Zenn Electric car

[Piotrsko]

We had a local guy here in Reno commute from Reno to Sparks daily on the freeway in a Zenn. R to S is a downhill, back home is uphill more or less depending on offramp for incline angle. I don't know how long this lasted, as I became embroiled in the lithium battery ticking timebomb debate and left the group (who ended up adopting lithium batteries)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

I've often thought that a good car setup for our family would be two cars, a NEV and an ICEV.

Back when NEVs were a growing segment, I used to think so too.

But my province never ended up allowing NEVs to be registered here. Official reason was lack of safety equipment/crashworthiness in the vehicles compared to regular cars / conventional EVs.

I converted the ForkenSwift instead, and even at just 48V it ended up with a higher top speed than the NEV class, since it was based on a regular car (and thus not electronically speed limited). Though I'm sure a ZENN would have beat it to 25 mph/40 km/h in a drag race!

It's all moot now anyway, since these days you can find a "beater" EV (eg. early Leaf or Volt) for less money than it would cost to do a comparable conversion.

Although none of the above beats a free ZENN.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

But my province never ended up allowing NEVs to be registered here. Official reason was lack of safety equipment/crashworthiness in the vehicles compared to regular cars / conventional EVs.

But there's a big difference in a crash at 25mpg and 85mph. That's why NEV's had a limited speed of 25mph and aren't legal to drive on roads that were over 30 or 35mph in the places where they're allowed.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

It's all moot now anyway, since these days you can find a "beater" EV (eg. early Leaf or Volt) for less money than it would cost to do a comparable conversion.

Although none of the above beats a free ZENN.

True. However, unless there actually are free ZENN's out there, a beater ICE is still cheaper in some aspects, although maybe not over all. I'm often tempted to get a used Leaf again, but don't like the selection that's available for the price. I ended up selling my SL with 6kW L2 charging, CHAdeMO, heat pump and had just lost it's first bar for $7,000 when I changed to the Avalon. But even Leaf's that have just 4 or 5 bars, no heat pump, slower 3kW charging and of course no CHAdeMO seem to still go for $5,000. Yet for that $7,000 I can get one that's pretty close to what I had with heat pump, faster charging and not so bad battery. Now if one of those beaters would go for $2,000-$3,000, I might get one. Otherwise I'll wait until I have enough money for the better Leaf.

[MetroMPG]

Have you been following the Jalopnik series about the guy who found a $2000 (?) Leaf?

[Isaac Zachary]

No I haven't. I better keep a look out. Thanks!