Automotive Engineering - October 2021 - 9

TECHNOLOGY REPORT
High-end simplicity
The i300's minimalist bill of material and
low maintenance needs combine with
zero emissions and almost no use of
plastics to " resonate with consumer values
today, " said Zapp's presentation.
Posawatz, meanwhile, enthused about
its motorcycle-like performance - the
i300's 0-31 mph (0-50 km/h) time of
2.35 seconds, he said, can be the best
safety feature in tight urban traffic.
The thrust comes from the Danasupplied
permanent-magnet motor. It can
develop as much as 14 kW (20 hp) in fullpower
" Zapp mode, " available from
0-3000 rpm, or 7.2 kW (9.65 hp) of continuous
power. Maximum torque is 85 Nm
(63 lb-ft) at the crankshaft and 587 Nm
(433 lb-ft) at the rear wheel - more
torque across the rpm range than many
superbikes, Posawatz added. Drive goes
through a belt reduction ratio and is transferred
to the rear wheel via a toothed carbon-fiber
belt like that of many current
motorcycles and pedal bikes.
The i300's battery design features
twin removable modules, each comprised
of 20 lithium-ion pouch cells in
prismatic configuration that slide under
the footwell floor (Posawatz would not
name the supplier, saying only that it is
Asia-based). Each module weighs
about 12 lb (5.4 kg) and can be carried
away to be recharged at a conventional
With a total 2-module battery capacity
of about 1.4 kWh (the bike also features
regenerative braking to return
energy to the batteries), Zapp said the
i300's maximum riding range is 37
miles (60 km), which " exceeds the daily
range requirement " of the P2W user.
The steel/aluminum-framed bike has a
wheelbase of 1397 mm (55 in.) and can
handle two riders or a maximum payload
of 150 kg (331 lb).
Compared with contemporary scootZapp
board adviser and former GM electrification
engineer Tony Posawatz with the Zapp i300 stepthrough
electric scooter.
110-V or 240-V outlet - a big advantage,
the company said, versus vehicles
with non-removable batteries that require
" tethered " recharging at public
charge points or from dedicated chargers
(Chief rival Piaggio's electric
scooter also features a removable battery).
The Zapp scooter operates using
either one or both batteries.
ers, the i300 is not inexpensive: a carbon-bodied
Carbon Launch Edition is
$8995 and the standard i300 is $7495.
But Posawatz said those prices are not
out of line with the upper end of the
segment - and the electric scooter may
qualify for attractive purchase incentives
in some markets. Zapp targets online
ordering as its primary retail model, although
some showrooms are planned
for certain markets. Once the customer
orders and pays for the scooter, it is
drop-shipped to the buyer's location.
Aftersales and service are earmarked to
be handled by mobile technicians.
The i300 was in production in mid2021,
with initial orders awaiting delivery
in Europe and Asia, the company confirmed.
Posawatz said the scooter is built
by the Thai Summit Group, a prominent
Thailand-based contract manufacturer.
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Automotive Engineering - October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - October 2021
