“The new battery system is the first turnkey, drop-in replacement battery system that fits in the same space as the G-31 lead acid batteries used in many of ZAP’s vehicles, equipped with a BMS (battery management system) that increases reliability and extends range,” stated the press release.
The lightweight lithium battery system can be found in the ZAP Alias, allowing the vehicle to drive up to 100 miles on a single charge. In China, ZAP’s new fleet vehicles use a similar system for the electric taxis and corporate cars based on the Jonway A380 SUV. The system is comprised of a sub-chassis of over 100 battery cells, which is linked with an electronic monitoring system that maintains the right temperature and voltage for each cell and ensures that electricity is automatically rerouted if any of the cell voltages change.
“Available as an upgrade for some ZAP vehicles, the new lithium battery systems provide a significant value for customers by improving performance and offering a significantly longer lifespan. ZAP estimates lead-acid batteries have 300-500 cycles of discharging and recharging, compared to 2,000 cycles for lithium. Customers should see improved acceleration and handling of their vehicles with the lighter-weight, higher-voltage batteries. ZAP designed the lithium battery system to recharge overnight from any 110 outlet, just like a cell phone, or faster using a 220-volt recharging station,” stated the press release.
Google News