ZAP Xebra
The ZAP Xebra was an electric car 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 and pickup 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.
Although Zap listed a price for model year 2010, the Xebra was phased out after 2009. In 2013 the company was ordered to buy back all of the 2008 models that were sold and destroy them due to a failure to meet the braking requirements for a motorcycle.
Characteristics
The top speed of the Xebra is, with a range of about with the standard batteries, or with the optional extended range batteries.The sedan version had four seats and four doors, but was limited by its weight rating of. The listed cargo weight capacity for the PK pickup is, 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 was also available as a roof over the PK pickup bed.
The 2008 "version 6" all-steel-bodied version of the Xebra sedan entered production in late 2008.
The Xebra was the first production vehicle to be imported from China to the United States. It was available from licensed ZAP/Voltage Vehicle dealers. According to the owner and dealer reports, some of the early 2006 models had problems with the bodywork, DC-to-DC converters, controllers, or chargers. 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. The company claimed to have resolved these issues with the building of and move to a more modern, moving production line facility.
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 themselves, 500 Xebra sedans and pickups had been ordered by July 2007.
Some details:
- Dimensions:
- Weight about 1800 lb
- Speed: Up to 40 mph - 36 mph in practice,
- Range: Up to 40 miles. Typically 30 miles @ 20 mph, or in practice with the standard batteries
- Seating: 4 or 2
- Motor: 5 kW DC DC electric motor|brushed] Newer 2008 models have brushless DC motors.
- Batteries: six lead–acid sealed gel 12-volts deep-cycle traction batteries of about 100 ampere hours each 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 motorcycle
- Imported from China
- Brakes: 3-wheel disc brakes
- Models: sedan SD, pickup truck PK, sedan SD Xero with solar panel on roof, and pickup truck PK Xero with solar panel over bed