ZAP lands $25M, branches into full-size electric vehicles
ZAP, a company known for building electric motorcycles and three-wheel cars, has just raised $25 million in capital and plans to use the money to jump headlong into full-size electric vehicles. To buoy this effort, it is also seeking $200 million in stimulus loans from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Santa Rosa, Calif.-based ZAP is uniquely positioned for several reasons. Due to its well-developed scooter business — which has been around since 1994 — it has… Continue Reading
Electric cars disappointed in 2008 — and 2009 won’t be different
The Detroit Auto Show is underway, and the world’s most famous vehicle brands are touting the next generation of cars. And although yesterday’s fervent promises of hydrogen-powered vehicles have mostly fallen away, they’ve been replaced with new promises, this time centered around the idea of the electric car.
Don’t believe the hype. Although electric vehicles are almost certainly the way forward, much of the motion is really a show intended to sway the opinion of consumers… Continue Reading
Tesla Motors to site its manufacturing plant in San Jose
Tesla Motors, the heavily-funded electric car company that produces the high-end Roadster sports car, has settled on a location in San Jose, Calif. for its manufacturing plant to make a more market-oriented car model.
The site of the new factory has been uncertain, while Tesla let various states and cities go through a bidding process of offering financial incentives. After deciding to site in the United States, the company in mid-summer allowed California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger… Continue Reading
30 electric cars companies ready to take over the road
It’s official: Green car madness has taken over. After seeing more electric and hybrid vehicle startups than we could keep track of, we finally decided to start keeping count.
We’ve compiled a list, below, of 27 (update: the list has reached 30; thanks for the comments) startups, listed according to their release date, with additional information on fuel type, range, top speed and price. Most haven’t yet taken venture funding, but where applicable, we’ve listed financial… Continue Reading
The Zap-X dream car, so much hype?
Santa Rosa, Calif. company Zap, a company that has gone through bankruptcy once already, is asking for $25,000 deposits on its electric car that has yet to be built.
The company is making all kinds of promises (first reported by Forbes and picked up by a Wired blog) that seem too good to be true:
It will recharge in 10 minutes and travel 350 miles on that charge. It will go zero to 60 mph in 4.8… Continue Reading