SANTA ROSA, Calif. --- Electric car manufacturer ZAP is launching a new development program for an affordably priced high-performance electric vehicle. ZAP said the initial concept phase for the new vehicle is complete. The targeted price is $30,000. The top speed would be in excess of 100 mph, with a range of 100 miles per charge. Many of the technologies already specified for the ZAP-X electric car concept will be applied to the new vehicle, but delivery is expected to be sooner than the ZAP-X. CEO Steve Schneider said more details of the new vehicle will be presented at the annual shareholder meeting, scheduled for July 29 in Santa Rosa, Calif. "With ZAP's experience over the past 12 years and the groundwork we have already laid, we know that electricity is the future of the auto industry," said Schneider. "At the same time, we believe we have a design that will serve a niche no other manufacturer in the auto industry is seeking to fill." Today, ZAP is selling an electric car and truck design called the XEBRA for about $10,000. The vehicle travels speeds up to 40 mph. Schneider said the XEBRA was designed to fill the growing niche for city-speed electric vehicles. ZAP is marketing them to government and municipal fleets as well as short-distance commuters. ZAP sells the XEBRA through an authorized dealer network of sales and service centers. ZAP is developing a number of vehicles for its automotive business plan. Earlier this year, ZAP introduced a compact, or crossover, SUV concept called ZAP-X. ZAP also has ventures to build cars in China and Brazil. Since 1994, ZAP has delivered more than 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries.
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