80 MPH 3 Wheel Electric Car

fredsheldon · Post by **fredsheldon** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:27 pm

Look at what passed me going at least 80 mph on the freeway the other day. At first I thought the right front wheel was missing but I looked it up on the internet and it has a single front wheel and is all electric.

[ATTACH]22753[/ATTACH]
It's called the ZAP.

http://houstonelectriccars.net/images/s ... rd-web.jpg

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:35 pm

There's a similar vehicle called Elio that is made in Shreveport. Except the two wheels are in front. To me, it looks like one of those Cam Am "motorcycles" with a shell around it.

joshh · Post by **joshh** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:09 pm

fredsheldon wrote:Look at what passed me going at least 80 mph on the freeway the other day. It's called the ZAP.

Sound of the driver's life flashing before his/her eyes

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:06 am

Looks pretty scary at that sort of speed...I assume this is the company, although I don't see that specific vehicle on their website:
http://www.zapworld.com

fredsheldon · Post by **fredsheldon** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:33 am

Oops, the original ZAP was produced in 2008 and was all electric and had a top speed of 40 mph. That version was recalled in 2012 due to brake issues and all 700 were ordered to be destroyed by the National Transporation office. This latest version has a 2 cyl engine and can go over 70 mph.

http://www.saferwholesale.com/Brand-New ... 7AodfwkAYg

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:01 am

Better watch out; Ralph Nader might do to this what he did to the Corvair!

BPR

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:46 pm

fredsheldon wrote:Oops, the original ZAP was produced in 2008 and was all electric and had a top speed of 40 mph. That version was recalled in 2012 due to brake issues and all 700 were ordered to be destroyed by the National Transporation office. This latest version has a 2 cyl engine and can go over 70 mph.

http://www.saferwholesale.com/Brand-New ... 7AodfwkAYg

I have to wonder what sort of brake issues they had that required them all to be destroyed, rather than simply repairing them or retrofitting to resolve the issue...

frank81 · Post by **frank81** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:13 pm

dgale wrote:I have to wonder what sort of brake issues they had that required them all to be destroyed, rather than simply repairing them or retrofitting to resolve the issue...

Looking at the pic, my guess based on the size of the wheels and wheel wells is not enough braking surface for the real world loaded curb weight. The only way to fix that is go to a longer, more expensive brake caliper or change the body and frame to accomodate larger wheels and rotors. Both are very cost prohibitive, and it may have been cheaper to scrap.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 2:51 pm

Three wheelers with one in front and two in back are dangerous. Three wheelers with two in front and one in back are generally safer.

Personally I would not get into the car with one front wheel configuration.
Unless you are in an absolutely straight line braking situation one of the two back wheels is not carrying must weight. Turn just the slightest and wheel on the inside of the turn will have all the weight unloaded off of it.

So now you are braking on two wheels with most of the braking on the front that is loaded with a lot of weight but is probably fairly small to fit inside the car design.

I think you might be safer on a skate board at 80 then in this car.

kenbu · Post by **kenbu** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:35 pm

Looks a lot like the Reliant Robin the BBC Top Gear crew are always bashing -- and crashing. Seems fundamentally unstable.

http://youtu.be/QQh56geU0X8

Ken

Shopsmith Forums

80 MPH 3 Wheel Electric Car

80 MPH 3 Wheel Electric Car

Update Update