But Email was not enough. If EV's were as rrEVolutionary and exciting as these websites claimed then a major role in this transport rrEVolution was one I definitely wanted to play. I decided to ask ZAP if I could come and help out.Five months later on 21st July 1998 I was on a plane, California bound. I didn't know a soul. I was travelling 6,000 miles on my first ever visit to the US to do voluntary work for an electric bike company in a small town called Sebastapol, 40 miles north of San Francisco. It felt like a crazy, mad thing to do - so I knew it must be right.
As soon as I arrived at ZAP I felt completely at home.It was 10am. As I walked up the driveway I saw a couple of guys moving round the car park on a noiseless scooter.I had seen my first ever electric vehicle, the ZAPPY.
Already I felt my trip was worth it. As I turned towards the entrance, my attention was immediately drawn to 2 solar panels permanently stationed in front of the building. I hadn't seen many of those on industrial estates in the UK! Was I on the same planet?
Standing in reception, I was greeted by a signed photograph of one of my favourite comic actors, Hollywood star and ZAP patron, Leslie Nielsen. During my 3 month stay in California, I was to discover he was not the only US celebrity to endorse EV's.
The ZAP team were great. Extremely friendly and initially somewhat baffled by my enthusiasm for travelling so far to come and help out. Was I on the run from the police perhaps?
"You're gonna go take a look at the Grand Canyon right, travel down to Baja, Mexico maybe - it's beautiful, you ever been there?"
"Er no,actually, I want to check out EV's primarily, I really admire what ZAP is doing, promoting clean transportation, very impressive, slick, fun website. So er, yeah I just want to stay at ZAP for a bit."
They shrugged their shoulders, perhaps making a mental note that I was er, mental, new technology businesses did attract all sorts and besides I was from the UK the land of eccentrics, Monty Python et al. And I looked harmless enough! Perhaps I was just being paranoid. Anyway they didn't raise the subject again and I got on with whatever odd job they gave me - general admin, the odd promotional phone call but I was happiest when they let me loose with a drill, to help put together the scooters.