ZAP Electric Car Exceeds Range Expectations for Indiana Resident
ELKHART, Ind.--The owner of a stock XEBRA electric car from ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) reported that he traveled 50.2 miles on a single charge with standard lead-acid batteries. This is the most of any range reported by a customer, according to ZAP.
"I went to the home of my uncle in a neighboring town that is 26.1 miles from home," said XEBRA owner Jon Faux of Elkhart, Indiana. "After arriving and seeing he was not home, I decided to attempt the impossible and return home without any additional charging. While I didn't make it, I did make it to the home of a friend after 50.2 miles per charge. The first thing I did was call my dealer and tell him the good news!"
Several ZAP customers have reported ranges of over 40 miles per charge and officials say they are pleased with the feedback that the XEBRA has achieved and surpassed its projected performance. ZAP says that it has sold over 500 XEBRA electric sedans and trucks since its launch in June of 2006 and has seen an increase in sales as more vehicles were proven in the marketplace.
"Now that we have over 500 XEBRAs out in the field, it's nice to hear more positive feedback," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. Schneider noted that the batteries used in the XEBRA have a break-in period of six months to a year before they reach their optimal performance. Range will vary with use, but often the more the batteries are used, the better their performance.
The XEBRA was designed to be a 'city-car' for daily urban driving with speeds up to 40 MPH. There is also a XEBRA truck that can be upgraded with larger format batteries that deliver up to 40 percent more range. The XEBRA will normally get a full charge by plugging in overnight. If the car can plug in during stops around town, ZAP says the XEBRA can get a significant charge back in a short time. The batteries and on board charger used in the XEBRA can recharge faster when they are discharged versus when they are almost full, so less than an hour of charging really helps. If you can plug in for the time it takes to eat lunch, what ZAP calls an 'opportunity charge,' you can increase your daily driving range up to 30 percent. For corporate and fleet applications, ZAP also distributes a Rapid Charger that can charge up a vehicle in less than an hour.
As another way to improve range, ZAP recently announced that a XEBRA truck outfitted with lithium batteries traveled over 100 miles on a single charge. In the future ZAP plans to make this available as an optional upgrade.
Faux says he follows recommendations to help improve range, such as avoiding jack-rabbit starts, anticipating stops, and driving on smoother roads, while also taking every opportunity to drive his XEBRA. Faux, an engineer for Creation Windows in Elkhart, Indiana, says he usually drives the XEBRA to and from work, slightly over 7 miles. He has put over 3,500 miles on the red electric sedan since last October and uses it almost exclusively in place of his old gas car, a GEO Metro that he said got 52 MPG. He says one of the main reasons he selected the XEBRA was to save money on gasoline and estimates that it costs him about half a penny per mile for electricity. He says the XEBRA performs about as well as his old Metro, even in the snow, but loves the fact that he does not have to use gas.
"I actually did put gas in my XEBRA the other day when my son ran out of gas in a borrowed car," said Faux. “Some who have made fun of me and my XEBRA don’t seem quite as cheerful at the gas pump. The research I’ve conducted on my electric rates reveals that I'm getting the cost equivalent of about 600 miles to the gallon. We have to do something to kick our addiction to oil and this seemed like a good way to do it. Gas in Indiana is about $2.89 as we approach Labor Day."
Faux says he looked throughout the industry and researched the Internet thoroughly before he settled on the XEBRA, saying that it was the only affordable electric car on the market that made sense for his daily driving. The XEBRA sells for a little more than $10,000. Faux says he is always looking for an excuse to drive his XEBRA. “Just give me a reason to head out and enjoy gas-free, pollution-free driving that is almost free and I am gone!” So, what's next for his XEBRA?
"I have conquered 50 miles and 60 miles is next!"
About ZAP
ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops. For product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 upon 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.