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gohiking Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,239 Points:1,050,085 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2007 3:57:33 PM Ignore gohiking Report Abuse I am buying an all electric vehicle called the ZAP Xebra. I noticed that there isn't alot of information about electric cars out there, so I'll share my experience here to help others who might like to know more about them. The Zap Xebra Sedan is known as a NEV or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle which is fully enclosed with 4 doors and seating for 4 passengers. It is a 3-wheeled vehicle, so it is classified as a motorcycle by most state DMVs. The top speed is 40MPH. Because I am getting more advanced batteries than the basic model, I will determine what the Xebra's range will be; The advertised range on the companies web site is 40 miles.

gohiking

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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Aug 20, 2007 3:57:33 PM

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I am buying an all electric vehicle called the ZAP Xebra. I noticed that there isn't alot of information about electric cars out there, so I'll share my experience here to help others who might like to know more about them.

The Zap Xebra Sedan is known as a NEV or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle which is fully enclosed with 4 doors and seating for 4 passengers. It is a 3-wheeled vehicle, so it is classified as a motorcycle by most state DMVs. The top speed is 40MPH. Because I am getting more advanced batteries than the basic model, I will determine what the Xebra's range will be; The advertised range on the companies web site is 40 miles.

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Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 2, 2013 12:37:05 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse You live in a liberal "paradise" speedy. It's no wonder you like it there...
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 2, 2013 12:36:11 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse LOL!!! It only took you 4 months to come up with that Speedy? LOL!!!
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 2, 2013 11:21:29 AM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse Look where you have to live, though, Shock.
gohiking Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,239 Points:1,050,085 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 11:41:47 AM Ignore gohiking Report Abuse Even with San Onofre shut down for the past year, electricity prices have been stable because there is so much capacity out there. Without the phony baloney price manipulation of companies like Enron and new appliances using less energy than the older ones, and options like solar panels for homeowners, I don't see any real real crisis anytime soon.
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:56:23 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse Sounds to me like my deal is better then yours speedy...
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:54:27 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse I can say that I pay less for electricity now then I did 5 years ago speedy... 5 Years ago I was paying $.115/Kwh, today I'm payin $.0675/Kwh...
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:48:05 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse What I pay for electricity, Shock, hasn't gone up in over five years. Can you say that?
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:47:17 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse You are right, jimmy544, that the inability of San Onofre to provide a reliable source of power is just another reason for California to continue its march toward energy independence.
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:46:45 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse "You know I have solar panels on my roof, right?" Yah, Speedy took it upon himself to be pregouged for electric prices...
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:44:44 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse California is the one who decided that they needed a unique blend, so the only persons you have to blame for that predicament speedy, is you and your fellow California voters...
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:43:31 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse bluenvoy: >>Just remember. "Electric rates will necessarily skyrocket under my plan." We have 4 more years of his plan. So, don't count your savings yet.<< You know I have solar panels on my roof, right?
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:42:23 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse >>Also DOE projects the price of gas to be hit $4/gal (in the normal states) in 2014.<< California should not have its own blend of gasoline. That only makes it easier for Big Oil to gouge us on the price. How many blends do we really need to make in the United States?
ldheinz Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,041 Points:2,359,845 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 16, 2013 10:11:49 AM Ignore ldheinz Report Abuse Nobody can make any realistic projections of oil prices. We are finding more and more oil, but world usage is increasing. The price is a momentary ratio of supply and demand.
geobmw Champion Author Miami Posts:6,186 Points:1,404,170 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 11:58:42 PM Ignore geobmw Report Abuse so
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 10:00:57 PM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse A power plant shut down is nothing to celebrate out in california. Also DOE projects the price of gas to be hit $4/gal (in the normal states) in 2014.
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,015 Points:820,970 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 5:31:54 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse jimmy544 explains: "In California they may make the San Onofre nuke shutdown permanent due to a botched reactor upgrade. The utility had argued that this plants shutdown would cause brownouts and blackouts and higher prices but none of that happened. This is likely due to aggressive deployment of solar panels and renewable energy of various kinds and lack of growth from the recession." Yes, perhaps the shutdown will be permanent, but likely not; its a major power source in this area. I actually live in this area. The reason that we haven't had brownout has nothing to do with solar panels, which have virtually no impact here. Its because the last couple of summers have been relatively cool, with many fewer hot days. A prolonged heat spell here, and we will. We are already deploying remote shutdown of electric meters here.
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,125 Points:655,745 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 1:13:22 PM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse In California they may make the San Onofre nuke shutdown permanent due to a botched reactor upgrade. The utility had argued that this plants shutdown would cause brownouts and blackouts and higher prices but none of that happened. This is likely due to aggressive deployment of solar panels and renewable energy of various kinds and lack of growth from the recession. Solar energy is doubling every couple of years now and it is beginning to tip the balance towards surplus.
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:14,977 Points:1,877,640 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 11:31:08 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse Just remember. "Electric rates will necessarily skyrocket under my plan." We have 4 more years of his plan. So, don't count your savings yet.
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 11:26:11 AM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse It's no wonder that interest in EV's and natural gas vehicles is high. Just look at this week's poll on the home page. Only 15% of GB's think that gas prices will go down in the next year.
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,125 Points:655,745 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 6, 2013 10:12:01 AM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse Traffic cop misses one thing about fuel prices that most do not really understand. Oil is a worldwide commodity during the last 5 years the consumption of oil in China and India and other developing countries has skyrocketed. World oil consumption is tight and so are supplies. Or at least that is what they are telling us. WE have to get off oil. It is running out and destroying the environment the longer we put it off the worse it will be when we are forced to go off of oil. What ever it is fossil fuels will run out eventually. It is better to conserve what we have with high mileage standards and use the time to convert.
traffic cop Champion Author Boston Posts:1,252 Points:538,100 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2013 2:31:04 PM Ignore traffic cop Report Abuse When Bush left office, the market was at the bottom of a price over-correction. Gas was about $1.89 The strange thing is that (due to oil leases signed during Bush, and now brought on-line) Obama has presided over increased oil production, het we have seen generally increasing gas prices. They have been hovering in the $3.50-4.00 range, nationwide. Obama has shown himself to be highly prejudiced against hydrocarbon fuels, and has successfully enlisted the support of shrewd financial insiders (e.g. Goldman-Sachs) and the ever-faithful eco-idealogues. The root cause is financial, not market dynamics or oil production. That is, the Administration's deficit spending and the Federal Reserve's increasing ("quantitative easing") the money supply. It now takes you $100 to buy what you paid $80 for in 2008. The Food Commodity Index in 2008 was 145; now it is 210. Remember: before he became Secretary of the Treasury, tax-cheat Timmy Geithner was President of the NY Federal Reserve Bank--second only to the Chairman!
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 1:19:19 PM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse "Big Oil's gas prices have been too expensive for about five years." Oil prices have been comparatively high for far longer then 5 years. In fact the highes national gas price was hit early on in the Bnush adminsitration. Even with the high gas prices, it's still far more economical to own and drive an ICE over an EV...
ldheinz Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,041 Points:2,359,845 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 4:53:16 AM Ignore ldheinz Report Abuse 101Speedster - "Big Oil's gas prices have been too expensive for about five years. Let's see, what happened about five years ago? " "Big Oil" prices have ALWAYS followed the market. Just like everything else.
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 12:11:16 AM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse Big Oil's gas prices have been too expensive for about five years. Let's see, what happened about five years ago?
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,015 Points:820,970 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Dec 18, 2012 2:00:10 AM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse 101Speedster believes: "Temporary nature of California price increase? There is no such thing." Temporary is exactly what they are, given that gasoline in California has dropped more than a dollar per gallon since I last predicted its temporary rise. [Edited by: E-Squirrel at 12/18/2012 2:02:08 AM EST]
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2012 1:27:45 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse I buy gasoline when my car tank is empty which is sometimes every other day. Temporary nature of California price increase? There is no such thing.
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,015 Points:820,970 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 3:14:35 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse 101Speedster, the electric car champ filled his vehicle's gas tank for $74.20. At an average California price of $4.654, that would be about 16 gallons. So tell us, what kind of a vehicle is it? And, why did you wait until yesterday to fill it, given the very temporary nature of this California price increase? Inquiring minds.... [Edited by: E-Squirrel at 10/9/2012 3:15:06 PM EST]
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 8:41:23 AM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse That's what happens when you own a gas guzzler...
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Oct 9, 2012 8:39:40 AM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse It cost me $74.20 to fill up my car yesterday with gasoline.
GrumpyCat Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,619 Points:790,760 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 12:11:11 PM Ignore GrumpyCat Report Abuse "All toyota had to do was look at leaf, volt and tesla sales to realize there is no room for another manufacturer to make money on any class of electric vehicles in the U.S. market." All Toyota had to do was look at the Leaf and Volt to realize not only there isn't room for an iQ there isn't room for the Leaf and the Volt. Am afraid to offer an even trade of my 5 year old Prius to the Nissan dealer for a new Leaf. Afraid they would accept my offer. Then again I have an SUV also that could serve when the Leaf doesn't.
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 10:49:42 AM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse "toyota not "big oil" killed the electric car" It looks like suicide to me. All toyota had to do was look at leaf, volt and tesla sales to realize there is no room for another manufacturer to make money on any class of electric vehicles in the U.S. market. Last time I checked toyota was not an environmental charity.
reb4 Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,123 Points:1,823,870 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 8:31:56 AM Ignore reb4 Report Abuse I heard they were going to make 100's not 1,000's of evs for u.s. market. Did not hear they were dropping it completely. You may want to check multiple sources..
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,015 Points:820,970 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Sep 27, 2012 3:14:16 AM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse Toyota, the developer for the first and, so far, the most successful gasoline-electric hybrid is dropping its plans to sell electric cars and is instead, focusing on building many more vehicles of all types with its proven gas-electric hybrid technology. Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota’s vice chairman and the engineer who oversees vehicle development, told reporters: “The current capabilities of electric vehicles do not meet society’s needs, whether it may be the distance the cars can run, or the costs, or how it takes a long time to charge". I guess that now, you can start saying that Toyota, not "Big Oil" killed the electric car.
Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,124 Points:2,186,135 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 9:38:45 AM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse "It is already happening in California" Everybody in California is buying electric cars? Why do I think this is a false statement?
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 8:08:36 AM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse I dont recall how far they went. But on the british motor ways most of the speed limits are 70mph. You take a leaf up to 70mph and the 90 or so claimed miles you start out with start dropping off at about a 1:2 rate. Where you are driving and start out with say 80 miles on the battery life gauge get up to speed and a few miles later you are down to 40 miles and dropping fast. [Edited by: oilpan4 at 9/2/2012 8:10:40 AM EST]
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,050 Points:2,447,800 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 7:35:18 AM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse 40 miles is a why-bother for me. I would have to have double that before it would even begin to have use.
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2012 7:00:02 AM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse Just watched episode 5 or 6 of season 17 of top gear. The leaf and ion they tested required 13 hours of charging off british 220v power to go from empty to full charge. Your standard British power plug is 220v fused to 13amps, thats 2.8kw. A standard US out let will give you 120v at 15amps, thats a meer 1.8kw.
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2012 7:23:15 PM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse I doubt EVs make up more than 5% of sales in california.
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2012 4:18:15 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse >>What do you think, EVeryone is going to start buying EV in the next 3 to 5 years?<< It is already happening in California.
Bluebird333 All-Star Author Wisconsin Posts:634 Points:52,300 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 20, 2012 12:38:23 AM Ignore Bluebird333 Report Abuse I would rather have a hybrid at least you can stop and fill up.
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 19, 2012 9:27:32 PM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse "Electric cars will soon be the norm". Just because you say something over and over wont make it come true. I beliEVe it was in 2008 or 2009 DOE published a paper with their estimates on electric vehicles, they said that by 2020 only 3% of vehicles on the road would be EV or plug in hybrid. So far I would say their 2020 figure is right on track. And that by 2030 only 10% of vehicles on the road will be EV or plug in hybrid. DOE beliEVes that a large portion of that 10% in 2030 will be plug in hybrid. I wouldn't call 2030 "soon" or 10% the "norm" or "plug in hybrids" electric cars. What do you think, EVeryone is going to start buying EV in the next 3 to 5 years?
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 19, 2012 4:42:03 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse Electric cars will soon be the norm.
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,125 Points:655,745 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 1:13:44 PM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse This vehicle is not cspable for highway use get a Ford Fusion hybrid. Much better.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,541 Points:2,837,265 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 12:45:37 PM Ignore gvan Report Abuse ZAP Zebra
geobmw Champion Author Miami Posts:6,186 Points:1,404,170 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 8:56:03 AM Ignore geobmw Report Abuse ?
ldheinz Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,041 Points:2,359,845 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 8:27:56 AM Ignore ldheinz Report Abuse I'll agree with you for a change, Speedy. Diesels are an excellent way to lower gas consumption, and the US has ridiculously restrictive soot standards that artificially support gasoline powered cars.
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 8:00:34 AM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse The U. S. automakers (or government) don't seem to want to make diesel engine cars.
detfan Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:12,187 Points:1,243,605 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 2:22:33 PM Ignore detfan Report Abuse 2013 Chevy Cruze will be available in a diesel. No mileage rating yet, but it is rated at 72.4 Imperial gallon in Europe. I think GM is thinging of 50 MPG or higher.
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,062 Points:306,900 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 11:40:22 PM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse "It would be great if we could get high mpg diesel cars like they have in Europe. Another case of Big Oil keeping us from buying what we would like". Not big oil, thank your government. Big oil didn't enact "clean air laws" that effectivly ban diesel sales in small vehicles.
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:30,423 Points:2,717,645 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:59:32 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse It would be great if we could get high mpg diesel cars like they have in Europe. Another case of Big Oil keeping us from buying what we would like.