operate between -20-degrees to 140-degrees Farenheit, as well as the battery being insulated and heated so that you don't lose life if you're working in somewhere like Chicago, Salt Lake City, or New York City. Likewise, payload capacity sits at 1,250 pounds, while the eX can tow another 1,250 pounds via its standard 2-inch receiver. The rear box can also pivot and is assisted with gas struts, just like the other utitlity-focused side-by-sides.
And again, GEM says that the eX is made to be street-legal by complying with local ordinances and DOT guidelines on roads that are under 35 mph. So yeah, you can't take it out on a freeway, but for small towns and cities that need vehicles like this, as my old town did with John Deere Gators, this would work. As from price, the Gem eX starts at $24,995, which isn't that bad considering what you're getting versus its competitors.
I still don't get why it's not all-wheel-drive, especially for winter locales, but that's just me.
"We’ve field-tested the GEM eX in every condition imaginable – from the deserts of Arizona to the winters of Minnesota – logging tens of thousands of miles," says Sven Etzelsberger, Director of Engineering at Waev Inc, adding, "We partnered with some of the most demanding customers, including U.S. military bases, major cities, leading colleges, and even global auto manufacturers. Every piece of feedback was built back into the vehicle, and the result is a work UTV that’s refined, reliable and ready to go to work across the world."
