Zap Xebra

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 28 2007, 12:40 AM) [snapback]450892[/snapback]</div>

That's exactly what I was going to say. Never say never. As a long time sales person I never guarantee anything for sure.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tracysbeans @ May 28 2007, 08:02 AM) [snapback]450965[/snapback]</div>

This is funny!

I certainly understand that the low CG is going to make the car more stable - we see that in the Rav for sure. The E-version handles way the heck better than the gas version since the gas version has the big heavy engine up there above the axels, while the E-version has the weight of the batteries below the exels. Certainly makes a difference.

But you turn any of these cars hard across a slope, or slide them into a curb, or hit them from the side with another vehicle - they'll go over. And yes - lifting one wheel well off the ground is a pretty good sign that the possibility exists!

The Tango is an amazing thing to watch in action, that's for sure. It seems like an optical illusion when yous see it able to power-slide around tight turns without lifing a wheel or even appearing to lean any more than a ground-hugging sports car!

If any of these cars DO manage to roll, the chance of them ending up back on their wheels is highter than "normal" cars because of the low CG.

 

That's the karmic kaleidoscopic stabliser that keeps the car from keeling over, correct?

 

We have am 06 ZAP Xebra SD which we got used for $1700 about 6 months ago. It does the easy job we ask of it, but I certainly wouldn't recommend buying one to anybody.

We got it because we live only 2.5 miles from my wife's work and it would only be used for that drive. The range is probably 15 tops, don't know, haven't ever gone that far. Have gone over 10 miles before charging and found the car to be really sluggish. The top speed is 32mph, which is a bit of a problem on some of the Arterials around here. There is one stretch on her route where the limit is 35 and it is hard to keep up with traffic.

We don't really have our own parking spot, so it fits in a tiny space next to our house, which is one of the reasons we got it. Another reason was that minimum liability insurance requirements on it are quite cheap since it is classified as a motorcycle. (If you go through the right insurance anyway, some companies are now charging full car rates)

Finally I like to avoid buying islamic Oil if I can avoid it, so I like just plugging it in. So if you have a short trip to take on roads with low speed limits, no hills, no weather extremes, don't mind having to fix lots of stupid little things because of shoddy workmanship, don't mind lots of attention anytime you drive it, then the ZAP is almost tolerable if you can get one cheap.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement. I say just wait a little while longer until proper electric cars hit the US market, avoid glorified golf carts like the Xebra.

 

Yes I do think with the battery upgrades it would be much better. A bit better speed and range. Ours has the original Deka Dominators which are not great batteries.

Not sure if we want to sink any more money into it though. Major issue is that it doesn't take kindly to bad weather, which isn't a huge issue here in SoCal, but even with our mild winters here, it is too fogged up to drive in the mornings this time of year and the "defroster" is a joke. I know they have made improvements since the '06 but I still think it is way overpriced if you buy it new.