ZAP Alias

The ZAP Alias Roadster was a plug-in electric three-wheeled sports car, from the defunct American electric car maker ZAP in Santa Rosa – California, project initiated in 2007 through a collaboration between ZAP and Lotus Engineering, the UK-based automotive engineering company, who is assisting with the development of the vehicle.[1] With the collapse of ZAP in or before 2017, the vehicle never went into production and the fate of the prototype(s) is unknown.

ZAP Alias
Overview
ManufacturerZAP Jonway
Also calledZAP
ProductionNever Produced
Body and chassis
ClassConcept Sports Car
Body style3-seater[1]
Powertrain
Engine2 in-wheel motors (321.85 hp (240 kW) total)[1]

Technical details

The vehicle has three wheels, two at the front, each containing an electric wheel-motor, and one at the rear, batteries are fitted underneath the vehicle in a reinforced composite battery box. The performance announced in 2008, was 0-60 mph (97 km/h) mph in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 156 mph (251 km/h) mph and a range of 100 miles (160 km).[1] Supposed to go into production in 2009,[2] the first Alias pre-production was unveiled at NADA 2009.[3]

During the 2010 North American International Auto Show(NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan from 11 to 24 January, the company revealed the revised specifications for the Alias prototype, powered by AC induction motor at 216 volts, 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.8 seconds, with a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a range up to 100 miles (160 km),[4] homologated as a motorcycle.

Automotive X Prize

The Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize was a global competition to teams that win rigorous stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100MPG energy equivalent(MPGe).

The Alias was one of the 136 vehicles from a total of 111 teams registered to enter the competition.[5][6] It progressed preliminary stages at Michigan International Speedway, survived the shakedown that was completed on 13 May 2010, after which 22 teams remained.[7] Driven by Al Unser Jr., qualified for the finals in July with other eight vehicles.[8] All battery-electric vehicles went through an efficiency and performance run held on 27 July, with the vehicles making 50 laps around the two-mile Michigan track without exceeding 70 miles per hour or dropping below 45 miles per hour in a chicane along the backstretch.[6] The Alias, driving with a BorgWarner single-speed eGearDrive gearbox transmission,[9] was eliminated in this last track event at the 97 miles out of 100 miles due to controller setting which activated the automatic safety system as a result slowed the vehicle and came to a stop,[6][10][11] positioning the team at a final 4th place in the event.[12]

References
  1. Gary Cleland (7 February 2008). "Three-wheeled ZAP Alias can beat a Porsche". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  2. "ZAP brings Alias highway electric car project closer to reality". Gizmag.com. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  3. "ZAP Unveils Pre-production Alias Electric Car at NADA". Puregreencars.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  4. "Detroit Auto Show | Yahoo! Cars UK". Uk.cars.yahoo.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  5. "Registered Teams Overview" (PDF). X Prize Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  6. Ahrens, Ronald (16 September 2010). "3 Teams Win Automotive X Prize". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  7. Evarts, Eric. "Automotive X Prize: Final Shakedown results". Consumer Reports Cars Blog. Archived from the original on 17 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  8. Steve Hart (28 July 2010). "Zap finalist for $10 million prize". Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  9. "In the Fastlane". Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  10. "A Race to the Finish!". Progress Automotive X Prize. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  11. "Cosmic Log – The last super-cars standing". Cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  12. "Finals Stage Official Results | Progressive Automotive XPRIZE". Progressiveautoxprize.org. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
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