Auto X Prize Finalist: Zap Alias electric car

Arguably the most striking model on display when the Progressive Automotive X Prize announced its 53 finalists this week, the ZAP Alias is racing toward production in mid 2010.
 
By designing the Alias as a three-wheeler, the company is able to cost effectively develop the vehicle without going through the expensive certification process required for four-wheeled cars, thereby saving millions of dollars. That said, safety has remained an engineering focus, as evidenced by the roll cage within the composite body. Zap claims the car will exceed federal automotive safety standards, and the cost savings will be passed on to customers, with an expected $35,000 price. (Reservations are being accepted now.)
 
As he gave us a tour of the three-seat vehicle, Zap CEO Steve Schneider explained that the auto industry meltdown has opened up new partnership and supplier opportunities that are aiding his company, and likely others. He shared a quote, we suspect often used, that the three-wheeled, three-passenger Alias reflects a 25-percent cutback back over four-wheeled vehicles that is well timed in this economy. Clearly, there are practical benefits to design, though he claims the Alias is every bit as stable as a traditional car. 
 
The front wheels are driven by a 216-volt electric motor and energized by a lithium-ion battery pack with a claimed 100-mile range. Zap estimates the miles per gallon equivalent rating will be 150-165 MPGe. Top speed is 75 mph.
 
The design means it would be registered as a motorcycle, and in some states a motorcycle license would be required to drive it.
 
Zap has been developing the Alias for the past four years. (The company itself has been in the electric-car market since 1994.) When production begins next year, they will produce an estimated 10-15 units per month, with larger-scale production planned with a cooperative venture now being developed.

 —Jeff Bartlett

Learn more about the Automotive X Prize competition. And find out more about driving green in the Consumer Reports special fuel economy section.

Comments

[Ace]

Since the comparison to motorcyle has came up. The ever growing baby boomers are buying motorcycles and women in particular. They are looking at big bore bikes not the Honda 250cc or Kawasaki 650 sport bikes, rather but the boys. I would like to see CU conduct test on big bore bikes. There is a growing and quite large number of motorcylist out there which would greatly appreciate CU conducting comparisons and ratings on Sport Touring bikes & Crusiers having CC ranging between 1000 and 1800 CC or more. There are millions of riders across United States and abroad that have choosen to ride motorcycles instead of or in addition to cars, trucks, SUV's or any other means of transportation. These big bore bikes when equipped with saddlebags; tank bags and rear luggage attachments can carry just as much luggage as most full size cars on the road today. Lets not forget about gas savings and increase miles per gallons over conventional gas cars. Throw in the instant gratification when after suiting up and the fun and feel of the open road and parking advantages and its somewhat purplexing as to why more articles are not written about the advantages of motorcycles in consumer reports magazine and consumer reports online. People want to know which bike should I buy in what class: Sport Tourers like the Kawasaski Concours 14 or Honda STS 1300 or BMW RT Class or FJR 1300 by Yamaha. Cruiser lovers want to know which is best the Harley Davidson Road King vs the Kawasaka or Yahama or Suzuki Cruisers. Lets not forget the full dressed tourers like the HD electric glide and ultra glide vs the Honda Goldwing vs Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 tourer & etc? It's time to test, rate and add these motorcycles to Consumer Reports list of products. Don't forget to test motorcycle tires too. They perform and are quite unique when compared to car tires. Of course you already know this. Thank you for allowing me to express my viewss on this matter. Ace

[tyre changers]

Well,i must say,i'm one of those women who love motorcycle a lot.My dad influenced me and it's a cool activity at the same time learning technical apllications and fixes.

[ArtistsandWriters]

Be careful of ZAP—and be especially careful of INVESTING with them at all.

My one regrettable stock choice for 2008-2009 was ZAP Electric Vehicles. I even went to their showroom in Santa Rosa afterwards and was not too terribly impressed with either their inventory, their sales personnel (I used to own my own car leasing company) or their admitted pace of vehicle production—in China—for some of their newer models; e.g., the Alias—and not due to commence production until about mid-2010. Then, my son and I each drove the one production car they actually DO have: the Zebra.

It had this rather banal and unalluring design of an oversized Jelly-Belly with a Cyclops headlamp (it now has two), required the jaws of life for ingress, had zero to no power or pickup, was a bit wobbly and rickety (the third wheel being on the front vs. the ensuing Alias), the stated range of twenty miles being inadequate unless you lived in town next-door to the supermarket, and the suspension was so dreadful that I imagined what it would be like to have a colonoscopy without the twilight anesthetic. This was especially true when traversing a railroad grade crossing. You really DID have to look both ways—with 20X binoculars.

As it was only a penny stock, I bought 5,000 shares, and then it split nearly two-for-one, so I now have some 9,000 shares. That was the good news. The bad news was that in the meantime the par value tanked by nearly 75%, but because of the "twofer" split beforehand, my accrued net losses were roughly half+.

I am cutting ALL my losses, now, and getting rid of my ZAP common stock, and will invest, alternatively, in either Tesla, Aptera, or Fisker—whoever first has an above-board IPO; they certainly have far superior products.

When I wrote to ZAP today to inquire about their new flagship “Alias”, I was blown off with, “In response to your question, we won't be announcing any general release plans of the Alias until we complete all of our pre-production testing and validation.” They were SUPPOSED to be in production nearly a year ago. Translation: “We ain’t got none, but you do—fork it over”.

My ZAP stock will be liquidated by morning and then used for my next trip to Hawaii.

[varapetra]

Great news not just for 3-wheelers and EVs in general, but for ZAP and the Alias. That thing is just beautiful. The fact that it's a green car is icing on the cake.

[Gianna]

Wow this looks pretty cool.

[birddog]

I love my Xebra, but I would trade it in for an Alias.