Saw a new EV fly past me today..

[Christopher Jordan]

Originally Posted by NoCO2

Hmm...3 wheels...third wheel in front...I'll pass thanks. But it would be a cool idea the other way around.

Available now, according to the ad:

[Christopher Jordan]

And tricked out?

[Christopher Jordan]

Originally Posted by Christopher Jordan

tricked out?

Tricked out! (Eat your heart out Pimp My Ride! )

[NoCO2]

Yay, they got it right finally!!!

[ihatejoefitz]

I see one of the zap trucks almost everyday, pretty cool little vehicle.

I've noticed it has a motorcycle plate on it. Hmmm.

[Christopher Jordan]

After research; the rendering I posted was a project May 2007, several dead links later I found this link: http://www.spark-ev.com/ Sounds pretty much like it never passed the rendering. I might never know. Nice aerodynamic design. After all those Harley trike flips, my own clumsy flip on a delta trike, and and those Honda ATV trike flips; I can only hope these made it through public scrutiny.

[fshagan]

Wired Magazine did an expose on Zap:

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretran...6-04/ff_zapped

The Xebra is the only car they are selling in any numbers, but they will be happy to take $100,000 from you in return for being named an exclusive distributor of their upcoming car, the ZapX:

The all-electric crossover SUV — due sometime in 2007 — would not only produce 644 horsepower, rocketing it from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a Ferrari-esque 4.8 seconds, but would travel 350 miles on a single 10-minute charge.

Zap also claimed to have locked up distribution of the Smart car (even after Daimler Chrysler told it the deal was a no go) and that the Xebra has a top speed of 40 MPH and a range of 40 miles ... it has a top speed of 34 MPH and a range under 20 miles ... and stalls going up hills.

[TomEV]

The problem with modifying the ZENN is that it is a NEV, and legally can't do more than 25 MPH (35 in some places). Why spend time modding a car that will get you a ticket for going 26?

IMHO the reason NEVs are limited is not really for 'safety' (how many motorcycles are produced?) The real reason is that if a microcar such as the ZENN were legally allowed to go 45+ MPH, and had an actual, no BS 45 mile range they would be an ideal city-class vehicle, and would probably sell like hotcakes. Particularly in light of gas prices these days... Where are these microcars produced? I'll give you a hint - NOT the United States!

Since US manufacturers would rather fight the future, and seem unwilling to produce anything electric that has a chance of public appeal (the GEM etc. have their place, but too golf-cart like for most people to even consider), they continue to produce much the same thing they have been building since the '50s -AND make sure new city-class vehicles are prohibited by legislation.

The Xebra (some call it a ZAP because it is marketed by ZAP) is classed as an electric motorcycle, and doesn't have the same safety, etc. requirements that a 4-wheeled car has. Many people mod these so they can go faster (50 MPH or so) and I have heard claims that some have been modded to go more than 40 miles.

Biggest problem with the Xebra is quality control. Don't buy one if you want to just drive it. Almost everyone that has one reports mechanical and electrical problems severe enough to make it not work. Many dealers are able to fix the problems, but the best warranty is one you don't have to use.

[greenitup]

i heard that they are cheaply produced. They are cheaply manufactured in china 11,000 is pretty cheap for a new car. I'd need a little more range, and a bit more speed 45-50 would be nice.

[fshagan]

Originally Posted by TomEV

The problem with modifying the ZENN is that it is a NEV, and legally can't do more than 25 MPH (35 in some places). Why spend time modding a car that will get you a ticket for going 26?

IMHO the reason NEVs are limited is not really for 'safety' (how many motorcycles are produced?) The real reason is that if a microcar such as the ZENN were legally allowed to go 45+ MPH, and had an actual, no BS 45 mile range they would be an ideal city-class vehicle, and would probably sell like hotcakes. Particularly in light of gas prices these days... Where are these microcars produced? I'll give you a hint - NOT the United States!

Since US manufacturers would rather fight the future, and seem unwilling to produce anything electric that has a chance of public appeal (the GEM etc. have their place, but too golf-cart like for most people to even consider), they continue to produce much the same thing they have been building since the '50s -AND make sure new city-class vehicles are prohibited by legislation.

You think the automakers are the ones who encouraged the safety equipment that makes "cars" much heavier than the NEVs, that are exempt from the regulations? The automakers fought, tooth and nail, every safety and emission requirement we forced on them, just as they have fought every mileage standard. The only time they produced high mileage cars in the mid 1980s was in response to consumer demand. When that waned, they produced what consumers were demanding, which were bigger, "safer" cars and trucks (and with oil at $13 a barrel, that kind of decision makes sense for those not concerned about the environment or national security).

The fact that these forums are full of people now is only in response to higher prices. Get gas back down to $2 a gallon, and everyone will be buying big trucks again, and the market for high mileage vehicles will once again tank.

Anyway, I doubt you mod a Xebra carry enough batteries to give it a 100 mile range at highway speeds. I haven't seen one in person, but one person I corresponded with bought one, and said you wouldn't feel safe going over 30 MPH in the thing. I seriously doubt you could add a few hundred pounds to it to extend the range.