The Zap-x Crossover Electric Car

The ZAP-X Crossover Electric Car - 155mph, 644 Horsepower, based on the APX

technical demonstrator vehicle designed & developed by Lotus Engineering

ZAP-X features all wheel drive, 10 minute recharge time, a 350 Mile Range and will be the

centre piece of the NADA Exhibition, 3rd to 6th of February 2007.

Automotive pioneer ZAP [OTC BB: ZAAP] today announced plans to display Lotus

Engineering’s advanced APX concept car at the North American Dealers Association (NADA)

annual meeting and exhibition, February 3 to 6, 2007, confirming their choice to move ahead

using Lotus’ revolutionary platform and body structure design as the basis for the development

of the high performance electric ZAP-X.

ZAP and Lotus Engineering will begin the first phase of an engineering project to use the

British consultancy’s APX (“Aluminium Performance Crossover”) as a basis for designing a

production-ready electric all-wheel drive crossover high performance vehicle for ZAP in the

USA market.

A combination of the lightweight aluminium vehicle architecture, a new efficient drive and

advanced battery management systems is intended to enable a range of up to 350 miles

between charges, with a rapid 10-minute recharging time. An auxiliary power unit is planned

to support longer distance journeys.

Lotus’ APX’s conventional gasoline V6 engine will be replaced by revolutionary in-hub electric

motors, delivering 644 horsepower in all wheel drive mode, theoretically capable of powering

the ZAP-X to a potential top speed of 155mph. A new strong, lightweight and highly efficient

structure based on the Lotus technology is planned to give the car a very attractive power-toweight

ratio.

Steve Schneider, CEO of ZAP, said: “Lotus Engineering's APX technology demonstrator

vehicle is a perfect fit for our plans to introduce a full product portfolio of electric cars. Due to

the initial design by Lotus, our cost and time to production will be significantly reduced. We

believe that the ZAP-X will become the most advanced, most practical and most appealing

flagship electric vehicle to date and will revolutionize the industry providing the driver with the

enjoyment of a sports car and the practicality of an SUV.”

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc, said: “Lotus Engineering’s APX is a world-class

innovative concept and was developed to showcase real solutions to new challenges facing

the automotive industry. So it’s very satisfying that ZAP’s proposed new model will make use

of a great deal of the APX concept’s advanced body structure and chassis technology. The

bringing together of these next-generation vehicle technologies represents another significant

step forward for automotive technology.”

The APX showcases Lotus Engineering’s Versatile Vehicle Architecture technology, combining

lightweight aluminium vehicle architecture with exceptionally strong and stiff structural rigidity,

as well as lower manufacturing investment requirements. Having first been shown to the world

at the Geneva motor show in 2006, the APX concept has won the 2006 European Aluminium

Awards in the “Transport and Automotive” category.

The innovative placement of the power train leaves the space previously occupied by the

conventional engine and drive train for additional battery capacity and amenities, making it a

very consumer-oriented electric car concept. These design features will give the ZAP-X

crossover the structural strength, and potentially storage and range that no electric vehicle has

yet achieved publicly.

The development programme is proposed to be managed from a new centre of excellence for

research and development of environmentally-friendly vehicle designs and technologies.

Engineering input will come from Lotus Engineering Inc, and the British technology

consultancy’s other R&D centres in the UK, Malaysia and China.

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/uploa...pr_download.pdf