International Distributors and Exporters Could Provide Thousands of Smart Cars to ZAP

SANTA ROSA, Calif.--May 2, 20054, 2005--ZAP (OTCBB:ZAPZ), pioneering the next generation of advanced transportation and energy technologies, has received offers from Smart Car distributors eager to supply tens of thousands of the high-efficiency micro-coupe to enable ZAP to begin to meet the strong U.S. demand for the vehicle.

Smart Car distributors and exporters with large inventories of the vehicles have contacted ZAP to offer to supply the vehicles, which ZAP converts to meet U.S. emissions and safety regulations. ZAP owns the technology required to Americanize the high-efficiency cars.

"Given the overwhelming demand we have received from U.S. consumers for the Smart Car, we are very pleased to have this early source of the vehicles," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "These offers from several international distributors for tens of thousands of Smart Cars would provide an important piece of the puzzle as we take steps to meet the powerful demand by American drivers for Smart Car. We're very excited to begin executing this phase of our business plan to bring the Smart Car to American drivers who are seeking an innovative and environmentally responsible transportation solution."

ZAP reported that it had received more than $1 billion in orders from U.S. dealers for Americanized versions of the Smart Car micro-coupe. ZAP also announced that it has delivered a purchase order for a total of $1 billion worth of Smart Cars to manufacturer smart GmbH, a Company of the DaimlerChrysler Group, and is awaiting a response to the order.

ZAP has not agreed to accept all Smart Car purchase orders at this time. ZAP is currently in discussions with a number of potential partners to meet the strong American demand for the Smart Car. Delivery of the Smart Cars represented by the current level of purchase orders is conditional upon ZAP's execution of strategic relationships with major automotive manufacturing partners that will enable it to support the full sales pipeline. To build sufficient capacity to supply the full U.S. demand, the Company has been in discussions with a number of major automotive industry leaders in Europe and Asia that have direct experience in the manufacture and sales of high-efficiency vehicles. Once ZAP finalizes the required strategic partnerships and has approval from all government agencies, it will determine its delivery schedule for Smart cars in the United States.

About ZAP

ZAP, Zero Air Pollution(R), has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies and energy products since 1994. ZAP owns the technology developed by Smart-Automobile LLC to Americanize the popular European-made Smart Car for the U.S. marketplace. ZAP Americanizes the Smart Car to meet U.S. federal and state safety and emissions standards. ZAP is not affiliated with, or authorized by, smart GmbH, the manufacturer of SMART automobiles, or the smartUSA division of Mercedes-Benz LLC, the exclusive authorized U.S. importer and distributor of those vehicles. The Smart Car is manufactured by global automotive company DaimlerChrysler. ZAP purchases its vehicles from non-affiliated direct importer Smart-Automobile LLC. For more information, visit http://www.zapworld.com. For investor-specific information, visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/zap. To read or download the Company's Investor Fact Sheet visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/zap/factsheet.html.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence on third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.