The Lab has a fleet of low speed electric vehicles (LSEV) that are directly owned by the divisions but maintained by Fleet. These vehicles are GEMs and Club Cars and are often just referred to as GEMs.
Obtaining a GEM/Club Car
There are two different options for obtaining a GEM/Club Car for your division:
- Receive a repurposed old GEM/Club Car if one becomes available. This is free but you will have to pay for ongoing maintenance and repair. Reach out to Fleet@lbl.gov if you’d like to learn more about this option. (If the unit requires repair that the previous custodian didn’t want to pay for, it may be transferred to the new custodian if new custodian agrees to pay for the repair.)
- You can get a quote for a new vehicle and purchase it with your division funds. Toyota Material Handling and California Speed-Sports are GEM vendors we’ve used in the past. Nick’s Golf Carts is one vendor we’ve used in the past for Club Cars. Be sure to specify that you need a front license plate bracket and that all accessories should come installed. Fleet approval is required prior to purchase.
Maintenance Schedule
GEMs and Club Cars receive preventative maintenance every 90 days. The cost is $177 every 90 days. Club Cars are $105/month for battery watering for non-preventative maintenance months. GEMs and Club Cars receive preventative maintenance every 3 months per this schedule.
Club Cars require battery maintenance every month except on the service rotation due to the wet cell (lead acid) batteries. The battery maintenance entails, adding water as needed, cleaning off corrosion and replacing cables as needed due to corrosion wear.
Repair Costs
Repair costs include hour rate of $162 for labor plus the cost of parts. Safety items will be automatically approved for repair. Repairs that can be done on the spot will be taken care of immediately. Other repairs, a quote will be provided to the vehicle custodian for approval.
