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ZENN CEO Says EESU Status on Track, No Relation to Decision not to Sell cityZENN

 
3,457 views Sep 22, 2009
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Zenn Clifford

Zenn Clifford

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Zenn Motors has recently indicated it no longer plans to mass produce its own highway capable electric car called the cityZENN, instead focusing on development and sale of EEStor-powered electric car drivetrains called ZENNergy Drive.

Zenn is a 10% owner in Texas-bases EEStor believed to be secretly working on a breakthrough battery that is far cheaper, less temperature dependent, more energy dense, and far longer-lived than current lithium ion battereis.

Zenn CEO Ian Clifford explains why he feels this shift in business stragety makes a lot of sense.

"Why people would want ZENN to become another OEM is beyond me," he said. "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."

Clifford beleives the potential for these systems is substantial.

“Leveraging ZENNergy Drive, powered by EEStor, across the industry is such a massive opportunity,” he says. “Last year 48,000,000 new cars built fit within our 1400 kg exclusivity on EEStor’s technology.”

Clifford also denies that any material or timeline changes at EEStor had anything to do with this announcent. "Absolutely not" he said when asked if it did.

He goes on to explain the coming public demonstration of the EESU, which to date has not ever been shown or proven to exist.

“With respect to the anticipated timeline of EEStor’s technology,” said Clifford. “EEStor has publicly stated that they expect to complete initial component testing in September 2009 and deliver functional technology to ZMC by the end of the year.”

“With respect to the initial Component testing, it is up to EEStor to announce the results,” he said. “It should be noted that while EEStor publicly stated their intention to complete component testing, they did not indicate if they would publicly disclose those results. Component testing is not a milestone in our technology agreement with EEStor.”

Source (GM-Volt.com)





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Comments (10)

  1. By  Clint Posted: 9/23/2009 8:59am PDT

    Please stop d!cking us around!
     
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  2. By Funny Posted: 9/23/2009 9:04am PDT

    So - they never did in fact design any cityZenn - that was just more smoke. They are saying that even if a battery shows up - wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean - they are still only in golf carts.
     
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  3. By RSmith Posted: 9/23/2009 9:39am PDT

    EEStore is a 100% SCAM and TOTAL FRAUD, and Ian Clifford is an accomplice to fruad. Hey Ian, be sure keep some of that corporate Zenn cash handy in a legal slush fund, you're going to need it, like Timminco now the fruad law suits will follow. Moron!
     
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  4. By Jason M. Hendler Posted: 9/23/2009 9:39am PDT

    Typically, an innovator offers a product containing their innovation to demonstrate the market viability of the innovation. In this case, the product would be far too complex, and its success dependent on so many other things than the innovation, that it makes better sense to sell the innovation itself.
     
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  5. By EE-Shafted Posted: 9/23/2009 10:14am PDT

    IMHO - This simply indicates that the wheels are coming off at Zenn. At this point, Zenn has absolutely nothing but a handful of Lotto tickets with hopes that they "hit it big".
    Zenn has never really produced anything right? Where is the Zennergy Drive? It would seem to me, and correct me if I am wrong, that this Zennergy drive could be dmonstrated with traditional batteries? Except for the fact that Zenn has the licensing agreement for autos below a certain weight, why would I buy anything from Zenn? What experience does Zenn have with mass producing drive trains? What experience does Zenn have with mass producing anything, except hype? So what do you think the chances are that Zenn can crank out 1 million Zennergy drives? Manufacturing and manufacturing a quality component (as a drive train should be) ain't easy.
     
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  6. By arturo123 Posted: 9/23/2009 10:54am PDT

    Zennergy drive doesn't exist yet as a working prototype!!!!OMG this is a scam!!!
     
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  7. By Jon Posted: 9/23/2009 3:07pm PDT

    @RSmith
    Sounds like somebody is tired of waiting on their ZENN stock? It was a high risk investment Mr Smith so don't act so shocked when ZENN crashes.
     
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  8. By  Eric E Posted: 9/23/2009 5:48pm PDT

    More than a mile is the distance from which I saw this coming. I would do exactly the same thing if I were Ian Clifford.
    Why compete with huge automakers when you are trying to make them your customers.
     
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  9. By Scott Posted: 9/24/2009 5:41am PDT

    This is just good business on the part of ZENN. Why compete with huge carmakers when you can sell a technology they'll buy AND you can retrofit on existing vehicles. Kudo's to Ian for seeing the writing on the wall and going with ZENN's comparative advantage. P.S. It's really annoying reading the childish remarks from the LOL & OMG crowds. You people are only showing how little you really know about anything and how uninformed you are about the world. And honestly, if you can do better than Ian, get off your parent's couch, finish your degree, and go make something of yourself. Fat, dumb, and stupid is no way to go thru life.
     
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  10. By Funny Posted: 9/25/2009 7:04am PDT

    Are you serious, Scott?
    Zenn builds toy cars. They previously led you to believe they built a real car and all they were waiting for was the power source that they would drop in and they would be off to the races.
    Go sit in your car – look around – think of all the components required to get you from A to B. How much do you think the manufacturer had to spend just on plastics moulds? What about safety? How many cars crashed against a wall before your model was released to the public?
    Zenn cannot afford any of that. And you think that GM or Ford is going to allow them to build their drive trains? That would be like Pepsi announcing they had a new product and distribution system – they have hired six year olds with Kool-Aid stands across the country and are laying off all the drivers who currently deliver product.
    Zenn has nothing to offer the big guys except MAYBE a battery. Did you ever watch the movie about the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wipers? That is the way the big guys will be dealing with the likes of Zenn.
    Zenn builds toy cars and big stories – that’s all. People with a lot to lose – want to believe big stories.
     
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