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PODCAST: KQED Public Radio Interviews ZAP Execs
KQED Radio’s Rachael Myrow visited ZAP in December for a series they are doing as part of their California Report, called “Shifting Gears.” She interviewed ZAP’s founder Gary Starr as well as ZAP Chairwoman Dr. Priscilla Lu in a piece called “California: EV Designer for the World.” The two ZAP executives offered incite into ZAP’s plans in China, including plans for acquiring Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd., which was announced yesterday. Tune into the podcast and view the slide show on KQED’s website.
Source: KQED News
EVS-25 Update: China Leads EV Incentives
ZAP Jonway Hostesses on ZAPPY3 electric scooters at EVS-25, Click Image for Slide Show
FINAL DAY UPDATE: With all the cool EVs in the ZAP Jonway booth during EVS-25, you’ll be surprised to know that the ZAPPY3 three-wheeled scooter/personal transporter was the big hit! People loved the mobility, looks and fun. Right behind it was the ZAP DUDE electric ATV. In fact, there was a line in the booth for people who wanted to get their photo on them. We definitely scored some major interest in distributing these to many parts of the world. The SUV taxi was not too far behind with people from major automotive suppliers returning to the booth numerous times to show their colleagues. Some inquired about setting up a taxi service in their municipalities, in China, Russia and the EU. It was also a pleasure to welcome the highest level management of ZAP Jonway to the booth: Board Chair, Priscilla M. Lu, Ph.D., as well as ZAP Jonway Co-CEOs Alex Wang and Steve Schneider who attended several business meetings while in Shenzhen.
Thumbs up for ZAP Jonway at EVS-25
ZAP Jonway EVS-25 Slide Show – Click Here
We learned a pretty important fact attending some of the presentations at EVS-25 in Shenzhen. China now leads the world in EV government subsidies, with 3,000 yuan per kWh of battery capacity, up to 60,000 yuan per car!! Plus, there are some local governments such as Shanghai and Shenzhen offering an additional 40,000 yuan — that’s 100,000 or about $15,000!! J.D. Power projects that soon 2% of all cars in China to be electric.
There was a great deal of anticipation for the third day of EVS-25 because the Chinese regional delegations would be visiting. Throughout the morning we fielded questions, testing our Chinese language abilities. Again the electric SUV/Taxi played a key role, attracting interest for fleet use as well as taxi use in parts of China. Also there was a great deal of industrial interest for parts and component supply relationships with markets as diverse as Mexico and Hong Kong. It was helpful when ZAP founder Gary Starr showed up to help with many of the technical questions. Have H. David Jones, ZAP’s COO helped respond the growing wave of interest. The general public came in the afternoon, further increasing interest in the ZAPPY3. Also interest in the ZAP DUDE electric ATV from many of the factory workers we met. With interested buyers, we had to continually stress the importance of distribution, service, parts and warranty for expanding the supply and distribution chain, but many still wanted to buy vehicles right on the spot. One woman bought a ZAPPY3 scooter, wanting to make sure she got one with a seat. Later we met some electric vehicle enthusiasts from Europe, some of them inquiring about our fleet XL trucks and Shuttle vans.
ZAP Alias Among 6 Electric Finalists Remaining in X PRIZE
The ZAP Alias, the most production-looking and production-ready electric car competing in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, has survived in a competitive, international field of 115 teams and 136 vehicles down to the final six electric vehicles remaining in the competition. Now it moves onto dynamometer testing at Argonne National Labs with the remaining 9 vehicles to validate the final efficiency numbers and declare a winner.
The ZAP Alias is in the most competitive class of the X PRIZE, the Alternative Side-by-Side category with two-seats in a side-by-side configuration. Other classes are Tandem seating for two and Mainstream for four. From the $10 Million purse contributed by Progressive Insurance, the two Alternative Classes are competing for $2.5 million each with the Mainstream Class for $5 million. Monotracer and Edison2, each with two vehicles, are the last teams in their classes, while the 5-team Alternative Side-by-Side Class is a dogfight to the finish.
One of the most dramatic moments of the X PRIZE was a 100 MPGe “race” that Edison2 team leader Oliver Kuttner dubbed “The Race of the Century.” A time trial with five futuristic cars was held at Michigan International Speedway on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 as a tie-breaker in case more than one finished over 100+ MPG or energy equivalent. Competitors included our own ZAP Alias, the well-known Aptera 2e, the quirky, slippery Wave II from North Carolina, the powerful, expensive RaceAbout from Finland, and the tiny, minimalist TW4XP from Germany.
Read More at the ZAP Alias Electric Car Blog:
Video, Slide Show of Zhejiang Jonway Auto Manufacturing
Clips from a recent tour of the factory for the Jonway A380 SUV. Jonway Automobile of Sanmen, China is subject of a recent business agreement for majority acquisition, 51%, by ZAP electric vehicles of California. For details on the transaction, click the link below:
Jonway A380 Assembly Line Floor - Click Image for Slide Show
Jonway A380 Welding Line - Click Image for Slide Show
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the ZAP Jonway UFO Electric Taxi from China
ZAP CEO Steve Schneider presented an electric taxi made with China's Jonway UFO to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Click Image for more photos.
Click for more images
ZAP Alias Electric Car Qualifies for Shakedown Stage of Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE
Click Image for Slide Show
Alias to Take Part in X PRIZE Kick-Off Slated for April 29th at Michigan State Capitol
LANSING, Mich., April 27 — The Alias, a prototype electric sports car from ZAP (OTC Bulletin Board: ZAAP), has qualified for the Shakedown stage of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE (PIAXP) competition for 100 MPG equivalent and above cars now underway at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). The innovative all-electric ZAP Alias will appear this Thursday, April 29th, during kick-off ceremonies for the PIAXP at the Michigan state capitol in Lansing.
Read more at the ZAP Alias Team Page
