Electric vehicle expected to aid police department
BY LARRY RAMER
Staff Writer

MARLBORO — A 1,270-pound, four-wheel vehicle powered by electricity that can be used to conduct off-road patrols and covert investigations will be purchased by the township.

Known as a GEM, the vehicle is manufactured by Global Electric Motor Cars, a division of Daimler Chrysler, according to information distributed to the Township Council by Marlboro Police Lt. Douglas Van Note. Global Electric Motor Cars has its headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota.

The vehicle has been in existence for about three years, according to Van Note. It is considered a “multipurpose neighborhood electric vehicle.” The GEM is powered by a 72-volt GE motor and a battery pack comprised of six 12-volt batteries.

“The GEM can be used quietly for investigations and [to patrol] concerts, Marlboro Day and the aquatic center,” Van Note told the council during its meeting Sept. 9. “It can be used for quiet investigations and it can be driven on the road at 35 mph or slower. It’s an all-purpose vehicle.”

On Sept. 23 the council voted 4-0 to approve the $12,400 purchase. Council members Barry Denkensohn, Joe Per-nice, Grover Burrows and Patti Morelli voted in favor of the purchase. Council-man James Mione was not present for the vote.

“We are purchasing this vehicle for a very reasonable amount,” said Denken-sohn, who called the GEM a “funky” vehicle.

The GEM will also be used to assist people who need emergency medical treatment on bicycle trials, Van Note said.

Police learned about the GEM when the department was looking for a vehicle that could be used to assist people on bicycle trails, Van Note told the council.

Last year the police department decided to buy a six-wheel vehicle called the GATOR in order to perform rescues on trails. However, the $12,000, six-wheel GATOR cannot be used for any other purpose, so the police decided to look at other options.

“We realized it was a waste of money to use the GATOR just for trail rescues,” Van Note said. “Driving the GATOR on the paved roads destroys its transmission.”

Police found out about the GEM and decided to pursue the purchase of that vehicle.

“We found the GEM ... which can be used for other avenues for the police department,” the lieutenant said. “Once we found out the GEM could be used on the roads, it made the vehicle even tastier, so to speak, to use for our department. We can get many more uses from the GEM than the GATOR.”