The ZAP-X Electric Crossover - 155mph, 644 bhp, AWD, 10 minute recharge, 350 Mile Range
from Automotive (1095 articles)
February 2, 2007 In a marriage seemingly well matched, electric automobile pioneer ZAP has chosen Lotus Engineering’s platform and body structure design as the basis for the development of the high performance electric ZAP-X. The car is based on the advanced APX (Aluminium Performance Crossover ) concept car and will be shown for the first time at the North American Dealers Association (NADA) exhibition which opens tomorrow (February 3). A combination of the lightweight aluminium vehicle architecture, a new efficient drive and advanced battery management systems is intended to enable a range of up to 350 miles between charges, with a rapid 10-minute recharging time. An auxiliary power unit is planned to support longer distance journeys. The good news for sports enthusiasts is the performance courtesy of a killer power-to- weight ratio. - four in-hub electric motors, deliver 161 bhp apiece, which add together for 644 horsepower in all wheel drive mode, and capable of powering the ZAP-X to a top speed of 155mph.
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ZAP is targeting the $60,000 USD price range for the ZAP-X, with expected availability in 2008.
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Before you balk at the $60,000 price tag, keep in mind two things -
- The gasoline equivalent to the ZAP-X is the $100,000 Porsche Cayenne Turbo V-8, with a mere 500hp, the comparitively lousy torque curve of an internal combustion engine, and a very breakable 6 speed transmission (the ZAP-X doesn't need a transmission). If this were Deal or No Deal, and you took the Porsche, you would have made a bad deal.
- Given the longevity of electric drivetrains, a well maintained ZAP-X could run for 20-30 yrs or more. If car financers would take this into account and offer loans reflecting the durability of the product, the ZAP-X would be affordable.
But wait, there's more:
Almost any new technology initially has high unit cost before it can be optimized and this is no less true for electric cars. The strategy of Tesla is to enter at the high end of the market, where customers are prepared to pay a premium, and then drive down market as fast as possible to higher unit volume and lower prices with each successive model.
Without giving away too much, I can say that the second model will be a sporty four door family car at roughly half the $89k price point of the Tesla Roadster and the third model will be even more affordable.
Elon Musk, Chairman of Tesla Motors
The buzz on the net is that the Tesla sedan will be out in 2008 with a price tag between $50,000-$65,000 dollars. For a car that could last over twice as long as a gas car (you will have to replace the battery pack). After a few years of depreciation, these could be appearing on the used car lot for the same price as the average family sedan, with more life in them than the new gas car has.
And still more:
The Phoenix Motorcars sport utility truck can cruise on the freeway at up to 95 m.p.h. while carrying five passengers and a full payload, a capability that has caught the attention of fleet dealers, consumers, Hollywood and the media. It exceeds all specifications for a Type III ZEV and has a driving range of 130 miles. Its battery can be recharged in less than 10 minutes and has a life-span of 12 years or more.
Phoenix Motorcars' 2007 market strategy targets operators of fleet vehicles, such as public utilities, public transportation providers, and delivery services. This market presents a significant opportunity as there are more than 200,000 fleet vehicles in the State of California alone, with an increasing number of fleet operators now seeking freeway-capable, zero-emission, all-electric vehicles. A limited number of vehicles will be available to consumers in 2007 with an expanded-consumer launch scheduled for 2008. Phoenix Motorcars will introduce a SUV model in late 2007.
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Conclusion - if anyone killed the electric car, they must have forgot true slaying takes a wooden stake through the heart. Electric cars are back. It will take a few more years for them to become as cheap as the typical family car, but it's happening. I predict GM will build the Chevy Volt, or a car very much like it.
The new electrics are going to make the internal combustion engine less desirable than drum brakes. They aren't going anywhere this time.