Eco-friendly sports car plans unveiled

Plans have been released this week for the Alias, a new sports car that will be able to top 100 miles per hour, and reach 60mph from standing in just 5.7 seconds. It will cost a mere $30,000, and best of all, it’s powered solely by electricity.

Zero Air Pollution (ZAP), the California-based electric car manufacturers who announced the plans, also revealed that the three-wheeled car will have a range of 150 miles per charge, and could be released as early as 2009. Anyone wanting to reserve themselves an Alias car can do so on ZAP’s website for a $5,000 deposit.

The company are set to announce further details of the car at the National Automobile Dealers Association conference in California this weekend.

ZAP say that the aim of the project is to bring affordable electric vehicles to the market as quickly as possible, and to build upon the increasing levels of interest in electric car technologies.

CEO of ZAP, Steve Schneider, says: “Everyone who has seen the Alias says they want to buy one.

“The performance goals are attainable because the pace of new technology is accelerating.

“We have worked with Lotus Engineering during the initial phase of the development project and shall again be looking forward to their support.”

The concept of Alias was conceived last year when ZAP and Lotus Engineering began work together on a feasibility study regarding next generation electric vehicle technologies.

ZAP is also working with Lotus on a high-performance SUV car called ZAP-X, which will sell for around $60,000.

ZAP has so far sold more than 100,000 vehicles in 75 countries. Their models include the Xebra and the Zapino.