ZAP Launches Sale of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car, Tests Show up to 120 MPG - GreenHybrid

Jason · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Electric car pioneer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) is now offering plug-in hybrid conversion systems for the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid through a collaboration agreement with Hybrids Plus.

Hybrid vehicles retrofitted with systems from Hybrids Plus of Boulder, Colorado can achieve a significantly greater fuel economy. In tests these systems increased hybrid fuel economy up to 120 miles per gallon in the city and up to 90 mpg on the highway. The cost for the conversion ranges from $24,000 to $36,000 depending on the vehicle and size of battery pack.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...re/0372491.htm

bwilson4web · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 02:14 PM

I suspect the first models will be sold to government agencies interested in 'evaluating' PHEV. But we need a little more information, the amount of energy stored in the batteries, to really understand what they are doing.

Still, a good start until the Volt arrives.

Bob Wilson

thad7561@flash.net · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 03:15 PM

Boy, just what the country needs, for the common man. a multi-thousand upgrade. To have aWhat are they doing, throwing in a car too? How about you just change the computer that selects the mode and the conditions under which it runs and a differnt battery pack at most. Plug in would be good. Oh yes Ford Escape in case you wondered. In fact, doesn't anyone out there have a replacement chip that doesn't care what the temperture is, and shuts off the engine all the time (except as required)? That can't be that hard tp replace. Ford cetainly does not seem to care if it gets better or not. There have been no improvewments in milage or operatoing logic since model !.

thad7561@flash.net · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 03:26 PM

jUST WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION AND FIGHT "GLOBAL WARMING" A MULTI-THOUSAND MODIFICATION FOR EXISTING MODELS. fOR IT TO HAVE ANY EFFECT, we must replace thousands if not millions of vehicles. It seems to me that a change of computer chips using operating logic allowing the engine to shut down at every stop (unless needed to charge it's batteries) and a set of more efficent battteries Temperature, if closely EXAMINED IS NOT RELAVENT AND SHOUILD BE A NON-FACTOR. Plug-in would be good but ineffectional if the heat requirement is not removed. I am speaking of the Ford Escape. That kind of modification is just for the few not the masses required.

ken1784 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thad7561@flash.net

jUST WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO REDUCE OIL CONSUMPTION AND FIGHT "GLOBAL WARMING" A MULTI-THOUSAND MODIFICATION FOR EXISTING MODELS. fOR IT TO HAVE ANY EFFECT, we must replace thousands if not millions of vehicles.

Increasing plug-in vehicle means increasing coal power generation and CO2 emission.
"Potential Impacts of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles on Regional Power Generation"
http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/...v_analysis.pdf

Ken@Japan

mr_magoo · #6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 02:24 PM

WIRED has just published (online) an expose on ZAP that is rather negative, so anyone who wants to do business with that bunch ought to go in with eyes wide open:

http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretran...6-04/ff_zapped