Electric car maker ZAP introduced its design and engineering expertise to the Chinese media and outlined production plans to bring all-electric vehicles to the Chinese market.
The company is displaying its all-electric ZAP Taxi targeting the fleet market as well as its innovative electric Alias prototype sports car at the Beijing Motor Show.
Pilot production of the ZAP Taxi is already underway at ZAP Hangzhou, the joint venture in Hangzhou with Holley Group, a global producer of electric power meters. The vehicles will be initially aimed at the Asian market, such as taxi fleets, as well as intra-campus transportation for large corporate, government, military and university campuses. Because of their frequently idling engines, taxis may cause more pollution than other cars.
ZAP’s design of the electric version of Jonway’s A-380 5-door SUV is capable of speeds of 70 mph, with a range of up to 300 km per charge depending on customer specification.
The ZAP Hangzhou joint venture and the ZAP partnership with Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd. are part of a multi-phase business plan ZAP is implementing to target the China electric vehicle market. ZAP chose the Jonway partnership in part because Jonway produced one of the first vehicles made in China to meet international standards of quality, including ISO 9000, China Compulsory Certification (CCC) and most recently passing certification for import to the European Union.
The Taizhou-based automaker markets and sells vehicles in China through a network of more than 600 auto dealerships across China. Jonway has the capacity to produce up to 50,000 vehicles per year currently at its facilities in Taizhou with capacity and support from the government to expand as the business grows.
