Comments on: 2008 ZAP Xebra PK Electric Truck – Real life user review http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/ Green Products, Sanyo eneloop, PowerGenix NiZn, Rechargeable Batteries, LED replacement bulbs. Thu, 2 Apr 2009 21:46:38 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: tom http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-245 tom Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:02:05 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-245 Has there been any head to head comparison of the two variations of the voltage upgrade, or more to the point are you two Zapsters going to race this year? I got to ride in the DepotEco Xebra both before and after the upgrade - big difference! It seems that 84volts is way to go. Much less thinking about who is going to run over you from behind. Has there been any head to head comparison of the two variations of the voltage upgrade, or more to the point are you two Zapsters going to race this year? I got to ride in the DepotEco Xebra both before and after the upgrade – big difference! It seems that 84volts is way to go. Much less thinking about who is going to run over you from behind.

]]> By: Dale http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-236 Dale Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:12:59 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-236 I got the 84v kit installed and the 08 pk is a lot better now, has better acceleration from a stop and maintains speed going over the hills and overpass I need to travel to work. With 84v the pac is @ 80% when I get to work (5 miles), sits for 8 1/2 hours no charge, the pac is @ 56% when I get back home (5 miles). This is with the stock zap heater on the entire trip to and from work. Hopefully the voltage drains will be less when the heater is not needed. Dale I got the 84v kit installed and the 08 pk is a lot better now, has better acceleration from a stop and maintains speed going over the hills and overpass I need to travel to work.

With 84v the pac is @ 80% when I get to work (5 miles), sits for 8 1/2 hours no charge, the pac is @ 56% when I get back home (5 miles). This is with the stock zap heater on the entire trip to and from work. Hopefully the voltage drains will be less when the heater is not needed.

Dale

]]> By: Dale http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Dale Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:52:26 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-233 If anyone is planning on installing a 84v kit from GPEV on a Zap pk, I would suggest pricing the parts individually from their site, It will be less to buy the box, charger, battery strap and battery cables from them and buy the #12 wire, connectors and 4 self tapping screws at a hardware store. I would have have enough money to pay for the 400a fuse with shipping that I needed to complete the conversion. Not a bad reflection on GPEV, they are great folks and helped me a lot. Just an observation of the money spent. If anyone is planning on installing a 84v kit from GPEV on a Zap pk, I would suggest pricing the parts individually from their site, It will be less to buy the box, charger, battery strap and battery cables from them and buy the #12 wire, connectors and 4 self tapping screws at a hardware store.

I would have have enough money to pay for the 400a fuse with shipping that I needed to complete the conversion.

Not a bad reflection on GPEV, they are great folks and helped me a lot. Just an observation of the money spent.

]]> By: DepotEco.com http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-232 DepotEco.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:04:18 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-232 Dale, I can get you the Smart Spark units. They are much better because they put up with the Heat, Dirt, water etc. While we like Gpev, we actually called Smart Spark and had them repair one of our EQ's The only issue with the Smart Spark Batt EQ is that you must hook the and unhook them in order. if you do not you will fry the unit. Here on our PK after installing the Batt Eq the voltage mismatch you describe.. (yes we had it on those exact batteries..) went way. Now all of the Batteries are between 14.5 and 14.0 . Also when the PK sits for a long time the batteries regain there range much faster because EQ;s are constantly balancing the loads. Email me if you want the Smart Spark EQ,s we don't stock them but will carry them when needed. Dale, I can get you the Smart Spark units. They are much better because they put up with the Heat, Dirt, water etc. While we like Gpev, we actually called Smart Spark and had them repair one of our EQ’s The only issue with the Smart Spark Batt EQ is that you must hook the and unhook them in order. if you do not you will fry the unit. Here on our PK after installing the Batt Eq the voltage mismatch you describe.. (yes we had it on those exact batteries..) went way. Now all of the Batteries are between 14.5 and 14.0 . Also when the PK sits for a long time the batteries regain there range much faster because EQ;s are constantly balancing the loads.

Email me if you want the Smart Spark EQ,s we don’t stock them but will carry them when needed.

]]> By: Dale http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-230 Dale Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:59:34 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-230 I got the 84v kit and ordered the 400A from GPEV, Sean has removed the Batteq's and now sells the Powerchec units. I guess smartpark was having problems with them and stop making them for now. I have battery #4 and at times #5 that will have a lower voltage than the others and when charging #1,2,3,6 will be 14.8v and #4,5 will be 15v. That's why I'm considering the balancers. I got the 84v kit and ordered the 400A from GPEV, Sean has removed the Batteq’s and now sells the Powerchec units. I guess smartpark was having problems with them and stop making them for now.

I have battery #4 and at times #5 that will have a lower voltage than the others and when charging #1,2,3,6 will be 14.8v and #4,5 will be 15v.

That’s why I’m considering the balancers.

]]> By: DepotEco.com http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-229 DepotEco.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:34:24 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-229 Also about the Fuse. yes i went to 400 A and got it at http://shop.gpev.us/category.sc?categoryId=2 Also about the Fuse. yes i went to 400 A and got it at

http://shop.gpev.us/category.sc?categoryId=2

]]> By: DepotEco.com http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-228 DepotEco.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:32:03 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-228 Dale, I used the BattEQ™ from Smart Spark, they work very well and give you feed back via LED. it has not alerted me to on bad battery that Zap has finely replaced!. worth Evey penny. I have only read that the others do not put up with the Heat and vibration in a Ev like our. The Smart Spark Batterer is a Solid state Water proof block. you can mount it just about anywhere. I put mine on the frame rails so i can see the led status lights.. Ill post a pic here of them .. see Smart Spark here. http://www.smartsparkenergy.com/products.aspx Dale, I used the BattEQ™ from Smart Spark, they work very well and give you feed back via LED. it has not alerted me to on bad battery that Zap has finely replaced!. worth Evey penny. I have only read that the others do not put up with the Heat and vibration in a Ev like our. The Smart Spark Batterer is a Solid state Water proof block. you can mount it just about anywhere. I put mine on the frame rails so i can see the led status lights.. Ill post a pic here of them ..

see Smart Spark here.
http://www.smartsparkenergy.com/products.aspx

]]> By: Dale http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-227 Dale Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:32:05 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-227 I have a 08 Zap pk, received it 12/11/08. So far I have installed the Woodward rear springs, paktrakr and the battery box for the 84v kit, plan to put the 7th battery in this weekend. Am waiting for a 400a bus fuse, was told the 84v may blow the stock 300a fuse on hills. Has anyone used powercheq battery balancers, or know if they are effective enough to warrant the $300 cost? I have a 08 Zap pk, received it 12/11/08.

So far I have installed the Woodward rear springs, paktrakr and the battery box for the 84v kit, plan to put the 7th battery in this weekend. Am waiting for a 400a bus fuse, was told the 84v may blow the stock 300a fuse on hills.

Has anyone used powercheq battery balancers, or know if they are effective enough to warrant the $300 cost?

]]> By: tom http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-212 tom Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:44:23 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-212 Re: earlier comment (above) on the Buckshot, NEVER MIND, see my comment today under "Triac video". Some people say "I can do that" in good faith and then fail. The issue is whose money they do it with and what promises were made. Meanwhile back in the real world I see the Zap with performance tweaks turning into a practical solution for hill country as well as the flats. I have burned up a gas burner before its time doing short hops several times a day. Cold starts age combustion engines faster than about anything else but neglect. Doing the same thing electric is a viable option today because Zap did it! Intermediate speed neighborhood electric vehicles are a new and exciting class of transportation that make sense whether gas is $1 or $10 a gallon! Re: earlier comment (above) on the Buckshot, NEVER MIND, see my comment today under “Triac video”. Some people say “I can do that” in good faith and then fail. The issue is whose money they do it with and what promises were made.

Meanwhile back in the real world I see the Zap with performance tweaks turning into a practical solution for hill country as well as the flats. I have burned up a gas burner before its time doing short hops several times a day. Cold starts age combustion engines faster than about anything else but neglect. Doing the same thing electric is a viable option today because Zap did it! Intermediate speed neighborhood electric vehicles are a new and exciting class of transportation that make sense whether gas is $1 or $10 a gallon!

]]> By: DepotEco.com http://www.depoteco.com/2008-zap-xebra-pk-electric-truck-review/comment-page-1/#comment-209 DepotEco.com Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:47:31 +0000 http://www.depoteco.com/?p=11#comment-209 In our case we added the Woodward Spring kit to soften up the ride that also lowers the rear of the zap about 1 inch. So not only did we need to bend the bracket but also use a Spacer washer. We needed to bring ours out of the hole enough to Aim it down. But the Point remains that the Light is a good light . It just needs to be aimed at the road.. :) In our case we added the Woodward Spring kit to soften up the ride that also lowers the rear of the zap about 1 inch. So not only did we need to bend the bracket but also use a Spacer washer. We needed to bring ours out of the hole enough to Aim it down. But the Point remains that the Light is a good light . It just needs to be aimed at the road.. :)

]]>