Zap Cars Coming to Lancaster

The Lititz Car Company will soon be selling Zap Xebra electric "cars". Why am I writing about cars on a scooter blog? Why the quote marks? Because these 3-wheeled vehicles are classified as motorcycles. And if they have automatic transmissions, that makes them scooters in my mind.

A lot of people are anxious for a practical electric car... and I'm not sure this is it. The 3-wheel motorcycle designation exempts it from many of the safety features required of a car. There are no creature comforts like air-conditioning. But as a scooter rider, I'm O.K. with all that, as long as you buy it with that knowledge. They claim a 40 mile range, but that is with an extended battery (an upgrade option). Owners report only 12-17 miles without it. The batteries are lead acid; not quite state-of-the-art. And they are still pricey. About $12,000.

But I bet there will be a market for them. Under some very specific conditions, they could be the the perfect vehicle. That pick-up can haul a lot more bulk than a scooter. They are street legal, which is step up from a golf cart. How about something to link campus properties? As a delivery vehicle or an in-city all-weather commuter, they could be the ticket. A plug-in car sure is intriguing.

They have their detracters, that's for sure. Wired wrote a long, scathing article about Zap. The Xebra itself has gotten some bad reviews. But every car has its enthusiasts. For that perspective, see Xebra World. I look forward to seeing them on the road here in Lancaster. I think they're cute.