Just in case you forgot,
Tesla isn't the only electric car game in town, and while the noted manufacturer is said to be working on its own crossover utility vehicle, this here
Lotus ZAP-X electric version of the APX crossover is all thanks to Lotus and the Zap! guys. Lotus is, of course, bringing those hip-cool stylings and aluminum frame, but Zap! has replaced the V6 gas engine with in-hub electric motors, which can provide a combined 644hp, and vault the vehicle to 155 mph. Zap! is claiming an impressive range of 350 miles, with a 10 minute charge -- though we're guessing you aren't going to pull that kind of juice out of your regular ol' wall jack. If that's not enough for you, an auxiliary power unit with even more batteries is planned, and since the motors are in the wheels, there's plenty of room in the hood for such add-ons. Says Zap! of the ZAP-X: "The innovative placement of the power train leaves the space previously occupied by the conventional engine and drive train for additional battery capacity and amenities, making it a very consumer-oriented electric car concept. These design features will give the ZAP-X crossover the structural strength, and potentially storage and range that no electric vehicle has yet achieved publicly." Not too shabby at all. Unfortunately there's no word on when you'll be able to get one of these into your driveway, or how much it'll cost you, but the vehicle is definitely planned for a US release, so it's only a matter of waiting.
posted Jan 30th 2007 11:46PM
ZAP! also planned many things for release here in the US and you still can't really get them.
As far as I'm concerned it's vaporware until it is actually here, but even if they are really expensive we still need someone to buy the early ones to get the battery tech pricing down.
I think we definately need a term for cars that never get released, but vaporware dosnt seem right.
How about... exhaust :-D
ZAP! could certainly use some new stuff. Their website's terrible & their scooters, bikes, etc (previously their core) isn't even on the site anymore. Plus bringing over the Smart Car & Obvio isn't going to do much for them as a promoter of hybrid / battery technology.
Can we buy the motor and batteries? I'd love to put this in my Vdubb bus...seriously. Germany and even mexico have had the latest T5 version for nearly 5 years or more now with a diesel that gets 31mpg while the T4s here in the states are gas and get 14mpg. :( And the USA won't allow us to bring one over here because of EPA and NHTSA crash test rules, but you can bring a car that is over 25 years old...sounds like a money game to me.
Just do a search for "ev parts" or "ev motors" With a vehicle like yours, you'd have plenty room for building yourself. Shouldn't be to difficult a project, just need to figure out where to get the cash ;)
why is so much horsepower needed? That thing needs 180 horses, tops. Save some weight so it can have better handling, improve range!!
I think its about "me first mefirst. I did it first!!"
The design looks like a cheap Mazda 3 hatch rip off to me.
Thats funny, you are not the first person to point this out. Other blogs are as well.
I wish these cars were practical for those of us without garages (hello, fellow apartment dwellers). I am absolutely FIENDING for one of these electric cars but I have nowhere to plug in the goddamn recharger thing.
The Zap guys are running a scam, in my opinion. See here: http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=116D789249F23808&p_docnum=5&s_dlid=DL0107013106552117885&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_username=santarosa&s_upgradeable=no
With self-righteous statements about how it has innovated the personal electric transportation market, why is it that the majority of ZAP's sales and profits come from one of its subsidiaries that sells used cars at the corner of River and Fulton roads? How can ZAP and its management talk about protecting the planet and how electric transportation will change the world, and sell used cars to fund their erroneous statements? In fact, ZAP's latest debacle with SMART cars was another venture into fossil fuel burning vehicles.
When are we going to hear the truth about ZAP?
Sounds to me suspiciously similar to this car which is already on the road apparently. A Mini with all wheel electric drive and a impressive range!
http://www.pmlflightlink.com/archive/news_mini.html
Talk about expensive wheel replacements if you need to.
Isn't that a Mazda 3? The headlights and body, even the paint, are identical.
The problem with the Smart Car in America is that it's being sold as an expensive niche item, instead of as a cheap, affordable car for people who don't wish to drop $15,000 - $25,000 on a new car. I'd gladly pay up to $5,000 for a Smart Car, but not $20,000 by any stretch of the imagination.
They're treating it like a rare collectible rather than trying to get relative pricing arranged. That spells doom for Smart Cars in America. And all this is because the parent company in the U.S.A. doesn't want to tarnish their "image" with a cheap car. Jerks! Sell it to GM, then!
What a pathetic sad world we live in that's denying us of affordable electric cars. Bunch of greedy fvcking bastards(oil industries).
The cost target is $60 000, to be released in 2008
For an electric Lotus with these performance figures, this is a steal.
Numbers were given here:
http://news.com.com/2100-11389_3-6154854.html
" why is so much horsepower needed? That thing needs 180 horses, tops. Save some weight so it can have better handling, improve range!!"
That's the beauty of an electric motor is a big one doesn't use a lot of electricity to produce a small (i.e. cruising) amount of power. Unlike a V8 that sucks down gas just to idle, the only major impacts that having a higher powered electric motor has is the increased weight and loss of space (not much of either, especially relative to batteries). Well, and cost.
Tesla have brought the car to market now! Big difference on a maybe prototype trying to claim fame.
Go Tesla you good thing!!!
Wow, awesome concept... Looks like they went to the drawing board and "concieved" my 5-door Mazda 3. It's even closer to the MAZDASPEED 3. Way to go, guys.
its about Time we had soemthing like this. I really hate the oil companies
In this picture it does look like the Mazda but if you look at other pictures of the APX you can see it is quite different. It was made by lotus as a way to show that you could build a light weight aluminum frame that was safe. Which makes it ideal to be converted into an electric vehicle. I think it is hilarious that people are so in love with Tesla even though they have yet to sell a single car, pre orders dont mean anything Zap has had pre orders before. And if the Tesla does come to market its not in the price range of the average American. But more as a way for Hollywood elites and media friendly fortune 500ers (yea thats a word) and politicians to be green to gain more fans and feel good about themselves.