Xebra
Encyclopedia
The ZAP Xebra is an electric car
that was launched in May 2006 in the United States market by ZAP corporation
. It is classified legally as a three wheel motorcycle in some jurisdictions, and is available in both sedan (model SD) and pickup
(model PK) truck variants. It has seat belts. It does not have regenerative braking. The PK pickup has a dump bed
, with fold-down sides and tailgate
, that allows easy access to the batteries, controller, motor, and charger. The Xebra was phased out in 2009.
The sedan version can carry up to four people. The listed cargo weight capacity for both the SD sedan and the PK pickup is 1000 lb (460 kg), although PK owners have carried more weight than that.
An optional rooftop-mounted solar panel
on the Xebra Xero variant allows for trickle solar charging, which should lengthen the range and life of the six traction batteries; it is also available as a roof over the PK pickup bed.
The 2008 "version 6" all-steel-bodied version of the Xebra sedan is now in production.
The Xebra is the first production vehicle to be imported from China to the USA, and one of the only city speed electric vehicles in production. It is available from licensed ZAP/Voltage Vehicle dealers. According to the owner and dealer reports, some of the early 2006 models had problems with the body work, DC-to-DC converters, controller
s, or charger
s. They were not properly waterproofed and would degrade and malfunction when wet. Newer models delivered in 2007 are waterproofed and these problems are resolved.
More recent models have been greatly improved with many low-quality parts being eliminated in the new production facility. Some replacement parts, even on new vehicles, are hard to find. Most of these issues have been resolved with the building of and move to a modern high tech moving production line facility. The interruption in production and flow of parts has greatly improved.
According to various news reports, over a hundred and fifty Xebras were sold in 2006. The PK became available in late 2006. According to Zap! 500 Xebra sedans and pickups were ordered by July 2007.
Some details:
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
that was launched in May 2006 in the United States market by ZAP corporation
ZAP (motor company)
ZAP is an electric vehicle company that designs, produces and markets vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, personal watercraft, hovercraft, ATVs, neighborhood electric vehicles and commercial vehicles. The name stands for Zero Air Pollution...
. It is classified legally as a three wheel motorcycle in some jurisdictions, and is available in both sedan (model SD) and pickup
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
(model PK) truck variants. It has seat belts. It does not have regenerative braking. The PK pickup has a dump bed
Dump truck
A dump truck is a truck used for transporting loose material for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of...
, with fold-down sides and tailgate
Tailgate
Tailgate is an American English word denoting the door or 'gate' at the back of a wagon, pickup truck, SUV or other similar type of vehicle that is hinged at the bottom and can be opened for the convenience in loading cargo into the rear of the vehicle...
, that allows easy access to the batteries, controller, motor, and charger. The Xebra was phased out in 2009.
Characteristics
The top speed of the Xebra is 36 mile per hour, with a range of about 20–25 mi (32.2–40.2 ) with the standard batteries, or 40 miles (64.4 km) with the optional extended range batteries.The sedan version can carry up to four people. The listed cargo weight capacity for both the SD sedan and the PK pickup is 1000 lb (460 kg), although PK owners have carried more weight than that.
An optional rooftop-mounted solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
on the Xebra Xero variant allows for trickle solar charging, which should lengthen the range and life of the six traction batteries; it is also available as a roof over the PK pickup bed.
The 2008 "version 6" all-steel-bodied version of the Xebra sedan is now in production.
The Xebra is the first production vehicle to be imported from China to the USA, and one of the only city speed electric vehicles in production. It is available from licensed ZAP/Voltage Vehicle dealers. According to the owner and dealer reports, some of the early 2006 models had problems with the body work, DC-to-DC converters, controller
Controller
- Occupations :* Comptroller or financial controller, a senior accounting position* Air traffic controller, a person who directs aircraft* California State Controller, the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California in the United States...
s, or charger
Charger
Charger may refer to:*NATO code name for the Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic transport*Convair Charger prototype light attack and observation aircraft which competed unsuccessfully for role filled by OV-10...
s. They were not properly waterproofed and would degrade and malfunction when wet. Newer models delivered in 2007 are waterproofed and these problems are resolved.
More recent models have been greatly improved with many low-quality parts being eliminated in the new production facility. Some replacement parts, even on new vehicles, are hard to find. Most of these issues have been resolved with the building of and move to a modern high tech moving production line facility. The interruption in production and flow of parts has greatly improved.
According to various news reports, over a hundred and fifty Xebras were sold in 2006. The PK became available in late 2006. According to Zap! 500 Xebra sedans and pickups were ordered by July 2007.
Some details:
- Dimensions:
- Weight about 1800 lb
- Speed: Up to 40 mph (65 km/h) (limited by a governorGovernor (device)A governor, or speed limiter, is a device used to measure and regulate the speed of a machine, such as an engine. A classic example is the centrifugal governor, also known as the Watt or fly-ball governor, which uses a rotating assembly of weights mounted on arms to determine how fast the engine...
)- 36 mph in practice, - Range: Up to 40 miles (65 km). Typically 30 miles @ 20 mph (50 km @ 30 km/h), or 20 miles (32.2 km) in practice with the standard batteries
- Seating: 4 (SD sedan) or 2 (PK pickup)
- MotorElectric motorAn electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
: 5 kW (6.7 hp) DCDirect currentDirect current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
brushedBrushed DC electric motorA brushed DC motor is an internally commutated electric motor designed to be run from a direct current power source.-Simple two-pole DC motor:The following graphics illustrate a simple, two-pole, brushed, DC motor.DC Motor Rotation...
Newer 2008 models have brushless DC motors. - Batteries: six lead–acid sealed gel 12-volts deep-cycle traction batteries of about 100 ampere-hourAmpere-hourAn ampere-hour or amp-hour is a unit of electric charge, with sub-units milliampere-hour and milliampere second...
s (@20 h discharge) each (for a total of 72 volts) plus a 12-volts accessories battery. High-capacity batteries up to about 138 A·h are available as an option. Some dealers offer seven batteries for 84 volts. 2008 models are sold with 140 A·h absorbed glass mat batteries - Classification: 3 wheel motorcycleMotorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
- Imported from ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
- Brakes: 3-wheel disc brakes (no power assistBrake assistBrake Assist is a generic term for an automobile braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency situation. The first application was developed jointly by Daimler-Benz and TRW/LucasVarity...
, no ABSAnti-lock braking systemAn anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
, no regenerative braking) - Models: sedan SD, pickup truck PK, sedan SD Xero with solar panel on roof, and pickup truck PK Xero with solar panel over bed
External links
- Zapworld.com
- Article at CNet
- Article at Business Week
- TTAC.com Xebra review
- "Electric Car Lets Family Save on Gas, with Flair" on NPR's All Things Considered, June 20, 2008