ZAP Xebra shows up at San Fran show
The 48th Annual San Francisco Auto Show played host to many products from ZAP, a major distributor of electric and
alternative-fueled vehicles in the U.S. One such product was the
Xebra, a three-wheeled city car the company will be
producing in conjunction with a Chinese automaker and selling in the States. The Xebra will cost $8,995 and have a
range of 413 miles with a top speed of 40 mph. Its propulsion comes from a DC motor being fed by a lead-acid battery
pack.
We can't speak for everyone, but there's just something unnatural about the Xebra, like it's missing something. And
you gotta love the hose that's hanging down beneath the "car" leading to that lonely front wheel. Makes you long for
the glory days of EVs and the now-crushed EV1.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doogs 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
It's got nothing on the Ape cars you see all over Italy:
http://venicewindows.com/venice/postcards-500/ape-car.jpg
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A smart Christmas: nice present, great idea! 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
If you promote your company by means of useful initiatives youll strike hard! Just consider Bill Gates. At Christmas, for a birthday or any other occasion, you absolutely have to buy a smart present. Instead of giving craps, with just a little money, you can help a lot of people. Instead of a diamond, you can pay a surgery operation to a child or a year of school to a whole classroom in Pakistan, India or Africa. And what about some solar panels? Once people used to tell not to give charity but to give a fishing rod and teach how to use it. The fishing rod of year 2000 are the solar panels. The easiest way to create an income or give energy to the productive activities of entire communities. Not a monthly income: give some solar panels to the dearest persons! Do what you can. Its nice to talk about stopping waging wars in the name of oil, but if you dont seed love, only hate will grow. Have a nice present:
http://www.free-people-world.com/1/ideas-proposals/actions/2005/11/smart-christmas-nice-present-great.html
Domenico Schietti
2010 Eliminazione Povert?http://www.liberaassociazioneilpopolo.it/
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starlightmica 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
http://www.zapworld.com/cars/xebra.asp
Make that range up to 40 miles - that's more like it for a small lead-acid battery pack. It is 9 1/2 feet long, weighs 1370 lbs.
No airbag or obvious front bumper, either - not good for meeting the 'roo bar equipped SUV's of North America head on.
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Hank 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Maybe they should buy the rights to the Brits' Reliant car company and do the Mini marketing thing.
Nah.
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JZed 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Why the hell would u want that when 8,995 will buy a great used Honda... Accord, Civic, CRX, Del Sol, Prelude... just pick one.
Or have a bit more fun and get an economical old diesel Benz, or a Porsche 912, 914, or 924. Hell, you could get a BMW 318 in excellent condition.
searching auto trader theres a ton of flex-fuel Ford Taurus', high mile hybrids, and other green cars with 4 doors, room for adults and airbags... who wants this nasty Mr Bean car?
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Damian P. 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
The Reliant Robin lives!
http://www.3wheelers.com/robin.html
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Blake 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
No, this isn't a Mr. Bean car. It's the down syndrome ridden child of the Mr. Bean car (Morris Minor, I think) and a Vespa.
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Keith 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Now if they were to raise the price to $20,000 canadian, there would be a three year waiting list just like the Smart car.
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Ben 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Now, if they'd consider a super-efficient clean diesel enine, that would make an interesting taxi for very urban areas.
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Nicolas Nelson 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Whoa, looking at this car does not inspire confidence. I was hoping to be impressed, after some of the buzz I heard. Why not go with a Myers NmG (stands for "No More Gas"... formerly the Corbin Sparrow)? You can't carry passengers in an NmG, and you get half the range (only about 20miles, reliably, though some owners who know how to pamper their battery packs can get 40 miles per charge).
On the other hand, you get stability (the single drive wheel is in the REAR; having two wheels up front dramatically improves cornering and high speed stability) and twice the speed (80mph).
If I'm going to use a small electric car like the Xebra, I'm not making it my family sedan. I'd be commuting in it, running the quick errand before dinner, and that's it. Now that the EV1 is gone, you don't exactly choose your electric car to pick up your date, anyway... too bad. (though the Sparrow/NmG does turn heads, in a good way)
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