Electric vehicle developer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) has unveiled an 8,000-watt wheel motor that powers both rear wheels of a ZAP electric truck, news it says could help in a collaborative manufacturing project with ZAP Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (ZMMK) of Franklin, Kentucky.
ZAP's wheel motor developments were an integral part of ZMMK's presentation to the Department of Energy for a $160 million loan application earlier this year.
Pending acceptance by the feds, ZMMK President Gary Dodd intends to use ZAP's wheel motor technology exclusively in the development of its electric truck manufacturing under a manufacturing and distribution agreement with ZAP, according to a news release.
"We have seen many wheel motors still in the prototype stages, but ZAP is the only company that has proven the technology to be cost-effective compared to conventional electric motors," Dodd said. "We believe the 8,000-watt motor design to be a significant step forward toward making EVs an affordable, everyday reality."
This latest wheel motor design is the result of more than five years of research to improve the power and efficiency of its electric vehicles.
The 8,000-watt motor design is almost ten inches in diameter compared to the seven-inch diameter, 3,000-watt motor powering the Zapino scooter.
"This is a genuinely remarkable advance in the world of electric vehicles," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "Based on the core technology we use for the production of the Zapino model, we have been able to achieve a far higher horsepower output with just a slight increase in weight and size.'
Dodd, a former Toyota manager, leads the recently formed ZAP Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky, which appears to have taken over where Integrity Automotive left off. Dodd reportedly purchased the interest in Integrity Automotive from Randall Waldman, who also owned the now defunct Integrity Manufacturing in Shepherdsville.
California-based ZAP, which develops and markets electric vehicles, gave ZAP Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky permission to use "ZAP' in the name of the new venture to help with branding.
Dodd - a general manager for Toyota when it launched its first assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky - said in previous interviews that a New York-based financial firm has expressed interest in investing up to $40 million in the new venture. His company has also taken over a $160 million loan application filed with the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program.
For more information about ZAP visit http://www.zapworld.com/
For more information about ZMMK contact spokesperson Frank Jemley (Atticus Ventures) at 502.587.7730
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