CARazed

You may be familar with ZAP, the electric car maker in Santa Rosa, California. They have  been making little three wheeled electric cars for a few years now. I’ve not been very excited about the ZAP Xebra cars because they haven’t been highway ready. Their top speed has been only 40 mph. But now that is changing with the introduction of the ZAP Alias which you’ll be able to drive home in 2009.

This new concept takes the three wheel idea into an area that could actually make a ZAP comparable to a gas powered car. Acceleration is expected to be very good, zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds with a top speed of 156 mph. Electric vehicle range should be able 100 miles. The lack of a fourth wheel keep the ZAP Alias legally classified as a motorcycle reducing some of the red tape ZAP will have to cut through to bring the vehicle to market. You can reserve one today for $5000. Just visit the ZAP website. I could not find any mention of aplug-in hybrid (PHEV) or range extended electric vehicle (REEV) option on the ZAP website. Hopefully ZAP will offer this as well. It will make this car much more viable for many drivers.

I personally think the Aptera is a much better choice although ZAP has been making cars longer. The Aptera is also a three wheeler but it will have the PHEV as an option, seems to be safer, and looks much better. It costs a tiny bit less too and to get in the Aptera line costs only $500.