OT The ZENN Car

[Cdn Z06 Mike]

Very Cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M88k...widgets/sf.swf

[SilverSurferC6]

Originally Posted by Cdn ZR1 Mike

Very Cool.

I met the Global VP of Sales while on a flight to Europe last year. Very cool company and product. They are publicly traded on the stock market as:

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ZNN.V

Sadly their stock is not highly valued which I think is entirely due to the narrow-minded Cdn politicians and their need to protect the big auto makers and petrol industry. This product is equivalent to a cure for the common cold and the negative impact it would have on a mega-billion dollar industry.

[jd48]

cool car. holds more beer than my car

[DigitalZ]

Interesting but ugly. The piece was light on important details like how fast it can go, how far on a charge, how long to re-charge etc. These things are the difference between viability and failure in the marketplace, just ask the other car companies like GM that have tried this route before.

[WildWilly55]

Do they deliver??? (the beer??)---1/4 mile times???

[SilverSurferC6]

Originally Posted by DigitalZ

Interesting but ugly. The piece was light on important details like how fast it can go, how far on a charge, how long to re-charge etc. These things are the difference between viability and failure in the marketplace, just ask the other car companies like GM that have tried this route before.

Hi Peter,

Their website has this detail I believe.

http://www.zenncars.com/specifications/specs_index.html

ZENN™ Specifications :

Body Type:
3 Door Hatchback, Fully Enclosed, Automotive Aluminum Alloy Space Frame, ABS Body Panels
Propulsion:
100% Electric, Front Wheel Drive

Charging:
Standard 120 volt outlet plug-in - 80% recharge in 4 hours, complete charge in approximately 8 hours

Wheel Base: 81.8 in.
Curb Weight:Approximately 1,200 lbs.
GVWR:1,705 lbs.
Track:Front and Rear - 49.8 in.
Storage:13 cu. ft.
Available Features:
Heater, Wipers, Power Windows, Power Locks, Remote Keyless Entry, Panoramic Sunroof and More!
Range: Up to 35 miles
Speed:25 mph, limited in accordance with FMVSS 500 regulations
Steering:Automotive Rack and Pinion with Permanently Sealed Tie-Rod Ends
Suspension:Independent front wheel suspension with two coil spring/shock units
Rear trailing arm suspension with two coil spring/shock units
Brakes: Dual Hydraulic System, 4 Wheel Disk, With Electromagnetic Regeneration
Batteries:Six 12-volt Heavy-Duty, Sealed, Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Non-Spill, Zero Maintenance
Safety:Meets or Exceeds FMVSS 500 Standards
Price:Base Price: 2.22 - $12,750 and 2.22LX - $14,700
Options:Sunroof: $1,195.00
Discover EV31A-A Battery Pack Upgrade: $475.00
Discover EV31A-A Battery Replacement Pack: $1,920.00
(Direct - includes delivery to Continental US)
JVC KDG230 AM/FM/CD Radio: $190.00
Rapid Charge Inlet: $425.00
ETEC LSV-100 Fast Charger: $8,995.00
(includes delivery within Continental US)
Right-Hand Drive: $485.00

[4GTABODT]

Zero Emissions, "NO NOISE"...well, I think we're safe in assuming you won't be seeing one of these in Joe or Corrado's driveways

[SilverSurferC6]

Originally Posted by 4GTABODT

Zero Emissions, "NO NOISE"...well, I think we're safe in assuming you won't be seeing one of these in Joe or Corrado's driveways

LMAO, not unless they add a couple sub woofers and sampled some severe engine noises which they could pump out through a mega-watt amp combo. NOW THAT WOULD BE WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION

[canesfins]

I am looking for these for places like the Bahamas where you dont need high speed and there is $5 a gallon gas.

[dlynch]

$1.05/litre must be almost $5.00 per gallon gas...that's about what we pay, if you don't need premium.

Regards,
DaveL

[Slalom4me]

The Zenn is based on the European MC-2, a car produced by Microcar
(part of Beneteau Group) and powered by a 505cc, 21 bhp diesel.
(The MC-2 is a long wheel based varient of the MC-1 which preceded
it and which continues to be sold along with the new 'larger' MC-2.)
The Zenn version of the MC-2 arrives without the diesel drivetrain, an
electric drivetrain is installed in place of the diesel.



Want engine noises? Here's a plan. Buy a ZENN, run it until the battery
packs are done and then toss the electric drivetrain in favour of a
Hyabusa.

Have a look at how that idea plays out when done to a SMART car. Of
course you would need to change the name from "Zero Emissions No Noise"
to something more appropriate.



.

[75 Stingray!]

Originally Posted by SilverSurferC6

Sadly their stock is not highly valued which I think is entirely due to the narrow-minded Cdn politicians and their need to protect the big auto makers and petrol industry. This product is equivalent to a cure for the common cold and the negative impact it would have on a mega-billion dollar industry.

I'd have to disagree. There is no government conspiracy here. Ignore the cute vid (i enjoyed it as well) and what you may have discussed with the VP and look simply at the stats of the car.
-Range: Up to 35 miles (at what speed?) now add a passenger and some groceries and play some tunes on the radio. what’s your range going to be? 15 miles?
-Top speed 25mph (40kph) If these thing were to drive on the streets of Toronto it would cause traffic nightmares. The street i live on (side street) is an un-posted 50 zone. To go get groceries I’d have to drive on a main street that is a 60 zone but the flow of traffic is 70-80. What did you do the last time you had some doorknob in front of you drive 40 in a 60? I know i was on the horn. Yeah i know it's limited by the FMVSS 500 regulations but obviously this car is not safe enough to be allowed to go faster, even if it would be allowed to go faster what would the range be? 10miles?
-Zero emissions... not really, yeah the vehicle doesn’t produce emissions but it needs to get power from somewhere. Sure there’s solar panels and wind mills, but they are unreliable and we could cover the country with them and still not be able to replace Reactors or cole.

In the 90's GM had the EV1 and although GM doesn’t consider it a flop (information gathered and learnt lessons...) it was a flop. this car had all the safety features and a much better top speed as well as triple the range. Only downside it cost a fortune to lease.


Now would anyone here buy one of these as their primary car, or even as a secondary car for your spouse??? Didn't think so... It's more logical to spent 12k on a small gas powered car that if you need it to can drive cross country.
The only industry that would be worried is the golf kart industry, because that’s what this thing is, a golf kart with doors and windows.

[corrado]

Its a good concept, environmental wise and the least the environmen tminister can do is check it out himself.

But 75 Stingray makes very valid points.

And the NO noise, that CAN't be good!!!!

[SilverSurferC6]

Alex,
You are correct. It is a matter of time and sales for this company to resolve this. The idea is at it's prime.

[DigitalZ]

I'll wait till Chevy starts producing the Volt.

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

That way you can look cool, drive fast, and be environmentally friendly.

[Zeeman28a]

This car makes sense for the small European towns with those one lane roads that is was originally designed for. Maybe they can be used as resort rentals. The island getaways or ski resorts. They should be considered the same usefulness as scooters, like Vespa.

But to be used as mainstream vehicles? No. This car won't replace what we have today. Good concept. And it shows that we are heading in the right direction. One day, we will see electric cars or hydrogen cars outnumber gasoline cars. But that is still a LONG way off. The tech still needs to be made smaller, to last longer, and not to give up performance.