Mygreenwheels

Just when ZAP announces that it's got approval for its 4-door version of the Xebra to be driven on UK roads I'm also reading about its sportier sister, the ZAP Alias.

"With its congestion toll zone, London has become the world's great proving ground for the electric car," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "Here is a unique electric vehicle that will help drivers save significantly on fuel costs as well as free passes for the daily congestion tolls and parking. We believe the Xebra is the first four-door electric vehicle to pass the VOSA test."

Lots of UK EV fans will be delirious at the prospect of a four-door electric car, especially one that's priced at just over US$10,000, so that should console them for the realisation that it's bit closely related to the good old, so-uncool-it's-cool Reliant Robin ... except that the RR could stagger up to 85mph, while this 3-wheeler is limited to 40mph. That speed should be more than adequate for London's congested streets anyway.

The ZAP Alias two-seater on the other hand is undeniably sporty looking and with its in-wheel motors can get up to 120mph, reaching 60mph in 5.7 seconds. Range is around 100 miles. As this is basically another motorcycle, extra safety features are planned. No word yet about when it's due to be available or for how much, but ZAP are taking reservations for $5,000. Kinda steep compared to the Aptera's $500 deposit and all the extra features that come with it, but we don't know how much the Aptera will finally cost and ZAP's aim is to have all its passenger vehicles priced at below $30,000.

I can't help noticing that on Autobloggreen there's quite a spat between some ZAP-dissers and Alex Campbell of ZAP who writes "What you call vaporware are just new projects that are in development for us. I don't see any difference between what ZAP is doing and what other companies are doing, except that ZAP has been in business for 13 years."

The company has also just received $5 million in investment from Al Yousuf Group and made a deal with China's Youngman Automotive Group to produce highway speed vehicles. Now that's an interesting link into the world's biggest market, as Youngman has 70% of the luxury bus market in China AND it's got all the right connections in China at government level. That's what ZAP CEO Schneider says and it sounds good to me.