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There has always been a certain mystique associated with the automobile. It is in the roar of a mighty engine, growling like a caged tiger at an intersection. It is the feel of the miles peeling away one after another on an extended road trip. It is size and leg room and status. Sadly, of late it has also been the sound of a cash register ringing as our hard earned money has been pumped into a gas tank.
You are going to experience none of those things with the Zenn. This two seat electric car is intended for city driving. Rather than that noisy combustion engine, the Zenn features six 12 volt Deka maintenance free, valve-regulated, and sealed lead acid gel batteries that hums it along at a top speed of 25 mph. Its range is approximately 35 miles.
The Zenn represents one of many new alternatives that have been developed to deal with high gas prices, and increasing pollution caused by exhausts of combustion engines. These cars are considered a novelty to some, but it is obvious from a glance at the spec sheet that they are not being built as glorified golf carts.
There is independent front wheel suspension and rack and pinion steering with permanently sealed tie-rod ends. Because of the use of automotive aluminum for the frame and ABS body panels, this 3 door hatchback weighs in at a mere 1,200 pounds.
Although it is perfect for city driving and short commutes, it is the range that seems to limit its value as a replacement to the family automobile.
Government regulations such as the FMVSS 500 standard in the United States and the CMVSS standard in Canada sets limits on the top speed for low speed electric vehicles, as well as setting safety requirements.
It is supposed that higher speeds are certainly possible, but the need to recharge the batteries after around 35 miles of driving is a problem that needs to be overcome. The Zenn takes about 8-9 hours to fully recharge although it is 80% recharged in the just 4 hours.
The relatively high cost of the Zenn, MSRP between $12,000 and $15,000 is certainly a result of smaller production totals, and does not represent a true idea of the cost of the vehicle should it ever be manufactured in the massive quantities of today’s automobiles. It is very likely that the Zenn might just be a glimpse into the future of transportation.