- ZENN
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ZENN 
Manufacturer ZENN Motor Company of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Also called Feel Good Cars Production 2006-2010 Assembly Saint-Jérôme, Quebec Class NEV/LSV Body style 3-door hatchback Length 3,100 mm (122.0 in) Width 1,600 mm (63.0 in) Height 1,400 mm (55.1 in) Curb weight 1,200 lb (544 kg) ZENN (Zero Emission, No Noise) is a 2-seat battery electric vehicle that was built by ZENN Motor Company designed to qualify as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. It has a range of up to 40 miles (64 km) and is speed-limited to 25 mph (40 km/h). On earlier production models, there was an option of a 'Discovery Pack' which increased the ZENN's range a few miles. In later models it was standard.
In September 2009 CEO Ian Clifford announced that ZENN was ceasing car production to concentrate on selling its drive-train technology to other manufacturers. The company confirmed it will launch its 2010 model but not the CityZENN model. The company had only sold a total of 500 vehicles and cited slow sales as a reason for the decision.[1] In December 2009, the company made a further announcement confirming its new strategy and announcing that it will cease production of the ZENN LSV by April 30, 2010.[2]
Contents
Design
The vehicle is based on the Microcar MC2,in production in France since the early 2000s, and produced under license from Microcar's parent company Bénéteau. The Microcar MC2, and the short wheelbase MC1, are sold in Europe with diesel engines.
Electric power is stored in six 12V lead-acid gel batteries, which has a recharge cycle of 8 hours. Valve regulated (low maintenance) lead-acid wet cells are available at extra cost.
Also optional are a retractable fabric sunroof, air conditioning, audio entertainment center, and AC motor, stated to be better for hill climbing. The 2008 model has a standard AC motor.
On January 16, 2007 EEStor, Inc. announced plans to ship 15 kilowatt-hour Electrical Energy Storage Units (EESU) to ZENN Motor Company by end of 2007 for use in the ZENN electric vehicles. In a July 2009 interview, CEO Ian Clifford stated that EEStor anticipate "deliver of production prototype EESU to us by the end of 2009".[3]
Partnership with EEStor
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Main article: EEStor
ZMC entered into an agreement with EEStor dated August 24, 2004 (with subsequent amendments dated November 26, 2004, September 30, 2005, August 8, 2006 and January 22, 2007) to acquire stock in EEStor and exclusive rights to use EEStor's capacitors. Since 2007, ZMC paid $10 million to EEStor for rights and 10.7% ownership, but has not yet received a prototype from EEStor.
cityZENN
The cityZENN was a planned fully certified, highway capable vehicle with a top speed of 125 kilometres per hour (78 mph) and a range of 400 kilometres (250 mi). Powered by EEStor, the cityZENN would have been rechargeable in less than 5 minutes, feature operating costs 1/10 of a typical internal combustion engine vehicle and be 100% emission-free at the point of use. The cityZENN was designed to meet the transportation requirements of a large percentage of drivers worldwide.[4] Ian Clifford, CEO of ZENN Motor Company, also stated that a normal household outlet with 110 volt supply would fully charge the EEStor powered CityZENN in 4 hours, and a normal household outlet with 220 volt supply can fully charge the EEStor powered CityZENN in 2 hours. The 5 minute fast charge would only be possible at special charge stations. CityZENN target price was $25000 - $30000.[5]
Plans for the CityZENN were canceled in 2009 and production of all LSVs was ceased in late 2009 and production employees were released. In fiscal years 2008 and 2009, ZENN Motors had company-wide losses of $65,000 for each of the $15,000 lead-acid LSV it sold (approximately 360).[6]
Legalization in Canada
Although the company is headquartered in Toronto, and the car is manufactured in Saint-Jérôme, north of Montreal, the vehicle was first introduced in the United States. Federal regulations set up by Transport Canada to approve low speed vehicles (LSVs) for public road use excluded the ZENN and other NEVs from Canadian roads. ZENN's battle with Transport Canada over LSV regulations has been periodically mentioned in Canadian news.[7]
The ZENN car met all the regulatory requirements in the United States; the same regulations adopted by Transport Canada in 2000. It took 2 years of political red tape before ZENN received its National Safety Mark from the Canadian Ministry of Transport. The safety mark was granted after a report by the CBC[8] caused public outcry against the government's lack of interest in environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel vehicles.
Since August 16, 2000, British Columbia has allowed LSVs on its roads, but this exception to the federal law was designed mainly for large slow-moving farm equipment. Although the ZENN was technically legal in British Columbia, the cars would have needed to be equipped with warning signs and yellow flashing lights to distinguish themselves as slow-moving. ZENN Motor Company did not see these conditions as viable to establish a retailer market. After ZENN received its National Safety Mark, the province of British Columbia vowed to improve their support for electric vehicles, and granted the right to each municipality to make LSVs legal on their roads. As of November 2008, the city of Vancouver and the township of Oak Bay, a suburb near Victoria are the only municipalities to grant LSV use.
In Ontario, LSVs can be used on roadways within provincial or municipal parks and conservation areas (when driven by an authorized park employee) or on private property. A grey area is also using a slow moving vehicle sign on the back of a LSV and if approached by a police officer, to say that it is for farm use.
On June 17, 2008, Quebec announced a pilot project for the ZENN, which would allow residents of Quebec to drive a ZENN in Canada.[9] On October 4, 2008, ZENN Motor Company opened up a retailer out of its production plant in Saint-Jérôme with a factory direct approach to sales. This marked the first time a ZENN or any other low-speed commercial vehicle could be sold in Canada.
Awards
In the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2006, ZENN received the highest overall rank in the Urban Car category.
Gallery
Comparison with selected light electrical cars
Maker Top speed Range Kewet Buddy 80 km/h (50 mph) 40 km (25 mi)-80 km (50 mi) CityEl 63 km/h (39 mph) 80 km (50 mi)-90 km (56 mi) Dynasty IT 40 km/h (25 mph) 50 km (31 mi) REVA 80 km/h (50 mph) 80 km (50 mi) The Kurrent 40 km/h (25 mph) 60 km (37 mi) Th!nk City 100 km/h (62 mph) 170 km (110 mi) References
- ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (September 2009). "Zenn to cease electric car production". CBC News. http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/09/28/zenn-cease-production.html. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
- ^ Press release by ZENN Motor Company (7 December 2009). "ZENN Motor Company Updates on Realignment of Its Business Operations". http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Zenn-Motor-Company-TSX-VENTURE-ZNN-1086545.html.
- ^ "Q&A with Ian Clifford CEO of Zenn Motors: EEStor to Publicly Prove its Technology Imminently". GM-Volt. 2009-07-20. http://gm-volt.com/2009/07/20/qa-with-ian-clifford-ceo-of-zenn-motors-eestor-to-publicly-prove-its-technology-imminently/. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ "ZENN MOTOR COMPANY DETAILS PLANS FOR HIGHWAY CAPABLE ZENN POWERED BY EESTOR" (PDF). ZENN Motor Company Inc.. 2008-03-28. http://www.zenncars.com/media/press_rel/03_08/ZMCAnnouncesPlans.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ "zenncars.com - Ian Clifford discusses the ZENN, EEStor.. - June 02, 2008". http://www.zenncars.com/media/audio/evcast.mp3.
- ^ http://www.zenncars.com/media/documents/FY09_Annual_Management_Discussion_Analysis.pdf
- ^ "Auto makers catch whiff of new fuel sources". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080526.FUELS26/TPStory/Environment.
- ^ "Electric car maker charges Ottawa blocking its sale in Canada". CBC News. October 26, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/26/electriccar-zenn.html.
- ^ "ZENN Motor Company Evaluating Canadian Expansion". http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/industrials/enn-motor-company-evaluating-canadian-expansion/-1441685563.
External links
- ZENN Motor Company
- The Challenge Bibendum Paris 2006: wrap-up
- Low-Speed Vehicle Pilot Test FAQ
- Support for legislation change in Canada to allow Zenn Cars to be sold here.
- http://www.eestorbatteries.com - Information, News, Articles, and Discussion Board for EEstor Batteries and Zenn Motor Company.
Categories:- Electric cars
- Battery electric vehicles
- Low-speed vehicles
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