ZENN tries to boost EV market with under $10k NEV
Those of you with an interest in electrically-driven transportation who don't need a full function car may want to check out the latest deal from Canadian company ZENN. The ZENN electric car can be had for just $9,995 until the end of June. ZENN is looking for early adopters to be ambassadors for it's products - in return they get a $4,750 rebate off the $15,995 sticker price. On top of that buyers, are currently eligible for a $1,250 federal tax credit in the United States bringing the bottom line to just $9,995. Before you rush to one of the 40 ZENN dealers in the U.S., keep in mind that this is a neighborhood electric vehicle. That means it's limited to just 25 mph. It is legal to operate on city streets with speed limits up to 35 mph. If that limitation works within you needs, the ZENN may be a good deal for you.
[Source: ZENN]
A JOLT TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MARKET:
ZENN OFFERS ITS NEV FOR UNDER $10,000
TORONTO, ON – April 7, 2009 -- ZENN Motor Company, a leading developer of zero emission transportation solutions, is pleased to announce it will offer the 2009 All-Electric ZENN Car for an unprecedented price of $9,995 under its Ambassador Program through a combination of an innovative product Ambassador rebate program and a one time federal tax credit. This offer is available through June 30th, 2009 from the Company's network of 40 retailers throughout the United States.
ZMC has seen from its early product deliveries that the ZENN creates excitement wherever it goes. In exchange for Ambassadors efforts to promote the ZENN in their communities and sharing their experiences with the Company, they are provided with a $4,750 rebate that can be immediately applied at point-of-purchase. Customers who sign up for the program at time of purchase will receive a tool kit that includes a ZENN hat, ZENN t-shirt, and promotional literature. They also participate in an online ownership survey and feedback questionnaires during the first three months of ownership.
Dennis Hancock, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, is a firm believer in the Ambassador Program. "We have always had a base of enthusiastic owners who are passionate advocates for ZENN and for electric vehicles in general. This program provides them with an opportunity to purchase a vehicle below Retailer cost in exchange for their grass roots advocacy of sustainable transportation solutions."
The program's pricing structure is as follows:
ZENN MSRP $15,995
Ambassador Rebate: -$4,750
Federal Tax Credit -$1,250
Total Cost to Customer $9,995
(This price excludes delivery fees, sales tax and optional accessories)
ZENN's Ambassador pricing makes it the least expensive all-weather Neighborhood Electric Vehicle in the market today, nearly $2,000 dollars less than the ZAP, and about $10,000 lower than other some other NEVs in the marketplace.
The ZENN is a fully equipped, neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) with a range of up to 35 miles that recharges using a standard 120 volt electric outlet in as little as four hours. The ZENN is far less complex than a conventional car or a hybrid, with significantly fewer parts. There is no oil to change and no emission standards to meet, no exhaust and almost no maintenance. The cost of operating a ZENN is just over two cents per mile (fuel efficiency is equivalent to 280 miles per gallon) and the cars are typically very inexpensive to insure. The low cost of operating a ZENN, the low initial purchase price, and its exceptionally small carbon footprint deliver guilt-free savings for years to come.
ABOUT ZENN MOTOR COMPANY
www.ZENNcars.com
ZENN Motor Company, Toronto, Canada, is dedicated to being the global leader in zero emission transportation solutions for markets around the world. Driven by quality, ingenuity, and a philosophy of social responsibility, the ZMC team is redefining what is possible in both urban and business fleet transportation.
The ZENN™ (Zero Emission No Noise) provides an excellent alternative transportation solution for environmentally conscious drivers who want to dramatically reduce their operating costs and free themselves from dependence on oil. The current ZENN low speed vehicle is perfect for urban commuters and commercial fleets such as resorts, gated communities, airports, college and business campuses, municipalities, and parks and is sold through a network of retailers across the United States and directly by the Company in Quebec.
The planned commercialization and implementation of the ultra capacitor being developed by ZENN Motor Company's strategic partner EEStor, Inc., is expected to enable future ZMC vehicles and ZENNergyTM drivetrain powered vehicles to travel at speeds and distances similar to internal combustion powered vehicles but at a fraction of the cost and with zero emissions!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 9:11PM (4/10/2009)
Does this mean EEStor came through???? I don't hear anything, but they play their cards awfully close to the vest. I'm kidding of course, because the way EEstor acts it's all about investors and none about product.
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David L 11:42PM (4/10/2009)
I'm pretty sure that the ZENis still using a lead-acid battery. EEStor keeps on stalling on any kind on delivery ... other kinds of batteries (NiMH, Lithium, etc.) cost quite a bit more.
harlanx6 11:01AM (4/11/2009)
That makes sense, David.
Yanquetino 11:56PM (4/10/2009)
I cannot help but feel bad for ZENN. They are evidently trying to weather the current economic storm with deals such as this, but recruiting a few "ambassadors" for their LSV will hardly suffice.
The real problem, of course, is EEStor. ZENN has invested heavily in the company to secure exclusive rights to their super-capacitator, touted as the "holy grail" of energy storage for EVs. EEStor was supposed to deliver the first EESU unit by the end of 2007, but failed to do so. They then promised to fulfill that commitment by the end of 2008, but again left ZENN empty-handed.
At the ZENN stockholders' meeting two weeks ago, all they could say was that they were "frustrated," but still have "confidence" that EEStor will finally deliver in time for them to produce a prototype highway-capable cityZENN by the end of 2009. Indeed, they claimed to have an OEM lined up for that vehicle, but couldn't announce the company name, pending a final agreement. Want to bet that signing said agreement is also dependent on EEStor pulling through?
And in the meantime, as a consequence of all these repeated delays and silence from EEStor... ZENN stock has lost nearly 80% of its value over the past year.
What really disturbs me about the situation is that the head of EEStor, DICK Weir, doesn't seem to show any empathy or concern for his backer. Surely he must see what his prolonged delays are doing to ZENN, yet he doesn't even have the basic courtesy to issue a public statement --if for nothing else than to reassure ZENN's stockholders and customers that the long-awaited delivery is imminent. Indeed, shouldn't Weir have addressed ZENN's stockholders at the meeting, since he is using their money to produce the super-capacitator? Yet not one word from him. Truly unconcienable, in my opinion.
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y31 10:46AM (4/11/2009)
He was named Dick for a reason.
Mike 9:30PM (4/20/2009)
The fact that they have a deadline for these rebates makes me think that they may be getting rid of inventory prior to announcing their highway rated model. As a few of you have expressed, this car will not pass the more stringent safety requirements for highway vehicles. I am hoping this means that Eestor will be coming through and a highway rated vehicle is in the offing around July 2009. Just another take on why they are advertising this discounted price. Let's hope!
gorr 11:02AM (4/11/2009)
I told you that batteries do not work good, are not ready, are heavily subsidised and proven defective of powering limp cars for few miles with big cost. It's easy to see that it's just a wish from the petrol industry to protect them and help burning the air that surround us including the things that live in the air like humans, birds, childs, water, trees, foods, etc.
Big oil have always make pay the goverment to find petrol reserves. All the big petrol guys have put most of their money in protected private kingdom in the middle east while telling you that they are terrorists. Actually you pay over-priced cars to car manufacturers, then you pay polluting and over-priced gasoline directly to criminals that have bought politicians from long time ago and have put tons of madscientists in all level of goverments and internationnal association like onu, japan goverment, epa, doa, etc. Then you have made a criminal war in irak, etc. I say and i repeat that most of the folks here on earth are just zombies worshipping shortages of any sort. Zombies just try to kill themself, believe in pain and reject anything that stood the light like gaseous hydrogen cars without pollution and no fuel cost.
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Jeff 2:23PM (4/11/2009)
lol @ batteries helping petrol to burn the air, childs, water, and foods; madscientists; zombies; and no fuel costs for hydrogen cars.
I think that if they can foot the bill for this kind of incentive, it's a good idea to get the ball rolling. You gotta have these things out on the streets to get people asking questions, I don't think many people realize you can actually buy and use an electric car these days, even if it is a bit limited.
keith 12:36PM (4/11/2009)
Zenn will never see an EESTOR ultracapacitor. As soon as I hear that Lockeed Martin had bought into EESTOR, I saw the writing on the wall. Sorry for the conspiracy theory, but big US defence contracters do not allow new technology to be shared with a small car company from Canada. It doesn't matter a bit that ZENN was there first. I'm sorry to be such a pessimist, but I'd bet the store I'm right.
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robbie 1:32PM (4/13/2009)
I feel no sympathy for Zenn.
1. eestore is fake and doesn't work. (they have released nothing to indicate contrary)
2. zenn works with eestore is would only be the only reason to invest in zenn as they do not design their own cars, but rather buy them and rebadge them- whether or not they license the design and manufacture is irrelevant. But on the other hand, if they manufacture in NA they are adding to the overall cost. Really, there is no innovation from zenn.
3. check youtube for crash vids on this car. pretty awful.
4. economics of the car doesn't work. 10k for a car that is limited in safety, range, speed is not reasonable. for 2.5-3.5k you can get a nice used car that is good on gas, safety, and reliable you have 6.5k left for repairs and gas (even though the zenn will have to replace the batt. every 3 yrs and how much is that? and it is not calculated the cost of electricity for the zenn).
5. stock price in garbage because they only sold 500k worth of cars. The efficiency in pricing would have it that the stock price has already factored in the above. Hence the low stock price. The eestore angle is a complete and classic stock pump.
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Yanquetino 8:00PM (4/13/2009)
"check youtube for crash vids on this car. pretty awful. "
Robbie: Yeah, that crash test with a ZENN is truly scary! I assume that this is the video you have seen, which also includes some footage for a GEM type "golf cart." In either case... I don't see that the seatbelts do a blessed thing to protect the occupants!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSs7pf5uqZY
What is most curious, however, is that the MicroCar from France (the very vehicle that ZENN imports for its low-speed EV) boasts airbags, which help protect the occupants a bit better in crash tests:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz7wUPwbA-Y
True, the crash is still scary, but one might survive the impact thanks to the airbag.
What I do not understand is why ZENN doesn't retain those airbags when it imports the vehicles...? It would obviously make them safer.
Somebody once suggested that it is because they are limited to a 25 mph speed, and that airbags are now set to NOT discharge unless the car is going faster than that --as otherwise they could do more harm than the crash itself.
I have a hard time believing that, because... let's say you are in a ZENN traveling 25 mph, and another ZENN going the same speed crosses the middle line and hits you head on. In essence, the impact would be equivalent to going 50 mph for BOTH vehicles --despite their LSV classification. Wouldn't you want an airbag with that severity an impact? I would!
Rich 5:33PM (4/16/2009)
Those things are a death trap. Half of the disconnect systems are undersized.
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