The ZAP Alias Roadster is a plug-in electric three-wheeled sports car, from the Americanelectric car maker ZAP in Santa Rosa – California, project initiated in 2007 through a collaboration between ZAP and Lotus Engineering, the UK-based automotive engineering company, who is assisting with the development of the vehicle.
Technical details
The vehicle has three wheels, two at the front, each containing an electric wheel-motor, and one at the rear, batteries are fitted underneath the vehicle in a reinforced composite battery box. The performance announced in 2008, was 0- mph in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of mph and a range of. Supposed to go into production in 2009, the first Alias pre-production was unveiled at NADA 2009. During the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan from 11 to 24 January, the company revealed the revised specifications for the Alias prototype, powered by AC induction motor at 216 volts, 0- in 7.8 seconds, with a top speed of and a range up to, homologated as a motorcycle.
The Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize is a global competition to teams that win rigorous stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100MPG energy equivalent. The Alias was one of the 136 vehicles from a total of 111 teams registered to enter the competition. It progressed preliminary stages at Michigan International Speedway, survived the shakedown that was completed on 13 May 2010, after which 22 teams remained. Driven by Al Unser, Jr., qualified for the finals in July with other eight vehicles. All battery-electric vehicles went through an efficiency and performance run held on 27 July, with the vehicles making 50 laps around the two-mile Michigan track without exceeding 70 miles per hour or dropping below 45 miles per hour in a chicane along the backstretch. The Alias, driving with a BorgWarner single-speed eGearDrive gearbox transmission, was eliminated in this last track event at the 97 miles out of 100 miles due to controller setting which activated the automatic safety system as a result slowed the vehicle and came to a stop, positioning the team at a final 4th place in the event.
