Asia PR News

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

ZAP-X features all wheel drive, 10 minute recharge time, a 350 Mile Range and
will be the center piece of the NADA Exhibition, February 3rd to 6th.

Automotive pioneer ZAP (OTC Bulletin Board: ZAAP) today announced plans to
display Lotus Engineering’s advanced APX concept car at the North American
Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting and exhibition, February 3 to 6,
2007, confirming their choice to move ahead using Lotus’ revolutionary platform
and body structure design as the basis for the development of the high
performance electric ZAP-X.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/SFTU060 )

ZAP and Lotus Engineering will begin the first phase of an engineering
project to use the British consultancy’s APX ("Aluminum Performance
Crossover") as a basis for designing a production-ready electric all-wheel
drive crossover high performance vehicle for ZAP in the USA market.

A combination of the lightweight aluminum vehicle architecture, a new
efficient drive and advanced battery management systems is intended to enable
a range of up to 350 miles between charges, with a rapid 10-minute recharging
time. An auxiliary power unit is planned to support longer distance journeys.

Lotus’ APX’s conventional gasoline V6 engine will be replaced by
revolutionary in-hub electric motors, delivering 644 horsepower in all wheel
drive mode, theoretically capable of powering the ZAP-X to a potential top
speed of 155mph. A new strong, lightweight and highly efficient structure
based on the Lotus technology is planned to give the car a very attractive
power-to-weight ratio.

Steve Schneider, CEO of ZAP, said: "Lotus Engineering’s APX technology
demonstrator vehicle is a perfect fit for our plans to introduce a full
product portfolio of electric cars. Due to the initial design by Lotus, our
cost and time to production will be significantly reduced. We believe that the
ZAP-X will become the most advanced, most practical and most appealing
flagship electric vehicle to date and will revolutionize the industry
providing the driver with the enjoyment of a sports car and the practicality
of an SUV."

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc, said: "Lotus Engineering’s APX is
a world-class innovative concept and was developed to showcase real solutions
to new challenges facing the automotive industry. So it’s very satisfying that
ZAP’s proposed new model will make use of a great deal of the APX concept’s
advanced body structure and chassis technology. The bringing together of these
next-generation vehicle technologies represents another significant step
forward for automotive technology."

The APX showcases Lotus Engineering’s Versatile Vehicle Architecture
technology, combining lightweight aluminum vehicle architecture with
exceptionally strong and stiff structural rigidity, as well as lower
manufacturing investment requirements. Having first been shown to the world
at the Geneva motor show in 2006, the APX concept has won the 2006 European
Aluminium Awards in the "Transport and Automotive" category.

The innovative placement of the power train leaves the space previously
occupied by the conventional engine and drive train for additional battery
capacity and amenities, making it a very consumer-oriented electric car
concept. These design features will give the ZAP-X crossover the structural
strength, and potentially storage and range that no electric vehicle has yet
achieved publicly.

The development programme is proposed to be managed from a new centre of
excellence for research and development of environmentally-friendly vehicle
designs and technologies. Engineering input will come from Lotus Engineering
Inc, and the British technology consultancy’s other R&D centers in the UK,
Malaysia and China.

About Lotus Engineering
Lotus Engineering has been behind the design and construction of some of
the most successful cars in history and is one of the world’s premier
automotive consultancies with engineering centers in Asia, North America and
Europe.

Employed by many of the major car manufacturers, Lotus Engineering
maintains a strong tradition of excellence in the automotive business with
cutting-edge engineering expertise, and talented, visionary staff. Lotus
Engineering offers full engineering services capable of taking a project from
initial concept and product design, through development, testing and prototype
build, as well as production and production support.

Lotus is one of only two OEMs that has experience in designing,
developing, manufacturing and marketing its own products offering this range
of expert services to third parties. This gives Lotus a highly respected
premium position in today’s automotive industry. For more information, visit
www.grouplotus.com.

About ZAP
ZAP currently markets the only city-speed electric car and truck available
in the United States through a new automotive distribution portal marketing a
complete lineup of advanced technology vehicles. ZAP’s authorized auto dealer
network will offer sales, service and parts distribution for the lineup of
vehicles being developed by ZAP and its strategic partners in Europe, Asia and
South America.

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994,
delivering nearly 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. ZAP
is at the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies
including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell,
alcohol, hybrid and other innovative power systems. For more information,
visit http://www.zapworld.com .

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that relate to future plans or projected
results of ZAP are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"), and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the PSLRA, and all such statements fall
under the "safe harbor" provisions of the PSLRA. ZAP’s actual results may vary
materially from those described in any "forward-looking statement" due to,
among other possible reasons, the continued acceptance of ZAP’s products,
increased levels of competition, new products and technological changes, ZAP’s
dependence on third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and the
realization of any of the other risks described in ZAP’s Annual Report on Form
10-KSB, or in any of ZAP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to put undue
reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE ZAP

CONTACT:
Eveline Souza
Media Relations
+1-707-525-8658, ext. 216, or
esouza@zapworld.com, or

Sherri Haskell
Investor Relations
+1-707-525-8658, ext. 232, or
shaskell@zapworld.com, both of ZAP; or

Mike Stainton or Patrick Peal
both of Band & Brown Communications
+44-0-1603-417722, or
mike.stainton@bbpr.com / patrick@bbpr.com; or

Alastair Florance
Group Lotus
PR Manager
+44-0-1953-608462 or
Aflorance@lotuscars.co.uk, all of Lotus Engineering

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/SFTU060
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Web site: http://www.zapworld.com