ZAP Alias Qualified for X PRIZE Shakedown

The U.S. electric vehicle maker ZAP announced that it is now a step closer to achieving its goal of winning the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE (PIAXP) competition, as its Alias electric car has qualified for the shakedown stage of the project.

The ZAP Alias will be present at the PIAXP debut event, which is scheduled to be held in Lansing, Michigan on April 29. The competition will see the ZAP Alias undergoing rigorous tests that will analyze the EV’s dynamic capabilities (acceleration times and lane changing abilities) as well as its charging time.

The car is a three-wheel electric vehicle (it uses two front wheels and one rear wheel architecture), which is powered by three wheel-mounted electric motors. The car needs 7.8 seconds for the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint, can reach a top speed of 105 mph (170 km/h) and offers a driving range of 100 miles (162 km) per charge. The EV is expected to have a retail price of under $35,000 when it enters the market.

The PIAXP requires contenders to be mass production-friendly and meet some high braking and usability standards. The competition aims to stimulate innovation in the car industry and benefits from a $10 million prize fund.

The ZAP Alias competes in the “alternative” category of the PIAXP, which targets vehicles that can accommodate two passengers and offer a minimum driving range of 100 miles per charge. The three-wheeler is facing competition from multiple teams that come from all over the world.