The Golf Cart Showdown

STREET-LEGAL CART SHOWDOWN · SLCS · TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA · How we make money — dealers pay for introductions; no brand pays for rank.

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus vs. GEM e6

By The Smith Family, reviewed by Brad · Independent, no paid placement · Last verified Aug 3, 2026

WinnerGEM e6

GEM e6 takes it. It wins on the better power. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation. The full side-by-side of verified specs is below — every figure carries a source and a verification date.

Key takeaways

  • The GEM e6 beats the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus on the better power.
  • The GEM e6 is a factory-certified LSV (NHTSA vPIC–verified); the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.

Head to head · Tampa Bay Edition

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus vs. GEM e6

COMPARISON · EVOLUTION-D5-RANGER-4-PLUS-VS-GEM-E6
LAST VERIFIED 08/03/2026
Evolution Electric VehiclesD5 Ranger 4 PlusGEMe6Winner
MSRP range$9,595
Top speed19 mph125 mph2
Range (high)86 mi2
Battery typelithium1lithium2
Battery capacity105 Ah1
System voltage48 V1
Seats4162
Length114.6 in1167 in2
Width55.8 in155.5 in2
Height79.5 in173 in2
Curb weight1,058 lb11,481 lb2
Motor power6.3 kW16.5 kW2
Motor power (hp)8.7 hp2
BrakesElectromagnetic (EM) brake; braking distance ≤9.8 ft1
SuspensionDouble-wishbone independent front, leaf-spring rear1
Display size9 in1
Warranty4 yr2
Battery warranty8 yr17 yr2
LSV certified (street-legal capable)No1Yes3
Ground clearance6.8 in1
Turning radius14.8 ft1
Range, normalized◆ computed~40 mi

◆ Range, normalized is our figure, not the maker's: each pack's energy at a standard 0.125 kWh/mile, the same on every cart — an apples-to-apples check on the “up to” range claims above, which are usually measured at 19 mph on the largest optional pack.

1 SOURCE: evolutionelectricvehicle.com · VERIFIED 07/14/20262 SOURCE: gemcar.com · VERIFIED 08/03/20263 SOURCE: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov · VERIFIED 08/03/2026

◆ The verdict

GEM e6

It wins on the better power. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.

Winner

Why it won

power6.5 kW vs 6.3 kW

◆ Price the fight — Florida out-the-door

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plusbase build · FL out-the-door

Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 PlusMSRP (verified)$9,595.00
FL sales tax (est.)6% state + 1.0% county surtax on the first $5,000$625.70
Title + initial registration (est.)FLHSMV: $77.25 new title + $225 one-time initial registration$302.25
DeliveryQuoted by the dealer — we never guess this number
Out-the-door estimate$10,523

est. $168.69/mo — 20% down, 7.5% APR, 60 mo. Confirm real rates with the lender.

GEM e6base build · FL out-the-door

No sourced base price for the GEM e6— we don't estimate what the maker doesn't publish, so this side has no ledger.

METHODOLOGY — what's verified, what's estimated
Cart MSRP and kit prices are sourced and dated (see each model page's receipts). Tax = 6% FL state + 1% county surtax on the first $5,000 (Fla. Stat. §212.05 / §212.054 — surtax varies by county). Fees = $77.25 FLHSMV new title + $225 one-time initial registration. Plate/annual registration vary by weight and county and are small. Delivery is quoted by the dealer — we never guess it. Your firm number comes from the named dealers in the quote step.
Compared & SourcedVERIFIED 08/2026

Green ✓ marks the better verified figure where the two differ. Verdict scored on the verified specs above — factory-LSV status gates the win.

Rather skip the configurator? Get a dealer quote on either cart:

Frequently asked

Is the Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus or the GEM e6 better?
GEM e6 takes it. It wins on the better power. It's also the only factory-certified LSV of the two — the D5 Ranger 4 Plus is street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation.
Are both the D5 Ranger 4 Plus and the e6 street legal?
The GEM e6 is a factory-certified LSV (verified against the NHTSA registry). The Evolution Electric Vehicles D5 Ranger 4 Plus is not a factory LSV — it's street-legal only by dealer package or self-attestation, so confirm before you buy.