Are you interested in electric vehicles?

Question

If so, check out this very thorough article about the ZAP-X (scheduled for production in 2009 at $50-60,000) and the ZAP Alias (scheduled for end of 2008 or early 2009 at around $30,000)

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4024954

Having seen these details, what do you think about these cars?

rhonda - we're helped by EVs because even coal power plants and electric engines combined are more efficient than burning gasoline. Even if our grid were purely coal based, it would still reduce total greenhouse gas emissions as compared to burning gasoline, and our grid is only about 50% coal based. See my answer here for further details:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnxRBU2RzMydTSiCK08JtVDty6IX?qid=20070725173013AACvmiq

joecool - I have seen the Volt. Very promising, though not quite as good as an EV.

Gaby - you should know better by now. I showed you how electric vehicles lower emissions in a previous question.

Answer 1

I like it that Lotus is involved - because Lotus is a real company. They were also involved in the Tesla. Then again, weren't they involved in the DeLorean?

Big automakers have done their best to stall and pussyfoot around the electric car - for that, they deserve to be eclipsed by some upstart automaker. Unfortunately, this might make investment in EV makers a dodgey business - and EV owners might be left without maintenance support as these new companies go under.

I think the ZAP performance claims might be possible - I don't have reason to doubt them... but they are impressive.

10 minute charge? That acceleration and range? Sign me up! I HATE spending money on gas.

Who else pays $60 to fill up? Do you pay more or less?

Answer 2

Unlike the Zap, the Tesla actually exists. I question the accuracy of the Zap claims. Their web site says they are using Lithium Batteries, which is the same kind of battery as the Tesla, but they are claiming MUCH better performance from them. I do not believe they can deliver on that promise. I know something about the owners of the Tesla company, and they are trust worthy people who know what they are doing. You can believe their claims. If I had $100,000 to spare, I would buy a Tesla, but we can hope the cost comes down after a time. You would still need a gasoline car to make long trips, because with the Tesla car you would have to stop every 200 miles and take 3.5 hours to charge it back up. So it has to be your second car, used for commuting, while you gas car is used for longer trips.

Answer 3

I think this is a good analysis in the article:

"Even though ZAP!, the Santa Rosa-based electric vehicle dealer, is happy to accept your $25,000 reservation fee, neither the Zap-X nor its smaller sister, the Zap Alias, actually exists yet. Not even as working prototypes. Between the lofty performance claims and ZAP!'s mixed financial history (which includes a bout of Chapter 11 back in 2002), it is no wonder that staunch car realists are inclined to apply the vaporware label. But some intriguing recent developments including new battery technology (the linchpin of EV success) have made the story noticeably more believable."

I think something like this is coming pretty soon. Whether or not the Zap! will be it is open to question.

Answer 4

I think those are both totally cool looking. If I could afford a new car period, I would seriously consider one of them. My only problem, and I'm sure it's an issue faced by alot of people (especially environmentally conscious people) is that I live in an apartment. I would have nowhere to plug in my all electric car until I move into some sort of private dwelling. Or at least a first floor apartment with parking directly in front of a window.

But yeah, I think electrics are awesome. They all look super cool and futuristic because they are made by fringe automakers who haven't forgotten how to take a risk on design. They are also quite possibly one of the best solutions we have to the whole issue of personal transportation.

Have you seen the new Chevy Volt plug in hybrid? If they actually release the car the way it looks in the pictures they are releasing now, that will be another very cool looking "green car".

Answer 5

NO. They are great for a city car, but I need a car that has a lot of range.

Not very cost effective and not really very environmentally friendly because at least 50%-80% of the pollution saved in the city is moved to the power plant location unless power plant is Nuclear. Just changing to a smaller diesel car will probably do as well for a lot less money.

Answer 6

First, that action picture became into very biased. you may tell the fees from people who suggested the electrical powered motor vehicle merely would not artwork have been very selectively picked. They in all likelihood interviewed each and each of those adult adult males various hours to get the ten 2nd sound bites they have been employing. nevertheless, GM blew it. that they had surely a beta attempt motor vehicle available in the EV1, and have been years in advance of different manufacturers. they'd desire to have persisted this equipment, employing the wealthy early tech adopters and greenies to proceed investment, coming up and promoting the vehicles. opposite to what one among your formerly answerers suggested, the batteries had useful cloth in them and could be recycled. variety isn't a tremendous concern. in the direction of the top, the EV1 got here with batteries that gave it a sort of one hundred twenty miles. i could think of a 4 seater the dimensions of a Camry would desire to get eighty miles on a cost. that's adequate for in all likelihood ninety 5% of each and daily using. in the event that they could make one that did now not choose a particular charging station, so i'd desire to merely grab a twine and plug it into any one hundred ten V outlet, it quite is recharged almost everywhere. base line, if i'd desire to purchase one that would not be a hardship to cost, for a value that became into interior of $3k to an analogous gasoline engine vehicles, i could.

Answer 7

I would love an EV but I am the poorest of the poor. Luckily, I am unable to drive right now so a car but I'll probable look for the cheapest I can find when I can start driving again.I don't need. The last time I looked, Toyota's had the cheapest but it could have changed by now.

Answer 8

It looks hella cool, but that price tag is enough to deter me. I could get three of my jeep or two of the Escape Hybrid for that price. I'm not fond of the three-wheeled version either but I'm sure some people will like it. If it were 35k or less I would be more interested.

Answer 9

You bring up an interesting point with this whole electric car thing so just what percentage of cars do you want to replace, and what about farm equipment, or lawnmowers, or semi's. Because in the end I really don't see electric cars making that big of a difference..............

Answer 10

When the day comes, and when US poor(er) people are still driving the "dinosaur" cars, I hope we're not fined that large of a fine. I would love to have a E.v.! But not at that price!