SEBASTOPOL, Calif., Sept. 5, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- ZAPPY(r), the electric scooter that helped pioneer a revolution in 1997, has been redesigned for 2002 with several upgrades and is now available, according to the Northern California manufacturer ZAP (Nasdaq:ZAPP).
ZAP says that the new ZAPPY has across-the-board improvements, from its performance and construction, to its looks. Ken Trough, Editor & Publisher of V is for Voltage, the world's foremost publication for the electric scooter industry (http://www.visforvoltage.com), test rode the new ZAPPY in August at ZAP headquarters in Sebastopol, Calif.
"The 2002 ZAPPY scooter offers significant upgrades over the previous design in a number of critical areas," said Trough. "First and foremost is the totally new motor, which is noticeably faster and more powerful than the old motor while offering greater overall efficiency. Another huge improvement is the new drive belt. This wider, newer technology belt should last longer than the old belt, creating a significant reduction in overall user maintenance. Nearly every aspect of the previous design has been reexamined and improved in some way in this 2002 model. The cleaner, more elegant design means better wiring and cable runs, and a better, safeguarded controller and battery pack. Even braking is improved. Fans of the ZAPPY will really like this new model."
While much of the design of the ZAPPY has been improved, the Company has timed the redesign with a shift of the final assembly from its California headquarters to overseas contract manufacturers. This shift has lowered production costs and dealer costs.
Since its introduction in March of 1997, ZAPPY helped spearhead a whole new market for transportation and recreation. From college towns to big cities, more and more people have been seen 'ZAPPING' in major cities in more than 50 different countries. As a form of transportation, the ZAPPY can travel several miles per charge at bicycle speeds and can fold for easy carrying or storage for use on the train, bus or with your car. Officials at ZAP, however, say that most people use it for fun.
ZAPPY was chosen as one of the best new products of 1998 by "Best Stuff" and soon captured the imagination of American consumers and the media, appearing in features with the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, and People Magazine. The tech sector embraced the ZAPPY as a new icon, with Wired Magazine, MacHome, C/NET, the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News prompting many Silicon Valley-types to start scooting to and around work. Advertisers jumped on the bandwagon, including WorldCom, Intel, Yahoo, Skechers, Lincoln Mercury, Joe Boxer and Saks Fifth Avenue. Hollywood and primetime television started 'ZAPPING' with segments on CBS's David Letterman, NBC's 'Just Shoot Me,' and even Disney's 'The Princess Diaries,' now showing in theaters across America. To top it off, ZAPPY was named in Advertising Age's Marketing 100 among the top marketing ideas of 2000.
"ZAP has done more than any other company out there to raise public awareness of the electric scooter industry," said Trough. "Their high profile approach and their decision to take the company public has brought the personal electric vehicle industry into the public eye like never before. The many appearances of the ZAPPY scooter in the pop culture media have shown people how fun and how cool it is to ride electric scooters."
For further information about the ZAPPY, visit http://www.zapworld.com or call (800) 251-4555.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.