ZENN To Stop LSV Production; ZAP Phasing Out Xebra?

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Marc Cesare

ZENN announced that it will be stopping production of their LSV in April 2010. As had been reported earlier the company is shifting it’s focus to the development of electric drivetrains based on EEStor technology. The company reports selling about 500 of their LSVs in three years.

Learn more: Reuters.com

In another story about phasing out a vehicle, a careful examination of ZAP’s most recent quarterly findings, seem to indicate that they will be phasing out their three-wheeled Xebra model. From their 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2009:

The decrease of $1.5 million (in revenue) is primarily due to the phase out of our three wheeled Xebra vehicle with reduced selling prices.

In addition the company appears to be putting less emphasis on development of the Alias model.

Research and development expenses decreased by $57,000 from $138,000 in 2008 to $81,000 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. The decrease was due to less work on the development of the Alias prototype vehicle

Learn more: thetruthaboutcars.com

ZAP Distributing Electric Vehicles From Wuling Motors Of China

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Marc Cesare

ZAP distributes Wuling Motors electric truck

ZAP received the first shipment of small electric trucks from Wuling Motors of China earlier this year. To date approximately 100 of the vehicles, which are classified as LSVs, have been shipped to the US. Most of the vehicle is manufactured by Shanghai-GM-Wuling except for the transmission, battery, controls and motor. The batteries are provided by HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH & Co. KG and the vehicles have an AC motor. Besides ZAP, Green Go Tek also distributes the electric trucks.

Wuling is planning on rolling out their Smile-E micro car for the NEV markets such as gated communities and retirement areas as early as next month. The Smile-E will be distributed by Green Go Tek and Ruff and Tuff vehicles. Learn more: ChinaBizGov

Zap Announces Military Reorder & Increased Production Schedule

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Electric vehicle maker Zap recently announced that the US military has followed up a June order for their Zaptruck XL with a request for eleven more of the vehicles. The military is ordering five 220-volt fast charging stations as well. The management also reported that they…

…have been increasing our production and assembly schedules for the past several months and I expect to see even more ramp-up initiatives in the next quarter.

Learn more: Earthtimes.org

ZAP Trucks Help The US Army Go Green

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Marc Cesare

ZAPTruck XL Ready For Shipment

ZAP has begun shipping their ZAPTruck XL, an electric LSV, to the US military for use at military bases around the world. The purchase continues the trend by the US military of moving to more fuel efficient and often smaller vehicles for specific on base applications. The company did not provide any specific sales figures for the contract. Learn more: Zapworld.com

ZAP Completes Made In USA Electric Pickup Engineering Project

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Marc Cesare

ZAP reports finishing an engineering project to develop an electric pickup truck where most of the parts and components will be made in the United States. The project is an extension of the company’s efforts to shift vehicle production back to the US. Learn more: marketwire.com

ZAP Unveils Electric Wheel Motor Technology

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Zap has announced the development of an 8,000 watt wheel motor which could be incorporated into production vehicles next year if funding is available. The new motor is based on technology behind the electric motor used in their scooter, the Zapino. The Zapino motor is 3,000 watts and seven inches in diameter compared to 8,000 watts and ten inches for the new motor. If wheel motors are incorporated into four-wheel vehicles, the transmission and drive train can be eliminated and more space can be made available for additional batteries. Learn more marketwire.com

NEVs Helped By Stimulus Bill

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Marc Cesare

The tax credit for NEVs made it into the final stimulus bill recently signed by Obama. The tax credit is for 10% of the purchase price of the vehicle with a maximum credit of $2,500. Three wheel vehicles like those produced by ZAP will also be eligible.

The bill also includes $300 million for federal fleet purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles which could help NEV manufacturers. Vehicles must be replaced on a one-to-one basis, and to remove a functioning government vehicle, the hybrid or electric replacement must have an improved fuel economy at least 10-percent greater than the original. Learn more

Road Use Regulation Round Up

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Ocean City, NJ – Police urge city council to keep golf cars off city streets for safety reasons.

West Baraboo, WI – Passes ordinance allowing NEVs on low speed streets and certain crossings of state highway.

Charleston, NC – A limousine service with two Tomberlin E-merge vehicles as part of their fleet had to cease using the LSVs when the city attorneys determined the vehicles violated city code and zoning ordinance. The owner hopes the city will revisit the issue later in the year.

Wausau, WI – City amends ordinance to allow NEVs to be driven on some city streets.

Massachusetts – Legislation bans the use of NEVs on roads with speed limits above 30 mph and requires that they follow the same licensing and registration rules as cars. Additional legislation allows the Registry of Motor Vehicles to register as “motorcycles” three-wheeled electric vehicles that have standard safety equipment and travel no faster than 40 miles per hour. (i.e. Zap Xebra) Such vehicles could be registered at the discretion of the Registrar, and would be limited to traveling on public roads having speed limits of 40 miles per hour or less.

Pittsfield, IL – Ordinance proposed to allow the use of NEVs and golf cars to operate on city streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less and cross streets with higher speed limits.

Indiana – Legislation proposed to allow mini-trucks to be licensed and titled. Apparently the state’s motor vehicle department has been inconsistent in their approach to these vehicles. The department plans to title them as off-road vehicles, which allows owners to drive them on secondary roads in some Indiana counties.

ZAP Developments

Posted on January 16, 2009 by Marc Cesare

Last week ZAP announced that partner Integrity Manufacturing had completed its application for a $200 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. The loan is for a manufacturing facility in Kentucky for producing ZAP vehicles as well as other all electric vehicles.

Later this month, at the National Automobile Dealers Association conference in New Orleans, ZAP plans to debut their new Shuttle and XL Truck. These LSVs have a top speed f 25mph and a range of 30 miles. The Shuttle has an MSRP of $14,700 and the truck will list for $14,500.

ZAP Introduces LSV Electric Truck

Posted on November 27, 2008 by Marc Cesare

ZAP recently announced the addition of the ZAP Truck XL to their line of vehicles. In a departure from their existing top sellers, the truck has four wheels and is classified as a low speed vehicle. The Truck XL has a payload of 800lbs, a range of 30 miles and can be recharged in 6 hours from a standard 110 volt outlet. Faster charging is available with an optional 220 volt upgrade. The vehicle is targeting industrial and utility fleets and has a MSRP of $14,950.

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