ZAP Distributing Electric Vehicles From Wuling Motors Of China

ZAP distributes Wuling Motors electric truck

ZAP received the first shipment of small electric trucks from Wuling Motors of China earlier this year.  To date approximately 100 of the vehicles, which are classified as LSVs, have been shipped to the US.  Most of the vehicle is manufactured by Shanghai-GM-Wuling except for the transmission, battery, controls and motor.  The batteries are provided by HOPPECKE Batterien GmbH & Co. KG and the vehicles have an AC motor.  Besides ZAP, Green Go Tek also distributes the electric trucks.

Wuling is planning on rolling out their Smile-E micro car for the NEV markets such as gated communities and retirement areas as early as next month.  The Smile-E will be distributed by Green Go Tek and Ruff and Tuff vehicles. Learn more:  ChinaBizGov

Zap Announces Military Reorder & Increased Production Schedule

Electric vehicle maker Zap recently announced that the US military has followed up a June order for their Zaptruck XL with a request for eleven more of the vehicles.  The military is ordering five 220-volt fast charging stations as well.  The management also reported that they…

…have been increasing our production and assembly schedules for the past several months and I expect to see even more ramp-up initiatives in the next quarter.

Learn more:  Earthtimes.org

FAA Orders Fleet Of Zap Trucks

FAA Orders Fleet Of Zaptruck XL's

ZAP recently announced that they have been awarded a contract to provide the FAA with a fleet of their Zaptruck XL’s.  An initial order of seven of the olug-in all electric vehicles will be delivered in September.  There was no further information on how large the contract will potentially be. Learn more:  Marketwire.com

ZAP Trucks Help The US Army Go Green

ZAPTruck XL Ready For Shipment

ZAP has begun shipping their ZAPTruck XL, an electric LSV, to the US military for use at military bases around the world.  The purchase continues the trend by the US military of moving to more fuel efficient and often smaller vehicles for specific on base applications.  The company did not provide any specific sales figures for the contract.  Learn more:  Zapworld.com

ZAP Completes Made In USA Electric Pickup Engineering Project

ZAP reports finishing an engineering project to develop an electric pickup truck where most of the parts and components will be made in the United States.  The project is an extension of the company’s efforts to shift vehicle production back to the US. Learn more:   marketwire.com

ZAP Unveils Electric Wheel Motor Technology

Zap has announced the development of an 8,000 watt wheel motor which could be incorporated into production vehicles next year if funding is available.  The new motor is based on technology behind the electric motor used in their scooter, the Zapino.  The Zapino motor is 3,000 watts and seven inches in diameter compared to 8,000 watts and ten inches for the new motor.  If wheel motors are incorporated into four-wheel vehicles, the transmission and drive train can be eliminated and more space can be made available for additional batteries.  Learn more  marketwire.com

Road Use Regulation Round Up

Ocean City, NJ – Police urge city council to keep golf cars off city streets for safety reasons.

West Baraboo, WI - Passes ordinance allowing NEVs on low speed streets and certain crossings of state highway.

Charleston, NC – A limousine service with two Tomberlin E-merge vehicles as part of their fleet had to cease using the LSVs when the city attorneys determined the vehicles violated city code and zoning ordinance. The owner hopes the city will revisit the issue later in the year.

Wausau, WI – City amends ordinance to allow NEVs to be driven on some city streets.

Massachusetts – Legislation bans the use of NEVs on roads with speed limits above 30 mph and requires that they follow the same licensing and registration rules as cars. Additional legislation allows the Registry of Motor Vehicles to register as “motorcycles” three-wheeled electric vehicles that have standard safety equipment and travel no faster than 40 miles per hour. (i.e. Zap Xebra) Such vehicles could be registered at the discretion of the Registrar, and would be limited to traveling on public roads having speed limits of 40 miles per hour or less.

Pittsfield, IL – Ordinance proposed to allow the use of NEVs and golf cars to operate on city streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less and cross streets with higher speed limits.

Indiana – Legislation proposed to allow mini-trucks to be licensed and titled. Apparently the state’s motor vehicle department has been inconsistent in their approach to these vehicles. The department plans to title them as off-road vehicles, which allows owners to drive them on secondary roads in some Indiana counties.

ZAP Developments

Last week ZAP announced that partner Integrity Manufacturing had completed its application for a $200 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. The loan is for a manufacturing facility in Kentucky for producing ZAP vehicles as well as other all electric vehicles.

Later this month, at the National Automobile Dealers Association conference in New Orleans, ZAP plans to debut their new Shuttle and XL Truck. These LSVs have a top speed f 25mph and a range of 30 miles. The Shuttle has an MSRP of $14,700 and the truck will list for $14,500.

ZAP Introduces LSV Electric Truck

ZAP recently announced the addition of the ZAP Truck XL to their line of vehicles. In a departure from their existing top sellers, the truck has four wheels and is classified as a low speed vehicle. The Truck XL has a payload of 800lbs, a range of 30 miles and can be recharged in 6 hours from a standard 110 volt outlet. Faster charging is available with an optional 220 volt upgrade. The vehicle is targeting industrial and utility fleets and has a MSRP of $14,950.

Kentucky Venture Gets ZAPped

According to a number of reports(Lexington Herald-Leader, earth2tech, autobloggreen), the plans to build ZAP vehicles in Kentucky through a joint venture with Integrity Manufacturing have come to a halt. The company’s CEO Randy Waldman points to the loss of potential investor GE Capital as the primary reason. Apparently GE Capital was to provide $125 million in funding through a sale of bonds (although the Earth2tech story disputes this) but has pulled out of the deal. Integrity Manufacturing is now trying to find money in a $200 billion Department of Energy fund targeting energy projects. An alternative being mentioned by management is to convince another state to provide funding or a manufacturing facility.