Green Stocks

Today's featured stock: Sunday, October 20, 2024

ZAP! (OTC BB:ZAAP) and the Americanized Smart Car

Trying to find the underdogs in the stock market? Who is out there and at the same time deserve the mention of a green philosophy? More so, to put their money where you mouth is, and not just give lip service to the Green Economy. Wal-Mart, McDonald's, etc. all put forth green initiatives, but never doubt where their goal is... the bottom line (through good PR). The status quo feeds the bottom line. Change takes time. To overcome this recession, the Great American Reset (as I like to term it), we need new un-believed of companies and people will come to the forefront.

A lot of news surrounds Tesla Motors who manufacture high end battery cars. They even have a waiting list and is Made in the USA. However, the SMART car (owned by Mercedes-Benz Cars, a Daimler AG Company) is also a competitor. Lately the news has been surrounding Vestas and how the USA will compete in wind power. With a 20 per cent market share, the USA must get into that market. The situation of solar has been so marginalized, that may be a series.

Prius and Insight

But there are many players in the electric car market. The oil giants and car dealers secretly laughed that no Duracell or Energizer Bunny is going to power your car 70 mph on the freeway. Then came the Toyota Prius. More people called it a car that looks like shoe. Then came the Honda Insight. The Japanese, the quintessential re-inventors are laughing all the way to the bank building on their technology. It has taken a US government stimulus to wake up Detroit.

Enter ZAP

So where are the new ideas emerging? Try electric car maker ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP) and the Zap! Smart Car. Would Zap be the Smart Car US distributor? The Smart Car Americanized by ZAP. Who knows. Now, Zap is a 3 wheel motorcycle (Zero Emission Vehicle), but it is not in the market to be the primary car. Admittedly, I am skeptical. Smart USA and Zap have been in court and come to an agreement. I imagine the Lithium-Ion battery in my dad's laptop trying to power the family car. That picture just doesn't work. On the positive end, it can be charged in any 110-volt outlet. The Smart Car is a fuel-efficient all-gas turbo car with 4 wheels to drive. Where is the American innovation?

So what questions come to mind about an electric car made here? What does the battery(ies) look like? Can a 25 mph to 40 mph car work for me? Why don't you use a fourth wheel? Where are your dealerships. These can all be answered by going to the website, following the Google search engine links, or watching a few info-videos.

• Market Watch.com stock information