ZAP Power Systems (for zero air pollution), was launched by Jim McGreen in 1992 with the goal of designing, building and selling innovative electric vehicles. The company was incorporated on September 23, 1994 as "ZAP Power Systems" of Sebastopol, California, by Jim McGreen, and Gary Starr where they started manufacturing electric powered kits and bikes and then later the zappy scooter. Gary Starr was chosen as a business partner by Jim McGreen due to his previous experience with producing electric powertrains at companies such as "Solar Electric Engineering" which was later renamed "U.S. Electricar", which converted hundreds of vehicles including trucks for Ford and General Motors to running on electric power and is now known as Enova Systems.