Acadia GEM

Shaun's Five-Minute Review

My wife Carrie and I live in downtown Bar Harbor and our street sees quite a bit of movement from Acadia GEM’s electric vehicles. Every time one drives by, I think that I really want to try one of those. They just look fun! Recently, I got my wish when Carrie and I rented an Acadia Gem vehicle for an hour on a Friday evening.

I had the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It was like I suddenly wasn’t a local and was exploring Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in a whole new way.

First off, let me just say that the staff that we interacted with during the rental and familiarization process were awesome! Super friendly and amicable. As far as driving instruction, I believe that they can only give you one good tip that you need to know and that is that the vehicle will not stay stationary on a hill without giving it some gas. Otherwise, it rolls, following gravity’s advice. 

There was nothing that I didn’t like about this vehicle. I am a strong advocate for side-view mirrors, constantly preaching to everyone in my family how important they are, but in the GEM? They weren’t needed at all. We had great weather and opted for no doors on the vehicle. Without the doors, you are practically in a fishbowl. The entire roof and side of the vehicle all the way down to door height was clear! There were no pillars to speak of so there was an almost 360-degree view. Who needed sideview mirrors?

Again, I cannot believe I wrote that.

Anyway, once we were underway, I quickly discovered that these vehicles will only do 25 mph. I mean pretty much exactly. But man, that is the beauty of it! There is no better way to tour the park than at a slow, safe speed with no doors. It pretty much puts you right out in the woods. I truly enjoyed the heck out of myself for the hour that we had this vehicle, both intown and on the Park Loop Road!

Plus, when you get back in town, you can chat with your friends who may be walking by while you wait in traffic for that idiot trying to parallel park up ahead of you. Plus, if you don’t have the doors on and you curse at the idiot, they may actually hear you! That might not be a bonus.