Almost lost in Chrysler's surprise announcement last week that it would be building four separate electric vehicles were the details on one tiny car in particular. Green Car offers an in-depth look on the GEM Peapod, a car that it calls "a docking station on wheels" with its built-in iPhone and iPod integration in the center console.

The report said that the Peapod is constructed with an aluminum spaceframe held up by a dual A-arm front suspension system with coil-over shocks and rack-and-pinion steering. "Buyers will have a choice of either six flooded electrolyte 12-volt lead acid batteries or optional maintenance-free batteries," the article said. "The Peapod's 72-volt electrical system will have an on-board charger that will top off the batteries in six to eight hours from a standard 110-volt outlet."

This is what industry types refer to as a NEV, or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. The Peapod will only have a top speed of 35 mph and a range of about 30 miles. What makes them special is that, aside from not requiring any gasoline or other fuel aside from electricity, they also put out zero emissions, and are ideal for gated communities, urban areas, and other low-speed situations (similar to what ZAP offers).