Zenn

Plan on posting any pictures?

 

Do you have to fold your hands and hum before you get in?

What is a Zenn?

(I hope it's a good car, please post some pics)

ZC1

 

Congrats on your new car... it is not for everyone i will definitely agree, but it does fit a lot of my transportation needs. i have had my Zenn for 6 months and i have never had to go to either backup vehicle because the Zenn could not do the job (with exception of an item that only a pickup could handle..iow, the Pri could not have done it either)

i am in Wa state which is one of only a handfull of states that allow 35 mph (although i can tell you from others who have Zenn's that you will never get a ticket for 35 mph in one no matter what state you are in) and i mine does it via a software upgrade that is available free online developed by a Zenn owner in the SF Bay area. Most dealers will install it for you free of charge.

 

It's a car that makes the sound of one hand clapping.

 

It looks like the wagon version of a Smart TwoFour.

That's a mighty tall windshield. Lots and lots of glass all around.

Interesting that there are more electric and subsize vehicles on the market lately.

ZC1

 

As I understand, it uses the EEStor ultracapacitors in stead of conventional batteries. Is this true? If so, what is the capacity/weight? What is the range? Charge time?

 

actually they use lead acid batteries. the UC's are slated to be used in the next gen Zenn scheduled for relesed in fall 2009.

as far as charge time on my Zenn, i am currently getting just under 4 miles per kwh... when the batteries are less than 50 %, i can charge as much as a 1½ kwh in less than an hour.

a full charge takes about 6 hours, but the charge rate is exponential... i can get an 80% charge in 2-3 hours. my range is probably 30+ miles, but i have driven as much as 51 miles in a day because of a short mid-day charge.

although i dont do it now (have actually done it 3 times in 7½ months) there are getting to be more and more charging stations popping up around town that i can plug in for free.... most of the time, too lazy to toss extension cord into the car...(that would add to my "refuel" time...)

as far as specs on the UC.... they will have two charge methods, an optional quick charge pack that will allow a 95% charge in about 3-5 mins.
but will also still have the slow charge method that will use any standard 110 volt system. that will take 12-14 hours for a full charge but will get a 80% in 6-8 hours. with an expected range of 120 miles, i would only occasionally use more than 50 % of the charge. but it would still be home long enough to charge 8-12 hours a day.

 

I rode in a Zenn the other day. It's a very nice little car indeed. It took 12 seconds to go from 0 to 35 mph. (My Xebra takes 31 seconds.) It's roomy and comfortable. My Xebra will go farther on a charge, and I need that extra range, but for anyone whose daily driving fits the Zenn's capability, I'd recommend it. (As Dave noted, here in WA it's allowed to go 35 mph.) The one I rode in has an AC motor (I don't know if that's standard, or if it was an upgrade.) It also has regen braking, but not the way the Prius does: As we all know, the brake pedal in the Prius applies regen. In the Zenn it's only letting up on the go pedal that applies regen. Not a good system in my opinion. But my Xebra does not have regen at all.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the Zenn.

 

The AC motor is new for 2008, is slightly faster, more efficient...the extra acceleration does come at the expense of range though and the regen is not the best. it adds very little extra distance and can greatly reduce speed from gravity so i had mine disabled.

another thing about the 2008 is that a slightly larger batt storage (about 2 extra inches in height) allows an upgrade to Discover 10AA which have 33% more storage... that has given reports of ranges approaching 45 miles in good conditions... something i cant touch with my 2007 DC batt upgrades...(best i have done on a single charge was 32 miles....typical is 25-26 on a good day)

 

Xebra drivers have found that driving lead batteries their full range on a regular basis greatly reduces their lifetime. Limiting them to 50% DoD and going gentle on the electron pedal greatly extends their lifetime.

Thus the 40 or 45 mile theoretical range is misleading. OTOH, the lithium batteries in my Xebra are supposed to be able to take much deeper DoD without degradation.

Of course, if they really do develop ultra-caps, that's no longer going to be an issue, and if their price is competitive, all batteries will become obsolete. It would surprise me greatly if Zenn is able to meet its goal of putting them in the 2009 model year cars. I've seen nothing to suggest that EEstor is that close to commercializing them.

 

Here is the ZENN which Daniel rode in. I have had it for more than a week and it now has just over 100 miles on the odometer. It feels more car like than the Zap PK which I had until very recently. I am still getting used to the brisk acceleration to 35 mph when it stops abruptly and stays there. The Zap would go to 40 mph and then creep as high as 45 mph (sometimes).

It came with air conditioning (the real thing), electric windows, reclining seats, remote door unlock, rear window wiper and mag wheels. I added thermostatically controlled battery heaters and a radio. It is not my only car but it is the most frequently used, by far. My other car is a Prius, of course.

 

Yeah? Well, my Xebra has crank windows for air conditioning, reclining seats in front, a key lock on the driver's door, front and rear windows, rear view mirrors, wheels, lights, a roof, a floor, pedals, a two-speed heater, a switchable back-up beeper, turn signals, a clock, and it will go 50 miles per hour downhill!

(Sorry. I couldn't resist that. Seriously, the Zenn beats the Xebra in every respect except range, and even that's only because I have the lithium battery pack.)

 

It's a strange world we live in, isn't it? Rick Mercer did a spot on the ZENN and made sure he drew attention to this little factoid. ZENN, btw, stands for Zero Emission, No Noise.