REPORT: Zenn cancels plans for high-speed EV, will focus on supplying ZENNergy Drive components
According to reports from Reuters and GM-Volt.com, Zenn Motors has canceled plans to launch its cityZENN high-speed electric car and will slow down work on its low-speed EVs. According to Zenn Chief Executive Ian Clifford, the company will focus its efforts on becoming a supplier of ZENNergy Drive electric vehicle drivetrain components, which we assume will center around the EEStor energy storage system. Why the change in plans?
According to Clifford, EEStor still plans to perform component testing in September (which at this point is nearly over), though it (surprise!) won't necessarily publish the results of its findings. The next step would be to "deliver functional technology" to Zenn by the end of 2009. We're waiting... still.Our decisions regarding cityZENN continue to evolve in response to advancements in electric vehicle deployment across the industry since we announced cityZENN a couple of years ago... Integration of ZENNergy Drive in Tier 1 and OEM product has always been our long term objective. The cityZENN program was always designed as a proof of concept for ZENNergy Drive.
[Source: GM-Volt.com, Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ViaTierra 5:43PM (9/23/2009)
Wait for it...
Almost there...
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polo 9:22PM (9/23/2009)
This is a smart move. A few years back they were one of a very few who were moving forward with EV plans - in other words they had no market for their components except themselves. Now that their is a global rush by automakers to get high-range EVs out, they have a wide-open market. Why compete when you can sell to your competition? They system can dominate the market if it does what it says, so this again, is a very good move.
Serge 6:24PM (9/23/2009)
Ooops, the house of cards is collapsing.
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John Lee 7:13PM (9/23/2009)
clap harder!
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dwarg 1:37AM (9/24/2009)
Now that's funny!..
"I believe! I believe!"
Ernie 7:15PM (9/23/2009)
Or in other words, even EEStor's biggest partner doesn't believe their claims, and since they have no actual date for which the product will be produced, they won't make any concrete plans of their own to use the EEStor capacitors.
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jpm 7:35PM (9/23/2009)
OMG! Who would have thought?
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Mark 11:56PM (9/23/2009)
Wow! I never could have imagined that a company that supports a fake technology cancels plans for a high-speed EV based on said fake technology!.
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kert 1:44AM (9/24/2009)
Rumor has it, they are considering switching from EEStor to Steorn for more efficient drivetrain.
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Dan Frederiksen 7:33PM (9/24/2009)
I'd say obviously, at this pooint, EEStor isn't for real. it's all lies. to me that was fairly clear when promised demonstrations starting slipping by years and only excuses were offered and no real attempt to gain credibility. sorry to break it to you but EEStor is a lie.
the only question is how could that be. how could they be so bold and blatant as to lie about something this important for so long. not just EEStor but unless Ian Clifford here is the most gullible schmuck around, he has been in on it from day one. Did they really cooperate to create this synergy of conartists. Zenn getting the investment money by association and sharing it with EEStor through apparent investments.
I don't think it is possible that Ian could be fooled at this point, I just don't see that as realistic to throw that many millions after something without insisting on seeing it in action and EEStor certainly couldn't kid themselves this long. So I'd say it's certain they are guilty of fraud and they know what they are doing.
And going by the Steorn model, it's not even certain they will be clearly exposed for it. Steorn just faded away with no admission of guilt. I think it's actually possible that Zenn could continue for several years after this because the world wont be monolithically aware of the betrayal and some will still buy the 'cars'. That's assuming there is any interesting in making cars. It might well just have been a con move to gain credibility.
and has Ian ever actually said he has seen the technology demonstrated? not that he would be above lying about it but it's an interesting aspect that even the most devious people will attempt to avoid lying if possible.
Mark Kiernan 8:35AM (9/24/2009)
I don't think this is necessarily FAIL, as Zenn was really just a platform to show off the EESTU. It would make more sense to develop the ESSTU for OEMs, as that is where the real money is.
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Serge 11:59AM (9/24/2009)
Correct, but after 5 years of excuses they are actually running out of them now, as no prototypes for EESUs exist or will be shown in the near future. What seems imminent is catastrophic failure of Zenn.
RAN 2:15PM (9/24/2009)
IF the EESU is truly close to being ready, this is a smart move on ZENN's part; why waste millions developing a new car when they can simply *sell* millions of the drive systems without doing so?
If the EESU is vaporware, then it makes even more sense. Watch the airports, bus and train stations... our bird may be getting ready to fly the coop ;-)
As far as I'm concerned, if EEStore doesn't show a working model by the end of *this* year, I'm writing them off as total wankers and moving on with other plans for my new EV.
Ah is gettin' right tired of waitin'.....
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Wave54 4:20PM (9/25/2009)
Who, exactly, is going to be buying these storage systems? It seems that every manufacturer with an EV in the works is going to stick with their own proprietary battery. Many have joint ventures with battery makers.
Do you really see Nissan, Ford, BMW (MINI), MB (Smart), GM dumping their current supplier for EEStor?
Keith 9:37PM (9/24/2009)
If Eestor is for real, and Zenn had the exclusive right to use it in a car, then it makes sense that someone would buy out the small Canadian company, so they would be able to put it in cars from a big company. Hence, change to a system supplier instead of a car manufacturer allows Eestor to hit the big time, and allows Zenn to continue to be involved. Of course the big IF was the start of my response.
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