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ZENN


ZENN
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Wikipedia: ZENN Motor Company

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History
Photographs
2008 Specifications
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A brand of electric cars.  ZENN is an acronym for Zero Emission No Noise.  The full company name is ZENN Motor Company.  Their first model has no specific model name and is simply called ZENN, the same as the company.  Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, they produced vehicles from 2006-2010.

History

The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's ZENN Motor Company page on 21 December 2020, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

ZENN Motor Company was a Canadian-based company that previously developed small lead-acid electric vehicles that were suitable for the neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) market. The company name is an acronym for Zero Emissions No Noise. Zenn produced its last vehicle in 2010. Since then, the company has changed its name to EEStor Corporation and no longer builds or produces vehicles.

Ian Clifford is a professional photographer and a co-founder, along with Marek Warunkiewicz (creative and art director) of digIT Interactive (1993–2000). After digIT was sold, Ian, Marek and Probyn "Bunny" Gayle founded Feel Good Cars, which was later renamed to ZENN Motor Company. The first prototype, a Dauphine Electric was based on the French economy-class combustion-based Renault Dauphine. By 2001 the all-electric prototype went on display at the Toronto International Auto Show. They began using the body of a small, lightweight diesel-powered mini-car from Microcar. They initially acquired 10 Microcar vehicles without any internal combustion components attached (called a "glider"). The glider was fitted with lead-acid batteries and an electric motor to create a NEV product.

For the fiscals years 2008 and 2009, ZENN sold 360 ZENN NEVs at a company-wide cost of $65,000 for each $15,000 NEV sold.

In 2004, ZENN signed an agreement with EEStor who was seeking investment to produce ultra-capacitors that could replace batteries and revolutionize the EV industry. The well-known venture capital firm KPCB invested $3 million in EEStor in 2005 for approximately 20% ownership. EEStor is a private company, so the KPCB investment resulted in public investors being more interested in ZENN as a way to invest in the EEStor technology. Amendments to the 2004 agreement and a milestone in 2007 resulted in ZENN acquiring a 3.8% ownership of EEStor for $2.5 million. Exclusive rights to the technology in small vehicles were also acquired. EEStor stated delivery of the first units to ZENN would occur by the end of 2007 (see EEStor article). Delivery was also scheduled for 2008 and 2009. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, ZENN received $34 million from stock offerings and paid $10 million to EEStor in accordance with their 2007 agreement. ZENN now has a 10.7% ownership of EEStor stock. As of August 1, 2010, ZENN has not received a prototype from EEStor.

In 2009 and 2010, ZENN canceled production of their vehicles and released employees to conserve cash. ZENN's remaining business is focused on the EEStor technology and their rights to it. In April 2012, the company raised CAN$2 million from investors primarily on the promise of EEstor's technology.

In 2013, KPCB sold much or all of its remaining stake in EEStor to ZENN.

In 2015, ZENN changed its name to EESTor Corporation.


Photographs

2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 2,162KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 1,836KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 1,917KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 1,986KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 2,367KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 2,190KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 2,537KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 2,398KB
2008 ZENN Subject:  2008 ZENN
Photographer:  Bill Crittenden
Event:  2009 The Cars Time Forgot Car Show
View photo of 2008 ZENN - 2,291KB


2008 Specifications

Body Type3-door Hatchback
DrivetrainFWD
Motor3-phase AC
Motor Dimensions10.5" Length x 7.5" Diameter
Transmission10.3:1 Speed Reducer w/integral differential
BatteriesEV31A-A Discover Battery Pack (6 12-volt AGM valve sealed lead acid)
Battery Power72-volt DC (5.69kw)
Charge TimeApproximately 8 hours from 110V, empty to 80% charge in 4 hours
Speed Control300A
Front SuspensionIndependent w/2 coil spring-shock units
Rear SuspensionTrailing arm w/2 coil spring-shock units
Wheels13" aluminum
Tire Size145/70R13
Brakes4-wheel 6.7" hydraulic disc w/Electromagnetic Regenerative Braking
Maximum Speed25mph
Storage Capacity13 cu. ft.
Equivalent Fuel Economy245 city*, N/A highway**
MSRP$15,995

* - "100% Electric, the ZENN doesn't use any gasoline.  A gallon of gas has an energy equivalent of 33.5 kwh.  One gallon of gas provides the same energy as fully charging the ZENN about 7 times.  This is an equivalent fuel economy of 7 x 35 miles/charge, or 245 miles per gallon."
** - "The ZENN is designed for urban transportation and has a regulated maximum speed.  It is not approved for highway use."

Standard features:
Electronic drive-by-wire throttle
Curtis Motor Controller
Adjustable Headrests
Locking Glove Compartment
Remote Keyless Locks
12V Accessory Outlet
Rear Window Defrost
Two-tone cloth seats
ABS Body Panels
Rear Window Wiper

Optional equipment:
Power sliding panoramic sunroof ($1,195)
JVC KDG230 AM/FM/CD Radio ($295)


Documents

DateDocument Name & DetailsDocuments
November 2008FMVSS 500: Low Speed Vehicles
2008 ZENN 2008, 2-Dr. Hatchback, LSV
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

PDF
- 29.7MB - 49 pages


Article Index

DateArticleAuthor/Source
11 June 2004Hydrogen-Electric Hybrid Car PlannedPure Energy Systems News





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