Coca-Cola in Uruguay Using ZAP Xebra Trucks to Test New Urban Distribution Model

23 January 2008

The Coca-Cola Company and ZAP announced a project to use 30 ZAP Xebra compact all-electric trucks to test a new urban distribution system in Montevideo, Uruguay. Officials from Coca-Cola subsidiary Montevideo Refrescos SRL (Monresa) and ZAP say that they are also testing new efficient motors as part of the project.

Larger delivery vans will transfer Coca-Cola shipments into 30 ZAP Xebra trucks for delivery into congested areas in Montivideo. Click to enlarge

Monresa has received the initial order for 30 ZAP Xebras and is now placing them into service delivering beverages throughout Montevideo. The ZAP Xebras will be incorporated into a mobile distribution hub model in which larger delivery trucks will no longer be used throughout the city, but will transfer beverages into ZAP trucks at distribution hubs.

Modified with enclosed, lockable beds, the ZAP Xebras will navigate the narrower inner-city streets to make deliveries to smaller retail locations. Because the ZAP trucks will operate more easily in this environment, officials from Coca-Cola say their drivers can deliver vehicles and collect payment at the same time, whereas collections were not practical with the larger trucks.

If successful, Coca-Cola may expand their use to large cities around the world where rising gas prices, traffic congestion, pollution and parking shortages restrict the use of large delivery trucks. Officials say that the new distribution model using these trucks averages about one-fifth the fuel consumption of the former model.

Coca-Cola’s distribution model is similar to the one used recently by United Parcel Service (UPS) in Northern California in which a fleet of 42 ZAP trucks and sedans were used to expand small parcel deliveries during peak holiday demand. UPS delivery vans transferred smaller packages to a locked storage unit, then a Xebra transports the packages into dense urban and residential areas where parking and traffic are easier for the smaller vehicles.

ZAP is expanding the distribution for the Xebra worldwide as part of a strategic partnership with Shandong Jindalu vehicle company of China. ZAP is now distributing the cars and trucks designed for city-speed transportation. ZAP recently formed a joint venture with one of China’s newest car companies, Youngman Automotive Group, to manufacture electric and hybrid cars, buses and trucks.

UPS Leasing a Total of 92 ZAP Electric Trucks

December 11, 2009

SANTA ROSA, CA - For the third year in a row, UPS has leased a fleet of electric trucks from ZAP to help with deliveries to urban and residential communities in the Bay Area, according to the vehicle manufacturer.

The 25 ZAP electric trucks will help UPS drivers to more easily schedule delivery routes in neighborhoods and dense urban areas where congestion and parking restrictions present potential problems for larger UPS vans. UPS has leased 92 electric vehicles from ZAP since 2007 to assist with increased delivery needs during November and December.

For the past several years, ZAP has been targeting fleet applications for electric vehicles and says the experience with UPS starting in 2007 continues to provide an example to the fleet industry about the benefits of electricity.

Other fleets that currently operate ZAP vehicles include the U.S. military, the Federal Aviation Administration, restaurant chain El Pollo Loco, and Bexar County, Texas.

El Pollo Loco Rolls Out ZAP Electric Vehicles for Local Deliveries

24. Jul, 2008 by webmestre

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Jul 8, 2008 — As gas prices hit record levels again across the nation this week, restaurant chain El Pollo Loco is driving its marketing efforts in a new way — literally — through the rollout of two electric delivery vehicles from ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB).

  El Pollo Loco Rolls Out ZAP Electric Vehicles for Local Deliveries

El Pollo Loco, the nation’s leader in flame-grilled chicken, now employs a pair of three-wheel, sub compact electric cars covered in bumper-to-bumper brand messaging and emblazoned with scorching red flames against a purple background. With over 400 fast casual restaurants, El Pollo Loco was searching for a delivery vehicle that would act as a moving billboard for the restaurant’s new delivery and catering restaurant in the Beverly Hills and Century The electric cars were wrapped with El Pollo Loco’s branding.The electric cars were wrapped with El Pollo Loco’s branding.City areas, as well as contribute to the company’s environmental stewardship efforts. The unique electric cars make an eye-catching statement as they whirr quietly down the street with El Pollo Loco’s corporate branding wrap. Studies show electric vehicles produce 97 percent less emissions than a gas-powered vehicle. A single electric vehicle driven for 30 miles a day in place of a gas vehicle saves about 700 gallons of gas per year.

“People stop in their tracks and can’t stop staring at these cars wrapped with the El Pollo Loco branding. Not only does it make a statement about driving electric vehicles, it acts like a green billboard for the restaurant,” says Karen Eadon, El Pollo Loco’s chief marketing officer. “One of our drivers arrived at an office recently where more than 20 people came out to take pictures of the car. The vehicle draws an incredible amount of attention.”

El Pollo Loco on the hood of a ZAP Xebra electric city carEl Pollo Loco on the hood of a ZAP Xebra electric city carAAA reported Monday that the national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose to an all-time high of $4.108, up slightly from the previous record of $4.107. Gas prices have soared more than 38% in the last year and are 3% higher than a month ago.

El Pollo Loco purchased the Xebra electric vehicles from Santa-Rosa-based ZAP, a company that offers a full line of electric and advanced technology vehicles. With a top speed of 40 miles per hour, the Xebra is 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, and slightly over 5 feet high with a carrying capacity of 1,000 pounds. It plugs into a 110-volt outlet for a full charge in up to six hours and a 50 percent charge in up to 1.5 hours. It comes in either a 4-door sedan or a pickup. The average range on a single charge is up to 25 miles. The cost to run a Xebra, which retails for about $12,000, is about three cents a mile, compared to 13.3 cents a mile for a gas vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon at $4 a gallon. Maintenance costs are one-third that of gas vehicles due to the reduction of moving parts, less wear, and replacements.

El Pollo Loco ZAPs Gas Prices with Electric Delivery CarsEl Pollo Loco ZAPs Gas Prices with Electric Delivery CarsZAP says the demand for its electric vehicles has skyrocketed with record gas prices. In April, ZAP reported it had delivered over 700 units in the United States and in May they reported a $6.8 million backlog for the Xebra, more than the Company’s sales for all of last year. ZAP officials say orders have even surpassed their own projections. Most of the demand initially has been from consumers, but recent gas prices are causing many corporate and government fleet buyers to start exploring the use of electric vehicles.

“We would like to congratulate El Pollo Loco for its environmental leadership,” said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. “With gas at record high prices, we offer companies the chance to lead the way in energy conservation. Not only do the electric vehicles send a green message, our technologies have the potential to significantly impact a company’s bottom line and impact the economy as a whole,” says ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.

El Pollo Loco recently expanded into New England, where it celebrated its 400th location in the Boston area in May. Throughout 2008, El Pollo Loco is continuing expansion into other markets around the country, including California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia.

About ZAP

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, electric, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP has a joint venture called Detroit Electric to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group. Detroit Electric is developing a freeway capable electric vehicle called the ZAP Alias. ZAP is also developing a new generation of vehicles using lithium batteries. The Company recently announced a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Al Yousuf Group to expand its international vehicle distribution. ZAP also makes an innovative, new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops. For product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com.

ZAP Electric Trucks Added to FAA Fleet

August 13, 2009

WASHINGTON - Electric vehicle company ZAP will supply the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a fleet of Zaptruck XL, a versatile 100-percent plug-in electric truck. The FAA will take delivery of the vehicles in September at a major metro center in the Midwest.

 

ZAP CEO Steven Schneider said the company has been responding to a large number of municipal and governmental RFQs for vehicles of a similar nature, delivering to cities, counties, hospitals, colleges, park districts, corporations, and small businesses.

Schneider said the FAA's initial order for Zaptruck XLs was placed through a ZAP specialty dealer, a certified SDVOSB (Service-connected Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business) supplier in Southern California.

The El Pollo Loco restaurant chain uses ZAP Xebras in its delivery fleet.

Obvio!, Lotus to create multifuel, microsports cars

By Chris Tutor   Date Dec,26,2006

 

It's really easy to get excited when you hear Lotus is teaming up with a Brazilian carmaker to produce a small (89" wheelbase), light (1,648 lbs), three-seat sportscar called the 012. Then to hear it gets 40 mpg on the highway from its 1.6L 4 cylinder and offers a choice of paddle-shifted CVT or 6-speed manual and it's starts to sound very interesting especially when the list base price is only $28,000! And there's more? Sportier models offer 170 hp, and 250 hp Tritec engines. With that power to weight ratio, you'll be the Autocross king! My god, that's better than the GT3, the Sport Exige and even better than the Caterham

R400! Those numbers, according Obvio, the company planning the 012, are attained while running ethanol or compressed natural gas. Pump good old gasoline into the tank and see a 10% boost!

If only you didn't live in the lawsuit-happy U.S.A . With luck, you'll get to drive it on your vacation to Brazil next summer.

Cancel the trip, because ZAP!, the company importing the first Smart cars into the States, has signed a contract with Obvio to buy 50,000 of their little funcars over three years beginning in 2008. There will also be an electric plug-in version of the car, with 0-60 times in the 4.5 second range, a top speed of 120 mph and a starting price of $59,000.

If you like your sporty economy cars to look more econ than sport, check out the Obvio 828 and more details on both models after the jump.

Smart car to U.S.? Still a maybe ...... but Zap's still on the case

2006

DaimlerChrySler stillhasn't decided whether Smart will come to the United States despite promises that an announcement would be made at the Geneva auto show. But it seems to be leaning toward yes.

Said Ulrich Walker, head of Smart: "We are close. ...We will decide within the next weeks."

But Walker pointed to a comment DaimlerChrysler CEODieter Zetsche made to a German reporter last week: "It is now more likely that we will decide in favor of rather than against (entering) the U.S."

 

Zetsche also said DaimlerChrysler still is entertaining offers of joint cooperation and even the outright sale of Smart, but he wouldn't say which companies have expressed an interest.

U.S. distribution would be a thorny issue. Mercedes-Benz disbanded its project to name dealers in the United States after DaimlerChrysler's previous management decided against U.S. Smart sales. Mercedes now is considering whether Smart should be sold only in areas of the country where the tiny car would be popular, a spokesman said recently.

Wannabe small-car importer Zap is making waves again.

Last spring the company placed an out-of-the blue order with DalmlerChrysler for $1 billion worth of Smart cars. But it was stiff-armed by the automaker, which said it had doubts about Zap's ability to pay. Zap, deeply offended, smacked DaimlerChrysler with a $500 million lawsuit last fall.

Although Smart says it wants nothing to do with Zap, the California company says it's doing an end run around the auto giant by procuring Smart cars from thirdparty brokers it wouldn't identify. Zap said last week that it has delivered 85 Smart cars to U.S.dealers, and CEOSteve Schneider said the company has 250 it's preparing to deliver this month.

Zap spokesman AlexCampbell says the company has" about a dozen" dealers, but he said he didn't know the exact number.

At least one of them - Sue McFarland of McFarland Ford in Exeter, N.H.- is a new-vehicle dealer. She said she sold the one Smart that Zap provided last summer and iswillingto take fivemore.