ZAP Xebra PK Electric Pickup Review

I received my ZAP Xebra PK electric pickup on 31 March 2007 from Midwest EV of Leavenworth, Kansas (Mark Higley).

I got the larger Discover EV12A-A batteries (138 AH @ 20 hours discharge) instead of the standard Deka 8G310DTM batteries (98 AH @ 20 hours discharge). I am glad that I did because of the big hills in the Blacksburg/Christiansburg area of Virginia. I get about 30 miles per charge with these batteries driving in our area.

It came with a 150-watts solar panel to be installed later when ZAP makes available a frame for it. (The solar panel will make the batteries last longer by trickle charging them; also, they will hold more energy in cold weather because the trickle charging will keep them warmer.)

I later installed the PowerCheq battery equalizers to make the batteries last longer and PakTrakr to keep track of battery operation.

I had my dealer install LED lights in all lights except the single headlight in the center and the two backup lights. I later replaced the red reflectors on the back sides by red LED lights wired into the tail lights. He also had the underside of the bed lined to prevent rusting problems. Later I had the top of the bed and the sides lined. The extra weight of the linings, of course, makes the dump bed heavier and harder to lift. (The solar panel will add another 50 lbs or so.)

I installed a softer shock/spring for the front wheel and softer springs for the two rear wheels. The ride was very rough with the standard springs, especially when traveling at an angle across a linear depression or bump.

The glove box is practically useless, so I made it deeper, which greatly improved it. Storage space is short, so I added three storage pockets, two attached to the front wheel well and one on the back of the passenger's seat.

The hood needs to be propped open higher, so I add almost 2" to the prop.

As of early July 2007 I have driven about 1250 miles and I have enjoyed driving the PK very much. I am averaging about 3 miles per kWh. At $0.075 per kWh that I am now paying, that comes to about $0.025 per mile. It took me a while to get used to the cramped quarters, but now it does not bother me.

I get much attention as I drive it around Blacksburg and Christiansbug in Virginia. I have taken it to a classic car display in a K-Mart parking lot twice and it was in the Blacksburg 4th-of-July parade, leading three Prii (red, white and blue ones); the entry won 1st prize in the Most Progressive category. It will be used to convey people around (side down with a seat cushion) Steppin' Out in Blacksburg in early August and will be part of the Car Cruise-In show at the Wilderness Trail Festival in Christiansburg in September.

The leather seats are good quality. I needed lower-back support, so I added a cylindrical lumbar cushion. I have a strong highly directional fan plugged into a switched 12-volts outlet, so that I can just flip the switch to give me some extra air flow.

There have been quality problems with my PK:

• Two CV boots on the back axle have cuts in them. One is leaking grease. I have asked ZAP to replace them under warranty.
• The wiper motor went out; ZAP replaced it and paid for its installation.
• The interior has several shoddy things about it: The door fabric does not adhere to the underlayment in a few places and the front of the dash does not fit neatly under the windshield
• The center mirror vibrated too much, so I cut it off the dome light and put in a mirror with night lever glued to the windshield.
• Occasionally I have had problems getting a contactor to contact; i.e., the vehicle would not move. I have always managed to get it going after a few seconds.
• Apparently the zerk on the front vertical axle was not greased at the factory. The steering was very stiff until I greased it.
• The left mirror was convex. I had a glass company replace it with a flat mirror.
• The F/N/R switch came loose. It is a good idea to tighten the knurled ring around it periodically.

In addition to the items mentioned above that my dealer did, I recommend that your dealer makes the following adjustments to the standard ZAP Xebra PK:

• Adjust it so that the foot brake does not cancel the accelerator.(With the help of my dealer, I later made this change on my PK.)
• Adjust it so that the emergency brake does cancel the accelerator.
• Install the 72-volts ignition and remove the "green emergency button" and replace it with a 2nd 12-volt power outlet wired to the vestigial accessories-battery switch. (Mine had the 72-volts ignition, but not the rest; I did them using a power outlet supplied by my dealer..)
• Rewire the contactors so that the "forward" and "reverse" contactors are both actuated when going forward. (I did this myself with help from my dealer..)
• If the left mirror is convex, replace it with a flat mirror. (I had a glass company do this.)

I am working on a possible way to install a winch, hand-operated or electric, to raise the bed.

See the log of my experiences owning and driving the ZAP Xebra PK electric pickup.

L. David Roper, roperld@vt.edu, July 2007 http://www.roperld.com/personal/roperldavid.htm