ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP)
Lung Doctor Convinces His Auto Dealer to Sell Electric Cars
ALAMEDA, CA–(MARKET WIRE)–Feb 9, 2007 — Once you drive an electric car, you never forget it. That’s why Steve Lowery, M.D., a pulmonary physician in Alameda, California convinced his local Volvo dealer to start selling a new electric car from ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB – News).
Lowery was one of the hundreds of Californians who leased electric cars from major automakers over the past several years, but were forced to return them after the lease was over, as described in the recent documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car.” The cars were destroyed or shipped overseas, despite many customers expressing an interest in buying the vehicles. For years Lowery waited for a replacement, when along came the new XEBRA (pronounced ‘zebra’) electric car and truck from Bay Area electric vehicle pioneer ZAP (http://www.zapworld.com).
“As a lung doctor, I see too much asthma, chronic bronchitis and cancer. We need to find more ways to reduce air pollution and I believe electric cars are an important way to do that,” he said.
So important that Lowery convinced his local auto dealer Mike O’Connell to come up for a dealer training at ZAP in Santa Rosa, California. Lowery’s wife is a customer of O’Connell Volvo in Alameda (http://www.oconnellev.com) where they bring it regularly for maintenance. Lowery believed so much in the business opportunity, he has partnered with O’Connell in starting the new electric car dealership.
“Volvo’s are safe and efficient, but they still use gas,” said Mike O’Connell, an auto dealer since 1963. “I decided to do this when I looked down in the engine compartment of the ZAP and didn’t get a face full of smoke, I knew electric cars are the wave of the future.” O’Connell says he could sell all the cars he can get even though he has not held his Grand Opening, this Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
ZAP calls the XEBRA a ‘city-car,’ an all-electric design for city-speed driving up to 40 MPH. The XEBRA comes in a 4-door sedan or pickup truck with a convertible dump/flat bed. It plugs into a 110volt outlet for a full charge in up to six hours and a 50 percent charge in 1.5 hours. Range varies up to 40 miles per charge, depending on charging, speed, driving conditions and other factors. Fueling is estimated to cost 1-3 cents per mile while maintenance costs one-third that of gas due to the reduction of moving parts, less wear and replacements. ZAP says the XEBRA was designed to appeal to environmentalists and is even available with zebra-stripes.
The Environmental Protection Agency says air toxins emitted from cars and trucks account for half of all cancers caused by air pollution. Studies by the State of California, The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and The Union of Concerned Scientists say that electric cars reduce automotive emissions by more than 90 percent, even including the emissions from power plants. California estimates that transportation makes up 61 percent of air pollution. EPRI estimates that millions of electric cars could be charged at night using off-peak electricity generated by power plants.
O’Connell Electric Vehicles is holding its Grand Opening Saturday, February 10, from 10am to 4pm at O’Connell EV (Ford), 1537 Webster Street, Alameda, California, 95401. For directions and information, call 510-865-7255 or visit http://www.oconnellev.com.
About ZAP
ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering more than 90,000 fuel-efficient vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. A publicly owned company, ZAP is at the forefront of transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems. Additionally, ZAP has developed a sophisticated renewable energy solution through its “Recharge-it-All” line of batteries for powering and recharging mobile electronics. For purchasing, dealer and investor information, call 707-525-8658 or visit http://www.zapworld.com.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company’s products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company’s dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact:
Media Relations
Eveline Souza
+1-707-525-8658 ext. 216
esouza@zapworld.com
Investor Relations
Sherri Haskell
+1-707-525-8658 ext. 232
shaskell@zapworld.com
Source: ZAP
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