Zap!

I saw a Xebra Sedan the other day in a parking lot. I didn't have a camera with me, but you can see it here: http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/xebra-sedan

Interesting. It had a motorcycle license plate on it, which apparently is an advantage of the three-wheel design. Plus there was a gigantic package of toilet paper in the back. Hey, everyone poops.

Yep, I've seen three of them running around Northeast Portland.

Every time I see I think of the Reliant Robin and all of the pain that is inflicted upon them by Mr. Bean as well as getting blown up on Top Gear.

I've been watching this company for a couple of years now. Seemed like a good idea... have a cheap electric vehicle that you could knock around town in. Being registered as a motorcycle allows it to get around those pesky federal standards for cars. But, not all is what it seems:

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-04/ff_zapped

Heeey, it's the Robin of tomorrow!

Being a Xebra I'm sure it's a total POS, but I'd pick up a used one cheap for the novelty factor.

I see these Zap's all the time here in eugene. The 40mph top speed does not factor in slight inclines. The drivers look terrified trying to go up overpasses.

My beef with the Zap is well they put the wheels on backwards. One in the front? Really? it is 2008 after all. I saw a zap truck tip onto 2 wheels going into the grocery store parking lot last week. The driver was white as a sheet when he got out.

The quality is staggeringly bad as well. Even the small body panels are wavy as can be. Stand a few paces from one and it looks like a 6 year old did all the body smoothing with a large rock.

Better body panel molds and put the two wheels in the front and I am all over one.

Hey, how about $54,000 for a 100 mile range?

http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/

Then there's the $6,000 electric bicycle that I saw the other day.

Early adopters beware.

Yeah, these things are cropping up everywhere in Portland. The basic concept seems like a good one, but I agree with ditchdigger on the execution....the single front wheel has me terrified, and the quality seems to be not-quite 80's-GM. My girlfriend's landlord has one, and I haven't been too impressed.

This is funny.

Today, I'm delivering my print product (part time job during school) and I pass a store front in Lititz that has a big "ZAP! Coming soon!" out front.

So I thought to myself..."what in the world is a Zap?"

Well now I know, because they had this out front: