The ZAP Alias Roadster was a proposed plug-in electric three-wheeled sports car, from the defunct American electric car maker ZAP in Santa Rosa, California.
| ZAP Alias | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | ZAP Jonway |
| Production | Never produced (concept car) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 3-seater[1] |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2 in-wheel motors (321.85 hp (240 kW) total)[1] |
History
editThe project was initiated in 2007 through a collaboration between ZAP and Lotus Engineering, the UK-based automotive engineering company, who assisted with the development of the vehicle.[1] Plans for a Kentucky production facility fell through, and in 2010 ZAP subsequently announced that Zhejiang Jonway Automobile would be contracted to manufacture the car in China. With the collapse of ZAP on or before 2017, the vehicle never went into production and the fate of the prototype(s) is unknown.
Technical details
editThe vehicle has three wheels, two at the front, each containing an electric wheel-motor, and one at the rear. Its batteries are fitted underneath the vehicle in a reinforced composite battery box. The performance announced in 2008 was 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 156 mph (251 km/h) and a range of 100 miles (160 km).[1] Initially planned to go into production in 2009,[2] the first Alias pre-production unit was unveiled at NADA 2009.[3]
During the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan from January 11–24, 2010, the company revealed the revised specifications for the 216-volt AC induction motor-powered Alias prototype as 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] The vehicle was to be homologated as a motorcycle.
Automotive X Prize
editThe Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize was a global competition of teams engaging in rigorous stage competition of clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 mpg energy equivalent (MPGe).
The Alias was one of 136 vehicles from a total of 111 teams registered to enter the competition.[5][6] It progressed through preliminary stages at Michigan International Speedway, and survived the shakedown that was completed on May 13, 2010, after which 22 teams remained.[7] Driven by Al Unser Jr., it qualified for the finals in July with eight other vehicles.[8] All battery-electric vehicles went through an efficiency and performance run held on July 27, with the vehicles making 50 laps around the 2-mile (3.2-kilometre) track without exceeding 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) or dropping below 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) in a chicane along the backstretch.[6] The Alias, using a BorgWarner single-speed eGearDrive gearbox transmission,[9] was eliminated in this last track event at 97 miles (156 km) out of 100 miles (160 km) due to a controller setting that activated the automatic safety system, causing it to come to a stop[6][10][11] and placing the team at 4th place in the event.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Cleland, Gary (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.
- ^ McKeegan, Noel (24 January 2008). "ZAP brings Alias highway electric car project closer to reality". NewAtlas. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "ZAP Unveils Pre-production Alias Electric Car at NADA". Puregreencars.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.[dead link]
- ^ "Detroit Auto Show". uk.cars.yahoo.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.[dead link]
- ^ "Registered Teams Overview" (PDF). X Prize Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- ^ a b c Ahrens, Ronald (16 September 2010). "3 Teams Win Automotive X Prize". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ^ Evarts, Eric. "Automotive X Prize: Final Shakedown results". Consumer Reports Cars Blog. Archived from the original on 17 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "In the Fastlane". Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ "A Race to the Finish!". Progress Automotive X Prize. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Cosmic Log – The last super-cars standing". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "Finals Stage Official Results | Progressive Automotive XPRIZE". Progressiveautoxprize.org. Retrieved 20 May 2012.[dead link]