Eco Factor: Electric neighborhood car with solar panels on the roof.
Matra has just face lifted the GEM and developed a completely new model called “The UV”. Not only the name and the design have been changed, but the GEM has also undergone some serious technological changes that have provided more power to this small and cute neighborhood car.

The refurbished version of the car carries a more powerful 10hp electric motor that gets its juice from lithium-ion batteries for a maximum 150 km of green driving pleasure. The improved engine means that the car can now travel at 37 mph, which is 12 mph faster than the GEM. The car also carries some photovoltaic panels atop the roof, which give you an additional 5 km range, in case the main batteries run out of juice.
The Dark Side:
The slow speed and the not-so-good use of the solar panels are still a downside. Moreover, the car is not to be sold commercially, but will only serve as a technology demonstrator. We hope the commercial version of the car has something much better under its hood.
Source: Ecofriend.org]