Industry Report: DaimlerChrysler GEM Electric Cars Transport World Leaders at G8 Summit

GEM Electric Cars Painted in G8 National Colors

To say that the world's politicians are out of touch with reality is often an understatement. What, with their

This GEM e4 electric vehicle was painted in the stars and stripes to transport President and First Lady Bush, as well as other representatives from the United States during the 2004 G8 Summit in Georgia. (Photo: GEM, Stephen Morton)

entourages always close at hand and parades of high-priced executive limos surrounded by oversized SUVs stuffed to the gills with armed secret service agents ready to pounce at a moments notice on anyone who looks even remotely subversive, they live normal lives like anyone else - not.

While this scenario might come across slightly more Hollywood than Washington, the reality of the electrically-powered, zero emissions DaimlerChrysler GEM executive shuttles transporting world leaders

DaimlerChrysler corporate officials on hand to hand over an assortment of customized GEM electric vehicles prior to the G8 Summit are (left to right) CEO, GEM and Director, DaimlerChrysler Larry Oswald, President and COO, GEM, Rick Kasper, and Director of Sales and Marketing, GEM, Russ Kiefer. The GEM e4 EVs were specially painted in official colors for the each of the eight countries in attendance, for the June 8th through 10th Savannah, Georgia event. The zero-emissions GEM cars were chosen as part of an effort by the Sea Island Summit Planning Organization to create a "green" summit. (Photo: GEM, Stephen Morton)

around at this year's G8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia seems even more out of touch.

After all, the 2004 G8 summit is being held in America. For a quick reality check, drive the streets of Atlanta, or any one of the most powerful nation's major cities and a plethora of gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles line the lanes. From Chevy Tahoes and Suburbans to Nissan Armadas, they're big, bad and about as environmentally friendly as a do-gooder environmentalist's toxin-spewing 1970 Volvo station wagon.

But there's nothing like the opportunity of a photo shoot, showing socially conscious politicians whizzing around in glorified golf carts to stir up the warm fuzzies in all of us.