Very cute, but will it play in Peoria?
Although the company has been around for several years, ZAP (which stands for Zero Air Pollution) is well-positioned to catch the next revolution in transportation, Schneider asserts. High gas prices, combined with fears about global warming, are prompting interest in electric and ethanol cars.
At the same time, battery technology, design and other aspects of clean cars are evolving, so that consumers in the relatively near future won’t have to make too many compromises, according to Schneider. The Xebra, for instance, gets charged through a regular wall socket and doesn’t need an ornate charger, like General Motors’ now defunct electric car.
A test case will come next year when ZAP rolls out the Obvio, an all-ethanol car that the company plans to make in its Brazil factory. The car has four wheels, sports 175 horsepower (similar to a 2007 Mini Cooper S), seats three, and can go zero to 60mph in about five or six seconds, according to Schneider. For sportiness, the gas pedal and brake are flip-flops and the glove compartment is a detachable backpack.
As much as I like the concept, I don’t think American consumers are ready to drive a roller skate. Maybe a nice high-milage hybrid with a bigger frame would do better.
Many Americans today couldn’t get in the thing with out a generous rub down of KY jelly.
And then there are people like me who aren’t 5′ tall. I’m 6’4″ and my VW GTI is only only comfortable with the seat all the way back.
Maybe they should call it Truck-a-Saurus, and give a free barbeque and Larry the Cable Guy tickets.
A test case will come next year when ZAP rolls out the Obvio, an all-ethanol car that the company plans to make in its Brazil factory. The car has four wheels,
Four wheels? What are these crackpots thinking????
Seriously, it is cute, and I’d drive it. However, I’m sure it is lacking in hauling capacity.
I was just thinking that with the success of the mini-cooper, and that the current Honda Civic is downright huge compared with what it had been, America is ripe for another tiny car.
You might want to check up a bit on this ZAP company. They make a lot of claims and back it up with little substance. Seems like a company trying to get investors….I’d be careful it it were my money. A more interesting electric car might be the Reva (aka G-wiz in england) though not available in the US –This blog in the UK has an on going review http://www.dannyscontentment.net/ . The author was able to actually purchase and drive the car.
Sounds interesting but not practical. It only seats three, and I have a family of four.
I am waiting for a true hybrid – one that can plug into an outlet at night so that short range driving can avoid using the internal combustion engine. This would suit me fine, as I only put about 5K year on my auto/ Most of my travel is short range.
I view the current breed of hybrid automobiles as a helpful fad – it tells the automakers that [some] americans are still interested in their auto mileage, but more work needs to be done. They are still not yet economical.
The two things that bother me about this article are…
…no mention of MPG, Highway or City.
… “For sportiness, the gas pedal and brake are flip-flops” Is anyone afraid of your gas pedal or breakpedal being “detachable”? I know I am!
I dont think these cars will take over until they can do at least 65, and it
doesnt look like the mini-cooper.
The thing that bothers me most is the “zero air pollution” thing. It all depends on how you make your electricity. A goodly portion of the kilowatts delivered to us in the USA comes from burning coal in extremely dirty (by modern standards) plants.
Anyone ever visit Laughlin, Nevada when the Mohave plant was operating and the air was still? Yuck!
David
We drive up to Santa Rosa, CA sunday and looked in the window of the Zap headquarters. I saw the car shown above… it can come with 200hp!!!! It must go like a rocket. The car and the Smart/Zap cars look a little smaller than the original VW bug. I think they will sell a zillion of them.
You have to see it to believe it. Their ‘showroom’ is open to the public on Tuesdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Otherwise it’s by reservation only as it is a ‘dealer showroom’. Don’t try to race one of these to the next stop light. Can bi-turbo with overboost be next? (0-60 in one second) and it runs on Ethanol! (like an Indy car)….
Oh the car we saw was the Obvio… the electric one was there to…
Whats REALLy funny,
Is that they are importing these into the USA, and making the cars Gas and diesal…Which is STUPID..
The ones in Brazil are Multifuel at this time. Alcohol and gas.
Picture yourself in one of these cockle-shells in heavy traffic on the Cross Bronx, and if that doesn’t bother you then I’d like the name of your pusher.
ZAP is the same company that is currently importing the Smart Cars for the U.S.A. They have been since May. Mercedes Benz will be importing the Smart car starting next year.
We just bought a Mini Cooper (111hp). Just got back from a 385 mile one way trip. Burned a little more than half a tank. Just about 8-9 gallons.
“zero to 60mph in about five or six seconds”
Uhmm… That is a very quick car. Faster than 80% of the cars on the road.
That is quick
[editor: read commenting guidelines]
#18
Thank you for the bizarre dancing cat.
Thank you even more for the pop-up window. I had been wondering if there were a way to meet local girls. Now I know 🙂
[editor: I’m wandering through, knocking off violations of commenting guideliness — lile the one you noted]
16,
I keep saying this and am getting tired of saying it…
I have a 20 year old, car. its an OLDSmobile..it has a 3.8 engine in it…
I get 30-35 MPG at 70+mph…THIS is a mid sized car with seating for 6 comfortably..
Why dont your car get 50+mpg??
#7…ec….I saw several of these in London back in 0ctober. They are really cool…..I’m thinking of leasing one when I go back in Oct. It would be perfect for me as I will only need it for short drives (less than 20 miles) 3 times a week.
I’ve considered a Cooper, which would put a big hole in my budget or a Vespa, which would be good on decent days in England…..all 5 of them.
Nice car, due to the size I don’t believe American’s will take to the idea because it isn’t big enough. Americian’s believe if it’s small it isn’t safe, hence why Large trucks and SUV’s are so popular in the States.