There's no engine noise, obviously, but you will hear the electric motor whirring, a little tire noise and a moderate level of suspension noise. People walking down the street will barely hear the ZENN pass by, though, but the car is fortunately equipped with a loud horn. Outward visibility is very good all around.
Braking is provided by four-wheel disc brakes; they look pretty small but they effectively stop the car without drama. There are, after all, only 617 kilograms (1,360 lbs) to immobilize, not including the two passengers and their groceries, of course. The brakes regenerate a small amount of energy while in use.
The suspension is a little harsh, but for a basic-transportation vehicle, we find it quite acceptable. Our only concern is that bigger potholes will chew up those skimpy 145/70R13 tires, so a ZENN owner must be particularly observant of the road ahead, but at such low speeds, he or she has time to do so. The steering is a little heavy during parking manoeuvres, but otherwise, it feels like you're driving a go-kart.
Now with air conditioning!
You can drive up to 80 kilometres on a single charge, which allows you to comfortably drive around town and run your errands. To recharge the ZENN, simply plug it to a standard-issue 110-volt power outlet; the battery pack is recharged at 80% capacity in about 4 hours, and reaches a full charge in 8 hours.
The charging system is safe; you can leave in plugged in for days at a time, as it shuts itself off when a 100% charge is reached. Allard claims the battery pack is good for more than 500 recharging cycles, which means you can use and recharge the car every day for over 2 years before replacing the batteries (which currently cost about $1,400).
Right now, the car's enemy is cold weather, as the batteries won't be as effective in sub-zero temperatures. For now, the ZENN will be happiest sleeping in the garage, but the company says it's working on a way to insulate the batteries, and there's room in the underfloor to do so. It's Allard's second winter in a ZENN, and he says it has no problem getting through the white stuff with winter tires on.
The ZENN can now be equipped with optional air conditioning, which triggered a spike in sales, particularly in sunny Florida. You can also get a power canvas sunroof and a radio, while every ZENN quietly sneaks out of the factory with alloy wheels, power windows and a choice of 3 colours: blue, silver or green.
Braking is provided by four-wheel disc brakes; they look pretty small but they effectively stop the car without drama. There are, after all, only 617 kilograms (1,360 lbs) to immobilize, not including the two passengers and their groceries, of course. The brakes regenerate a small amount of energy while in use.
The suspension is a little harsh, but for a basic-transportation vehicle, we find it quite acceptable. Our only concern is that bigger potholes will chew up those skimpy 145/70R13 tires, so a ZENN owner must be particularly observant of the road ahead, but at such low speeds, he or she has time to do so. The steering is a little heavy during parking manoeuvres, but otherwise, it feels like you're driving a go-kart.
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Now with air conditioning!
You can drive up to 80 kilometres on a single charge, which allows you to comfortably drive around town and run your errands. To recharge the ZENN, simply plug it to a standard-issue 110-volt power outlet; the battery pack is recharged at 80% capacity in about 4 hours, and reaches a full charge in 8 hours.
The charging system is safe; you can leave in plugged in for days at a time, as it shuts itself off when a 100% charge is reached. Allard claims the battery pack is good for more than 500 recharging cycles, which means you can use and recharge the car every day for over 2 years before replacing the batteries (which currently cost about $1,400).
Right now, the car's enemy is cold weather, as the batteries won't be as effective in sub-zero temperatures. For now, the ZENN will be happiest sleeping in the garage, but the company says it's working on a way to insulate the batteries, and there's room in the underfloor to do so. It's Allard's second winter in a ZENN, and he says it has no problem getting through the white stuff with winter tires on.
The ZENN can now be equipped with optional air conditioning, which triggered a spike in sales, particularly in sunny Florida. You can also get a power canvas sunroof and a radio, while every ZENN quietly sneaks out of the factory with alloy wheels, power windows and a choice of 3 colours: blue, silver or green.
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