More renderings of Zap's next vapor EV, the Alias
Zap is starting to trickle out some more information on their latest announced but as yet invisible project, the Alias. They first announced their intention to develop this new three-wheeler a couple of months ago and indicated that they would provide more details at their July shareholder meeting. Alas the only information that came out at that time was the name.
The Treehugger team now has some new renderings of the lithium polymer battery two-seater. The batteries will evidently be sourced from China's Advanced Battery Technologies and use nanoparticles like A123 and Altairnano. Lotus Engineering will be doing the development work and the plan is to build both the Alias and Zap-X in China, assuming either one ever sees the light of day.
[Source: TreeHugger.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zory 10:47PM (3/30/2008)
I just visited for ZAP. I've never seen so many electric cars in one place. It was real busy. Truckers coming in and picking up vehicles. I ask you, what other company is doing this every day? QC teams double checking the vehicles, unloading parts, phones ringing constantly.
I also got to see the Alias mule. I saw it. Not just photos. Maybe you should actually go to santa rosa too.
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GoodCheer 9:21AM (8/15/2007)
While my faith is ZAP is pretty thin, I will say that I do like the Alias concept.
Thing 1) Keeping to 3 wheels is a good way to get vehicles on the road with far less bureaucracy (i.e. crashworthiness) to worry about.
Thing 2) To borrow the terminology of recumbent tricycles, I think the Tadpole configuration (2 wheels in front) makes more sense than the Delta (2 wheels in back) because it a) eliminates the differential in a rear-wheel drive vehicle, thereby reducing mechanical losses. And b) if the vehicle starts to tip over, your instinct will be to hit the breaks, which will transfer weight to the front and increase vehicle stability.
In short, though I'm not holding my breath, and all the EV-haters will (probably correctly) call it a deathtrap, I'd certainly drive one. I currently commute by bike, and I doubt it'll be any more of a deathtrap than my bike.
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Dave 9:45AM (8/15/2007)
three-wheeler? hasn't ZAP learned that joe public doesn't want a motorcycle? I guess my only hope of a relatively low-cost practical EV is Mile's Javlon.
On another note, ZAP may have caused more damage to the EV PR campaign because of its empty promises. I wish them the best, but something tells me someone is cookin' the books and spinning press releases to get rich.
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wmorin 10:17AM (8/15/2007)
As many have wrote, I think ZAP needs to produce a car, other then the Xebra product line ...
I personally want to see the Obvio 012E (which is the car that I want) and I would only purchase it is the size is roughly the size of a Porsche. However I think the "attack of the Mini car" will kill that idea. I am 6'1, and don't wanna be squeezed into a car, just because it's electric.. Heck, I'll spend the extra 40K to get the Tesla .. Given it meet the canadian safety standards.
But ah well.. at least ZAP is designing it better.. No one want the 'one wheel' on the front, think what would happen if they made a short turn .. it's likely to turn on its side. But I think their design came from this car ... well I can't seem to find it, but it was the car that ran a 1.5 Liter Honda engine .. I'm sure someone will remember.
Wil.
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Kardax 11:33AM (8/15/2007)
*yawn* ...another three-wheeler.
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Scott Leon 1:37PM (8/15/2007)
On April 4 Altair and ABAT signed an agreement where ABAT would use Altair's Nanotitanate electrode material in their Automotive grade lithium battery packs. Wheather this was exclusively for China markets, I don't know. Could Zap's battery actually be a repachaged Altair?
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Chris M 4:20AM (8/16/2007)
The name "Alias" is apropos, it looks like its having an identity crisis!
Those big "scoops" in front looks like it belongs on a jet fighter, but the aerodynamics is poor.
Needs a better designer. Next!
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