ZAP: San Carlos Electric Car Dealership Opens for ZAP (California)

[jpak]

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/696633/

The "Electric Green Showroom" at Hilts Auto opened in San Carlostoday. The San Mateo County-based auto dealership specializes in practical, affordable electric transportation, including trucks, all-terrain vehicles, motor scooters, people movers and a new electric car now on sale from Bay Area electric car manufacturer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP).

Taylor Smith cuts the green ribbon for a new ZAP electric car dealership that opened today in Silicon Valley. San Carlos Mayor Tom Davis to his left and the Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new business and tried out the new electric cars, trucks, scooters, and mopeds from Bay Area electric vehicle manufacturer ZAP.

San Mateo Mayor Tom Davis came out for the opening. Davis said he already owns a ZAP, an original 90's era ZAPPY electric scooter he and his grandchildren still use today. He expressed interest in the Zapino electric scooter and ZAP truck.

"The City of San Carlos is looking into getting hybrids, but something like this to go around town between parks and for use on city property has merit," said Davis.

<more>

[skids]

1. I'll be looking at the chevy volt, but also...

Youngman Automotive Group, China's leading luxury coach and high-quality commercial truck manufacturer, has signed a joint venture agreement with US electric car pioneer ZAP to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid vehicles for the passenger car, truck and bus markets.

The new joint venture company will also focus on the development and manufacture of electric charging infrastructure. The deal includes the manufacture of buses, trucks and passenger vehicles, including the Zap-X crossover SUV.

"We're co-investing $40 million to the joint venture, which will have a research and development center in California and its production base in our headquarters in Jinhua (East China's Zhejiang Province)," said Liu Zhonglai, marketing director of Youngman.

"The sample vehicles will be finished at the end of this year or next January. Two or three months after testing, the electric-powered sedan under the Lotus brand will be the first to go into mass production."

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2007-10/12/content_6170234.htm

...I'll be looking at the ZAP-X, even if it is a pseudo-SUV. And if Tesla Motors has anything affordable out by then, I'll look at that too. Too bad none of the flightlink-based systems look like they are going to be manufactured in the U.S.

[msongs]

2. not made in USA = another plan by GM to cut its work force? nt

[skids]

4. No more like...

..."not invented here" syndrome. The flightlink drive system is british in origin:

http://www.pmlflightlink.com/about.html

Now I cannot speak to whether ZAP did due diligence in looking for opportunities to manufacture in the U.S. Nor the same for Tesla Motors which, I think, was "invented here"... but it seems that Chevy is looking to leverage the fact that they have experience building transmissions to allow them to skimp on the electric motor part count (single motor, 2 wheel drive) where the flightlink direct 4wd hub motor approach is obviously the technically superior one -- more powerful, more controllable, modular, low part count, and quite obviously amply licensable given there are three companies now building prototypes based off it (Lotus, Volvo, and some boutique sports car called the phantom.)

But I'll look at the chevy volt just the same, even though I'm not crazy about that part of it.

[papau]

5. As an all electric car flightdrive is the best of show - but how do you get "extended range" - and

I just don't like being on the highway when a fuse failure (there is only one battery) means I cause an accident due to sudden slowing.

but I do like what you get for that added 400 lbs. :-)

[skids]

6. The first flightlink demo was not an EV...

...it was a series-hybrid mini-cooper with a small gas engine for extended range.

(And the system is quadruple redundant.)

[papau]

7. The cooper is advertised as 120 mile range recharging 1500+ times before a new Batterry-so 20,000m &

we buy a battery? There is nothing on their site as to any gas engine in this car. I suspect you are referring to the single demo car that they shipped to Mexico a few years back which did have a small gas engine - but I never heard of it again since then.





Speed:
up to 80 mph (128 km/h)
Acceleration:
0-60 mph in 6 seconds
Range:
120+ miles (193km)
Charge Time:
8-10 hours (220-240 VAC) for full charge
Cycle Life:
1500+ full charges
LCD Touch Screen:
Vehicle operations monitor - miles remaining, power consumption, each cells' charge level, battery temperature, drive time, distance traveled, and average speed.
Powertrain
Electric Motor:
3 phase, brushless A/C motor - 78 kW peak (105 hp)
Batteries:
10 (550 lbs / 250 kg) maintenance-free lithium ion packs
Charger:
Onboard 110 VAC or 220 VAC input
Battery Management System:
Proprietary HT design
Chassis
Brakes:
Optional four wheel ABS - electronic brake distribution - cornering brake control
Suspension:
Strut front independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs. Multi-link rear suspension independent with coil springs.
Steering:
Rack and pinion
Tires (Front):
195/55R16 87H
Tires (Rear):
195/55R16 87H
Weights & Measures
Weight:
2900 lbs (1315 kg)
Length:
143.1 inches (3634.7 mm)
Width:
66.5 inches (1689.1 mm)
Height:
55.9 inches (1419.9 mm)
Wheelbase:
97.1 inches (2466.3 mm)
Ground Clearance:
5 inches (127 mm)

[skids]

8. Yes, I'm referring to the demo...

...I didn't even know there was a mini-cooper pure-play EV in the works... where did you pull those stats from?

http://www.pmlflightlink.com/archive/news_mini.html <-- the original demo car.

...the point being that the flightlink drive system can be paired with a hybrid power plant for "extended range" applications. There would be nothing limiting GM/Chevy or any other company from plopping an ICE in along with the battery pack using this drive system instead of the one they have planned:



http://www.evpowersystems.com/new_page_41.htm

As far as battery replacement goes, batteries rated at X "full charge cycles" get many times that many partial charge cycles in equivalent KWh, so I guess your "mileage" on the battery packs depends on whether your routinely suck them dry.

These are the batteries Chevy intends to use (and which hymotion will be using in their second gen PHEV kit products)

http://www.a123systems.com/newsite/index.php#/technology/life/lchart1/ (see chart 4, flash player required)

[papau]

9. link below to their new all electric car - I've lost link to the specs and google is no help!

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/04/electric_mini_c.html

[wtmusic]

3. A buddy bought one

and it has been a frustrating experience. Sent back to the factory once, and getting just over 1/2 the touted mileage.

The good side is the company is stepping up to the plate and doing everything it can to make it work the way it's supposed to. Operating on a shoestring budget, I'm sure they have lost money on my friend but but both will get a better car out of the bargain.