Come on Ontario, approve the ZENN
November 26th, 2008 by AndyThe ZENN (zero-emissions, no noise) electric car is one the most promising innovations I have read about over the last couple years. In their current incarnation, these cars have some significant suburban limitations - 80km range, 40km/h top speed -but for urban commuting the ZENN is ideal. This utility has been recognized by British Columbia and Quebec, as well as 43 US states. However, Ontario continues to block the use of ZENN cars on public roadways, citing safety issues. All that has been approved is a 5 year pilot study, ending in 2011, allowing the use of ZENN vehicles in provincial parks to assess their safety in low speed settings.
What I want to know is why, if jurisdictions across North America are allowing ZENN cars on low-speed limit roadways, why won’t Ontario? This is a fully enclosed vehicle, based on the chassis of a European diesel car, that meets or exceeds FMVSS 500 standards (the US safety standards governing electric cars) - why are we so slow in allowing these on our roads? And think about the manufacturing opportunities - the ZENN cars are currently being built in Quebec, but the company is planning on expanding fast - and about to introduce a high-speed all electric car (125km/h top speed, 400km range with a 5 minute charge time) based on a battery that “would instantly turn vehicles like General Motors’ much-hyped Volt into museum pieces,” according to Peter Gorrie of the Toronto Star. You’d think Ontario would be doing as much as possible to attract such a company to do business here - especially considering the troubles currently facing the auto industry. But, alas, the ministry of transportation would rather institute measures to prevent teenagers from carpooling.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
The battery in question is not actually a battery at all, it’s an ultracapacitor. The technology’s been on the radar for a while (as has EEStor), but time will tell whether it pans out. Or pans out better than the lithium-iron phosphate or stabilized spinel li-ion batteries currently being developed, anyway. There are plenty of horses in this race.
The ZENN is not a whole lot more than a novelty at this point - that’s my general stance on it and other so-called neighbourhood electric vehicles. But I certainly can’t see any reason why Ontario would be so insistent on blocking it. I just don’t imagine it would find many buyers.
December 1st, 2008 at 9:33 pm
what would a theoretical price tag be on something like this? i’m just wondering about who it would be marketed to, and how feasible it could potentially be for the average person to drive electric
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
They’re selling for $16,900 in Quebec and cost about 2 cents per kilometer to drive… seems pretty feasible to me
December 4th, 2008 at 8:17 am
The question is, where is the incentive to buy it over a Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa that costs 50% less, is still incredibly frugal on gas, and can be driven on highways for hundreds of kilometers before taking advantage of our plentiful gasoline infrastructure.
It may serve people as a grocery getter, a soccer-practice transporter, or for the small minority of urban commuters who drive (as opposed to those who commute from suburbs via highway). But in the majority of cases, it would still necessitate buying at least one other gas-powered vehicle, at which point the ZENN’s net environmental benefits become more questionable.
Don’t get me wrong - I am all for widespread adoption of electric cars, but I fear that highly limited vehicles such as the ZENN fuel perceptions that electric vehicles are impractical toys. At least until gas goes back up to $1.50/L+, I don’t see a great deal of real market potential except among idealists (and personally, I’d much rather ride my bike!).