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alternative energy
Zap Opens First Dealership In Davis, California, Stereotype Reinforced
If you live in central California and have a hankering for a Zap Xebra sedan or Zap Xebra truck, do we have good news for you. Zap opened up their very first dealership in Davis, California last week, and just in time for this week's Earth Day. We're sure the EV's will do pretty well in the extra crunchy college town, but the 45 MPH top speed and dynamically unstable two-in-the back design will probably limit the car's general appeal. We just can't help but wonder how the tricloptic little jellybean would do when fully 'Busa enabled. Maybe eventually they'll sell the Zap X or Zap Alias there, but we're skeptical after reading all about Zap's shenanigans recently. More »
electric cars
ZAP Alias Electric Sports Car Ready For Production In 2009, Priced Around $30,000
ZAP has a long history producing electric cars, though not always the best looking electric cars. Given their history, we shouldn't dismiss the ZAP Alias electric car quite as quickly as we might with other manufacturers. Even if their claim is to build an electric car with a range of 150 miles, a 0-60 mph time under 6 seconds, a top speed over 100 mph. That they claim that this whole package will come in under $31,000 is what's worth being hopefully skeptical about. And will it perform? Given that car is part of a joint venture with Lotus Engineering, who helped with the Tesla, this could be for real. We'll hear more after the National Automobile Dealers Association meeting early next month. Reservations start at $5,000. Press release below the jump. More »
detroit auto show
Automotive X Prize Showcase Coming To Detroit Auto Show
We previously mentioned that the good folks at the X PRIZE foundation would be bringing X PRIZE entrants to Detroit, and now we've got a full list of all the cars that will be vying for the $10 million prize. For those not in the know, the X-PRIZE will be awarded to the company that can build and market a 100 MPG equivalent vehicle that meets market needs. Competitors include Aptera, Tesla, ZAP and others. We'll be tracking down these mileage seekers next week. Full press release and list below the jump.More »
news
Would The ZAP Xebra Pay For Itself In London?
We previously mentioned that the Zap Xebra Electric Dorkmobile was headed to England. With congestion pricing in effect in London, electric cars are exempt and get drastically cheaper parking. Further, there are free charging stations located around London that theoretically provide free fuel. Assuming a 260 day work year at $55 a day parking plus a $16 a day congestion toll and $12 per day on fuel, you get $21,580 a year for a petrol-powered auto. With no congestion toll, free fuel and just a $1.54 a day parking fee the cost is only $400 a year. Subtract $400 from $21,580 and you get approximately the cost of two ZAPs. Looking like a dork saves money! Full press release below the jump.More »
industry news
ZAP Gets UK Approval for Four-Door Electric Dork-Mobile
The Brits have approved Zap's little Xebra four-door electric car, opening the door for public sales. Though awkward by American standards, the Xebra could be considered "handsome" on the British scale, which is why it may be a small success across the pond. Oh, that and the fact that driver's don't have to pay congestion tolls or have to fill it up at a cost of £5,000 a litre. Press release below the jump: More »
alternative energy
Chilean Power Company to Distribute Zap Electric Cars
It makes perfect business sense — a power company responds to serious air-pollution problems by allowing customers to finance electric vehicles on their monthly electric bill. It's happening — not in California — but in Chile, where the country's largest utility company, Chilectra signed an agreement with US-based Zap to distribute a full line of the company's electric bicycles, scooters, mopeds and, presumably cars. An initial order includes the Zap Power System electric bicycle kit, the ZAPPY3 and ZAPPY3 PRO personal electric transporter, as well as the new Zapino moped class electric scooter. According to the company, Chileans spend around $30 per month using mass transit. Under the monthly payment plan, the electrical customer can own the vehicle within 36 months. No word yet on whether the plan will cover Zap's planned e-cars like the Obvio 012e (shown) or the Lotus-sourced APX concept. Of course, there's no sign of a delivery date for those, either.
found on ebay
Cycloptic Zap-amino: The End of World Is Nigh
Trolling through the "Other makes" section of eBay motors I stumbled on this... thing, in all its glory(?), the Zap Xebra. First of all, Xebra? I'm wondering if the marketeers thought replacing a 'Z' with an 'X' would make it hip and/or extreme — because it didn't. The third-eye headlight is hipper than the "X," but that's not saying much. Now, I'm a chassis engineer, so the implications of a vehicle with a single, load-bearing front wheel incite a mathgasm that indicates this is not a good idea. But hey, it's electric, so it has to be good, right? You can go up to 25 miles at a smashing 40 mph, so why not? (hint: lots of reasons, including bodily harm) [eBay]
zap me baby one more time
Zap Says New High-Performance Electric Car On the Way
Add another high-end exotic to the electric-car universe, though lop off around $70,000 and a bit of range. This one's from Zap, the publicly traded company that forced DaimlerChrysler's hand by importing and federalizing Smart Fortwo models for the US market. The company says it's working up an EV that can hit 100 mph, go 100 miles on a charge and cost around $30,000. It uses the technologies outlined in the company's Zap-X SUV project, which uses a platform created by Lotus, but will arrive sooner. We'll get the first look at the yet-unnamed model on July 29, at the next Zap shareholders meeting. Could it be time to go long on electrics? [Thanks to Felix for the tip.] More »
alternative energy
Zap Releases Sketch Of ZAP-X, The 644 HP Crossover
Zap released a sketch of the new ZAP-X flagship crossover, which will feature electric in-hub motors with enough juice (664 HP) to propel the AWD mini-ute to 155 mph. As mentioned earlier, this vehicle is being developed on the Lotus Aluminum Performance Crossover platform. Though generally similar to the APX, this sketch indicates that Zap intends to take their crossover in an even sportier direction. Press release after the jump. More »
alternative energy
Danger, Danger, High Voltage! ZAP Introduces High Speed Charger
One of the drawbacks of owning an electric car, other than constantly being asked out on dates, is the slow charging time. Understanding it's not convenient for everyone to wait six hours in between drives, ZAP is offering a 100-amp/10,000-watt charger that'll juice up your Xebra in less than an hour. Of course, that's a $9,000 premium on top of a your $10,000 car (though it can quality for a 30% tax credit). As always, expect to pay green to be green. More »
alternative energy
Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV
Back when Lotus Engineering showed off its Aluminum Performance Crossover (APX) concept car at the Geneva show last year, most assumed it was a showcase for the company's new, lightweight architecture, and nothing more. But news hit the wire this morning that Lotus will use that crossover SUV as the basis for a joint venture with ZAP, the company that came to prominence last year for federalizing Smart cars and selling them in the US, despite being disavowed by DaimlerChrysler. The companies say the all-electric model will challenge the Tesla all-electric sportster in performance, with the equivalent of 644 hp and a top speed of 155 mph — and a range of 350 miles on a charge. No word on price, but the prototype will show up at the North American Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting and leisure-suit exhibition. More »
news
Be Eco-Friendly! Look Dorky! Buy a Xebra!
Here's the subhead to the Zap press-release regarding the new Xebra electric car: "New Electric Vehicle Appears to Be the Only Cost-Effective Alternative in the Nation as Oil Futures Hit Record High." Which means that apparently the Zap-federalized smarts are not cost-effective, nor is renting a car when you actually need one. Nor is telecommuting. Nor public transit. Nor riding a motorcycle. No, apparently, driving around in a vehicle that tops out at 40mph is the only answer to our problems. There was a reason that people seemed to be avoiding the Zap booth at the LA Auto Show? Yes. Said reason? People hate an annoying hard sell, and that's just what they were dishing out. Apparently, they haven't learned. More »
news
The Zaps on the Smarts
We've had a number of friends who've weaned themselves from Paxil, and one of the symptoms they mention due to withdrawals is sometimes known as "The Zaps," where one's brain feels mildly elecrocuted. They've also reported problems with delayed and/or inadequate orgasm. Which to us, means that we'll stick with our Morrissey records and long walks off short piers in times of depression. Oh, and we only have catastrophic medical insurance, anyway. Did we mention that Zap spent 10 mil to crack the Smart's computer? And they only plan to sell a little over 250 in the US this year? And that Dieter will probably render their efforts null and void by introducing a DCX-direct Smart in the US this year? Smart as Paxil? Why not? [Thanks to Scott for the tip.] More »
news
85 US Smarts to be Delivered via ZAP!
So the ZAP-types are apparently taking delivery of 85 federalized smarts to offer to dealers; one of the first is Tim Day, of Phoenix, AZ. We're really confused now. We suppose ZAP is some kind of interim-sorta niche-dealer network until DCX finally decides for sure that they're going to establish one of their own for the erstwhile Swatchmobiles, which Dieter says is increasingly likely. More »
news
Zap Serves DaimlerChrysler a Legal Jolt
Oh, you thought the saga of would-be US Smart car distributor Zap was over? It's not over, in fact the good part is just starting. The company filed a lawsuit against DaimlerChrysler, accusing the Smart owner of causing irreparable harm to Zap's business by refusing to fill its order for the Fortwos it planned to make US-ready. Zap is seeking $500 million in damages from DCX, which once intended to bring the Fortwo to the US, but was stopped by unfavorable exchange rates and DOT/EPA requirements. The company has repeatedly said it would never deal with middlemen like Zap, and is likely not pleased with the thought of its cars traipsing about the US with no control over their service and marketing. We'll see if this gets wrapped up before the next-generation Fortwo, rumored to be coming to the states, is completed (2008?). More »
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