OTTAWA, October 28, 2003 -- The PlasmaCar, the revolutionary and fun new ride-on toy from Ottawa's PlaSmart, Inc., has been honoured with a 2003 Gold Star Toy Award from The Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS).
 
The NETS Gold Star Awards are geared towards finding toys that provide fun at a reasonable cost, and the PlasmaCar met the demanding criteria. Over 50 experts were involved in the selections, and winners were chosen by the owners and staff of Canada’s independently operated toy stores. In addition, a vast amount of feedback from families was considered. “PlaSmart is delighted that the PlasmaCar has been chosen as a Gold Star Toy by NETS,” said Tim Kimber, PlaSmart's President and CEO.
 
Why is the PlasmaCar a winner? The toy features an innovative design and super-simple operation that makes it easy for kids to use. "The PlasmaCar ride-on toy has no batteries, gears or electrical parts,” explained Kimber. “The energy comes from turning the steering wheel continuously from left to right. This makes the car move forward at speeds of up to 10 km/h . The PlasmaCar can easily go forward and backward, and steering is a snap,” he added.
 
The PlasmaCar, the brainchild of Chinese inventor Hongzhi Bao, harnesses the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force and friction.