CES: Xebra and Zap! Cars
This little car is electric. It was featured at a couple of booths at the Sands convention floor. Zap! Cars was one of the sponsors for the Scientific American Innovations People’s Choice Awards. Here are a run down of the facts:
- Speeds up to 40 mph (not freeway legal)
- Range up to 40 miles (don’t go too far from home)
- Uses NO gasoline (all you do is plug it in)
- Length: 9 feet Width: 4.7 feet Height: 5 feet Weight: approximately 1500 pounds
- Seats up to four people (only if they’re short)
- You can charge it at any electric outlet
- It comes in Xebra Flash (pictured above), Ocean Blue (pictured below), Kiwi Green and Lipstick Red.
I used to own a Yugo in the Eighties and this car was very similarly equipped. I had a flashback of trying to find a window crank for the Yugo when I saw the interior of the vehicle and I immediately recoiled from the machine. Unless you live in Southern California, this car is probably not for you. When the window crank breaks, you want to be able to walk into any auto parts store to get a replacement.
I can’t find any information about how long it takes to charge a Xebra. I would hate to think that it’s only good for 40 miles of errands and then it has to charge overnight. That would make it completely useless. I might as well ride my bike.
It sure is a cute car, though. Despite the limitations, I’m attracted to it in a strange way. It reminds me of the car in the video “Never Let Me Down Again†by Depeche Mode (that car had one wheel in the back instead of two). It feels very European with its three-wheel design. I imagine driving it would be fun because I would be the only one in my city with a Xebra. Still, Salt Lake City is very spread out and 40 miles wouldn’t even get me from one end of the Salt Lake Valley to the other.