Apr
22
The $16,000 ZENN city car
April 22, 2008 |
The catchilly titled Zero Emission No Noise (ZENN) car manufacturers have produced a car which they think will revolutionise the way we look at city driving, if not the open highway. Their vision includes small, square, very bright, very cheerful cars with personality, attitude and environmental credentials to be proud of - if the ZENN City Car is anything to go by.
If the Lincoln Town Car is the big, luxurious, super comfortable way to cruise around a city then the similarly titled ZENN City Car couldn’t be any more different. Coming in at only around $16,000, the little ZENN is first of all rather short on the creature comforts that we have become so accustomed to. Ok, so that’s fine, we can live without leather and Clarion. So what about performance?
Well, this is where it gets really interesting because the ZENN is limited, yes limited, to only 25mph top speed! There area couple of reasons for this, not least that the little car runs on just 6 12-volt batteries (with possibly a capacitor system coming in 2009). Also, the 25mph limit on the speed of the car exempts it from many of the road safety and construction safety laws and regulations which weigh heavily on other canr manufacturers and, more importantly, on the consumers wallets. So, ultimate economy, zero luxury and minimal performance and all for $16k.. but does that stack up?
With a footprint smaller than a Mini, the little two seater is certainly good for around the city - nimble in traffic and powerful enough off the line. The ZENN is quiet at low speed but actually quite noisy at its comparatively high top speeds of 20-25mph as the economy shell really fails to keep out wind and road noise. The City Car can do up to 50 miles (batteries recharge under braking) and a recharge will take approximately 8 hours from flat to full. That would be fine for the morning and evening commute but not if you plan to be running round all day.
ZENN is pitching the City Car as very much a ‘tool’ for the multi-car household. Something to use for the short trips, city driving and even as a ‘trraining’ car for new drivers. So yes, as that sort of concept the City Car just about works (given its price tag) but for anything more it will be well worth investing a few more dollars to look higher up the food chain for your hybrid / electric purchase.
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