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Jimmy and his 2008 ZENN named “AMPS R US” (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=77198)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/546/Jimmy_s_Zenn.jpgJimmy – CleanMPG (www.cleanmpg.com) – March 13, 2008

There are about 650 miles on my new 2007 Zenn EV now. Since buying this vehicle I have made a few improvements, and plan to do a few more - such as adding a locking glove box door (an option I turned down at the time of purchase). My Zenn dealership can get me whatever parts I need.

This vehicle, being electric, is so simple. No complicated gasoline engine to maintain. no oil to change, no antifreeze to think about, no tune-ups, and no gasoline to buy. It should be a breeze to maintain.

By the way, gasoline was selling for $3.45 per gallon today, and is predicted to go higher by this summer. My electric bill (for recharging the battery pack) went up by less than $15.00 on the most recent monthly billing, and that cost should remain fairly constant from month to month.

I have noticed an increase in range as the weather gets warmer.

Of course this is a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), so it is not legal, or safe, to drive it on freeways or other high speed roadways. The max speed is about 37 mph, and it has a summer time range of about 35 miles. The max speed of 37 mph allows me to keep right up with the traffic in my area - which are city streets and county roads. I use it for all of our daily errands, such as going to the grocery store, post office, mall, local ball games, etc.

As delivered, this vehicle just had decals ("ELECTRIC") on both doors to announce to the world that it is an EV. I changed that by filling in the 2 inch wide horizontal indentations on the body of the car with 2 inch wide black strips (with chrome edges top and bottom) purchased from Pep Boys. Then I placed chrome plated "ELECTRIC" logos on the strips located on the doors. The logos were purchased at EV Tradin' Post for $6.00 each. Both the strips and the logos were attached with adhesive that was already on the strips and logos. Then I purchased and installed an inexpensive cup holder from WalMart. I MUST have coffee every day, and love going to McDonalds to get it (and to show off my EV)

The ZENN

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/546/Jimmy_s_ZENN_Profile.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/546/Jimmy_s_ZENN_Interior.jpg
The ZENN’s profile------------------------------------------------------------My interior addition ;)

For trips and freeway driving, my internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle is used, and used sparingly :cool:

Nice. Does each wheel have a motor? Or is there one powering a pair of drive wheels? And is that a solar panel on top?

I guess I may have been misinformed -- I thought NEVs were limited to 25 mph (though allowed on roads signed up to 35 mph). Or does this one live in an area where the limits have been relaxed?

Great questions!

Actually the vehicle is driven conventionally, i.e., a 5 HP DC motor drives the transmission, which drives the front wheels.

What you see on the roof is a large electrically opened sun roof. I am looking forward to using it when the warm weather gets here.

It would be great to have onboard solar panels. Then "fuel" costs would go to zero. I've been doing some research on the subject, and there are solar panels available, but interfacing the solar panels to an electric vehicle's circuitry may not be that simple. There would probably be mods required for the charger external circuits and for connecting to the existing extension cord circuitry. Then, if one wanted to drive it while it was being charged solarly (is that a word?), one of the circuits (on the Zenn, at least) would have to be defeated - the one that prevents the car from being driven while charging is going on.

I'm sure it isn't all that complicated, though. Out of curiosity, I am collecting details on the panels and associated equipment so that I can get some idea of the cost. Whether I'll ever actually install solar panels remains to be seen. I like the idea.

Very Zenn like Jimmy. Keep us posted as to your future experience and impressions of your Zenn.

Enjoy

I guess I may have been misinformed -- I thought NEVs were limited to 25 mph (though allowed on roads signed up to 35 mph). Or does this one live in an area where the limits have been relaxed?

In Ohio (and some other states) the law is more flexible. So I am legally able to drive the vehicle at 37 MPH.

Although the Zenn comes from the factory limited to 25 mph, the beauty of the Zenn is that the max speed can be adjusted from a laptop connected to a Zenn data cable, using a GE software package called "GE Sentry". See the following for how this is done:

http://www.zenn35.com/Site/Home.html

http://www.electric-cars-are-for-girls.com/speed-up-your-zenn.html

well done ! - keep us posted

Wonderful article about the Zenn! It is such a great vehicle. Now with the 2008 Zenn coming out, the main difference is the motor. The 2008 will come with an AC motor instead of DC and have a Kurtis controller. The AC motor will help in hill climbing and efficiency. It is also easier to upgrade to 35mph if you so choose. As of yet, Zenn has not offered an upgrade program for those who might want the AC motor through their dealers. It just so happens that here in the Los Angeles area we have someone that does the conversions for $3200 which includes the price of the motor, controller and labor. To find out more you can visit his website: hiperformancegolfcars.com/ (http://www.hiperformancegolfcars.com/)

Wonderful article about the Zenn! It is such a great vehicle. Now with the 2008 Zenn coming out, the main difference is the motor. The 2008 will come with an AC motor instead of DC and have a Kurtis controller. The AC motor will help in hill climbing and efficiency. It is also easier to upgrade to 35mph if you so choose. As of yet, Zenn has not offered an upgrade program for those who might want the AC motor through their dealers. It just so happens that here in the Los Angeles area we have someone that does the conversions for $3200 which includes the price of the motor, controller and labor. To find out more you can visit his website: hiperformancegolfcars.com/ (http://www.hiperformancegolfcars.com/)

Hi Taryn:

I'm in contact with Hi Performance Golf Cars now. Thanks! :)

Hi Taryn:

___Do you have any idea when is the Zenn/EESTOR upgrade going to hit the streets?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

More good news to report about my Zenn.

I started driving this vehicle in mid-January of 2008, and have averaged about 90 miles per week for the 8 weeks I have been using it.

For the period of 12/13/2007 to 1/16/2008, my total household electric bill was $115.34. This was the period BEFORE my Zenn was delivered to me. At that time I had extra lights inside and outside the house for Christmas decorations, so my electric bill was higher than usual. For the period prior to that (11/12/2007 to 12/13/2007), the bill totaled $102.98.

For the period of 1/16/2008 to 2/14/2008, my total household electric bill (including recharging my Zenn battery pack) was $106.42.

For the period from 2/14/2008 to 3/14/2008, my total household electric bill (including recharging my Zenn battery pack) was $105.98.

Of course household electric bills will vary from month to month, depending on the activities of the family, but it looks like recharging my Zenn battery pack won't have much impact on the bill.

To say the least, I am very pleased.

I don't have any news about EEstor. Unfortunately they haven't given me any info on that. If I do find something out, you can be sure I will put it in my monthly newsletter. If you want to join, you can visit my website, or click here (http://www.environmentalmotors.com/mailingList.html).

Good stuff, except that mcdonald's coffee is such awful rat
juice. Do you guys have Dunk's out there?
.
note to environmentalmotors -- your main page (http://www.environmentalmotors.com/) totally won't
work for many browsers, and I would suggest at least adding a
direct link to index2.html so that the non-flashy crowd can
find your stuff. Make no assumptions.
.
_H*

Have you tried McDonalds coffee lately? They went to a premium coffee a few months ago, and it is really good - and for me, it's only 45 cents (senior discount).

How much did this vehicle cost? Does it use 110 or 220 volt plugs? 360 miles monthly on neglible electricity is good! Does it have regenerative braking?

How much did this vehicle cost? Does it use 110 or 220 volt plugs? 360 miles monthly on neglible electricity is good! Does it have regenerative braking?

Hello:

As with any new vehicle, the price varies - depending on the options selected. Zenn is just now coming out with the 2008 models, which are highlighted by the use of alternating current (AC) motors, rather than the direct current (DC) motors of previous years. For details and prices, go to www.zenncars.com. That website lists prices, including options, for both the 2007 model year (DC motors) and the 2008 model year (AC motors).

If the Zenn Ambassador Program is still in effect (and I believe it is), it can save you several thousand dollars. Ask Zenn if that program still exists.

When you go to the Zenn website, you will find a list of Zenn dealerships scattered about the country. If you are interested in making a purchase, I suggest that you contact the dealer nearest you. They often have special deals.

The built-in charger uses an ordinary extension cord that plugs into a household 110 volt outlet.

Yes, it has regenerative braking.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. :)

I just installed a different horn in my Zenn. It is a Model 419 Bad Boy Dual Tone Air Horn that is powered electrically just like the original Zenn horn. It is LOUD!! (118 db, 530-680 hz). Really attracts attention, and yet - has a nice "old style Buick" tone. The price at a local Pep Boys outlet was $50. It is made by Wolo Manufacturing, http://www.wolo-mfg.com/air.htm. I mounted it on the forward (outer) surface of the battery box located in the front of the car. Just had to drill one hole. I'm thinking of installing a toggle switch on the dash so that I can honk either horn. :D

Ran into a minor glitch. The Bad Boy horn draws 12 amps at startup (beginning of a toot) and 6 to 8 amps after that. Since the horn is in a Zenn circuit that is normally fused with a 7.5 amp fuse, naturally the fuse blew. I replaced the 7.5 amp fuse with a 15 amp fuse and that took care of the glitch. By the way, the circuit for the horn also includes the instrument panel lights and the dome light, so when the 7.5 amp fuse blew, the instrument panel lights went out, the horn would not work, and the dome light went out.

As far as easy access to the fuse box is concerned, it isn't. Grrrrr!!