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ZENN (Zero Emission, No Noise) is a 2-seat battery electric vehicle currently in production and built by ZENN Motor Company designed to qualify as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. It has a range of up to 40 miles (56 km) and does not exceed 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. It now comes standard. The vehicle is based on the Microcar (brand) MC2,in production in France since the early 2000s, and produced under license from Microcar's parent company Beneteau Group. 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. As of Nov. 2008, this has not happened. If it were to happen, it would make the ZENN the first production vehicle to use EESU. As of April 30 2007 ZENN Motor Company owned approximately 3.8% of the equity of capacitor developer EEstor, after an investment of $2.5M US.[1]
Licensing agreement with EEStorEEStor was founded in 2001 by Richard D. Weir and Carl Nelson, former senior managers in disk-storage technology at IBM and Xerox. The Company maintains a low profile, but others in the automotive and CleanTech communities are calling their storage technology ‘game changing’. Such a breakthrough has the potential to transform the energy sector and the automobile industry in particular. The following is how the EESU is claimed to compare to other batteries used for electric cars[2]
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 in perpetuity the worldwide exclusive rights to use EEStor's EESU in the following markets: All-electric 4-wheeled personal transportation uses for vehicles with a curb weight up to 1,400 kilograms (3,100 lb), net of the battery weight, and For golf carts and similar-styled utility vehicles, and The aftermarket conversion of any internal combustion passenger vehicle to electric drive The EEStor Technology Agreement also provides ZMC with non-exclusive, worldwide use to manufacture higher horsepower and heavier vehicles. City ZENNThe cityZENN is planned to be a 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 will be rechargeable in less than 5 minutes, feature operating costs 1/10th of a typical internal combustion engine vehicle and be 100% emission-free at the point of use. The Zero Emission, No Noise cityZENN will be designed to meet the transportation requirements of a large percentage of drivers worldwide. [3] It is due to be launched in Fall 2009. Also according to Ian Clifford a normal household outlet with 110 volt supply can fully charge the EESTor powered CityZENN in 4 hours for a 250 miles (400 km) range and a normal household outlet with 220 volt supply can fully charge the EESTor powered CityZENN in 3-6 min for a 250 miles (400 km) range. CityZENN target price is around $25000 - $30000.[4] Legalization in CanadaAlthough the company is headquartered in Toronto, and the car is manufactured in St- Jérôme, 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 have been periodically mentioned in Canadian news.[5] 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[6] caused public outcry against the governments 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 had 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. On June 17, 2008, Quebec announced a pilot project for the ZENN, which would allow residents of Quebec to drive a ZENN in Canada.[7] On October 4th, 2008 ZENN Motor Company opened up a retailer out of its production plant in St. 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. AwardsIn the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2006, ZENN received the highest overall rank in the Urban Car category. Gallery
Other electrical cars
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