What’s with the red tape holding up this awesome new CANADIAN vehicle. Why isn’t Buzz going to bat for this Canadian auto maker?
Company founder Ian Clifford says Canadians haven’t heard much about the car because Ottawa won’t let him sell it here.
“We’re getting road blocks thrown up in front of us every attempt down the road, and it’s getting to the point now where we’re almost giving up on Canada,” said Clifford.
The car is considered a low-speed urban vehicle with a regulated maximum speed of 40 km/h. It’s designed for areas where speed limits are 50 km/h or less, such as city core or neighbourhood-type driving, said Clifford.
[...]
The ZENN car has met all the regulatory requirements in the United States, the same regulations adopted by Transport Canada in 2000.
Why can’t we buy it here, when Mexico and the States can? This is an outrage if there is no reason for Transport Canada to suspect the car isn’t safe. Maybe the government is safety paranoid after letting poison dog food and Mattel toys into the country from China, but we’re talking about a Canadian auto maker here. If you lick or eat the ZENN, you deserve to get sick. Anyone who licks their Ford, GM, or Chrysler ought to pay the price as well.
UPDATE: Look in the comments, TC has approved the ZENN.
@hotmail.com
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Jaybird | 26-Oct-07 at 2:21 pm | Permalink
I can understand the regulations on new cars but this one is even MADE in Canada…. but can’t be sold here? That IS odd.
Charles Shirriff | 26-Oct-07 at 5:19 pm | Permalink
Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I detect a couple of possible reasons why the Canadian government might want to ban the Zenn.
1) it does not burn OIL PRODUCTS, and hence might be a threat to the future of the oils sands, etc.
2) the Zenn produces NO EMISSIONS and hence might make Kyoto standards (or any environmental emission standard) appear to be more obtainable. This would make it more obvious that Canada really should should have an environmental plan (other than ridiculous smoke and mirror speeches).
It is interesting that a similar company in British Columbia is apparently closing its manufacturing plant and moving the operation off-shore to somewhere closer to a possible market.
Sean | 26-Oct-07 at 5:39 pm | Permalink
Two points:
1. This is an example of why more government and more regulation never solves anything. We’ve got a private solution to a pressing issue (pollution) and government bureaucrats standing in the way.
2. What’s wrong with licking my Hyundai Santa Fe? I’ll have you know that it tastes great and it’s less filling. So there.
Todd | 26-Oct-07 at 6:13 pm | Permalink
I’m trying to imagine why I would want this car. There isn’t a day that I drive in Saskatoon where I don’t go above 50 km/hr.
Saskboy | 26-Oct-07 at 7:52 pm | Permalink
Todd, it’s not made for you then, simple as that. Try driving in downtown Toronto? Then the Zenn is for you.
Dwight Williams | 27-Oct-07 at 6:59 am | Permalink
Colour me officially appalled by this.
A Canadian success story, unavailable for purchase by Canadians?
Only in Canada!
Dwight Williams | 27-Oct-07 at 7:01 am | Permalink
Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary…and we’re still going to need petroleum byproducts for certain parts of this Car, I bet.
Dwight Williams | 28-Oct-07 at 7:06 am | Permalink
And here’s some of the competition set to make trouble for the ZENN for if/when it does get approved:
http://thecarsblog.com/2007/10/27/fisker-announces-their-first-plug-in-hybrid-luxury-car/
Neda Krinke | 30-Oct-07 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
I am appalled by Canadian Governmant as they seem to support everything imported, we should all right letters to Steven Harper as he is from the Oil Rich Province that he must support.
I’d like to see this and any other Canadian made product on the market here! Now! as long as it is safe and eco-friendly it should be available in the country that it is made!
Thanks and I am happy that I saw the special on this product on tv otherwise I would have NEVER even known about this, at least the CBC is doing something!
Thanks CBC
Neda
Alix M. | 02-Nov-07 at 8:49 pm | Permalink
I have a Vancouver Facebook group called I WANT TO BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR IN CANADA. This car is perfect for city folk who can’t drive over 50km if they wanted to because the roads are so clogged. The vast majority of our trips are of less than 10 km on 50km roads.
I have emailed Prime Minister Harper pm@pm.gc.ca and Minister of Transportation Lawrence Cannon Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
and my own Member of Parliament -you can find yours by postal code at the link below or search “Find Your Member of Parliament”.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
I’ve called ZENN Motor Company because apparently this car might be legal in BC only.
Thanks for taking an interest in this and please take some action - and let our broken down bureaucrats and industry dinosaurs know how you feel.
brenda goodsell | 20-Nov-07 at 7:48 pm | Permalink
I say have bring a vehicle to all the major malls, and allow people to test drive them around the lots..then hand them a postcard to send into the government, that says “I want to buy Canadian..(with a picture of the Zenn..) Why are you stopping me?????
Barb Jackson | 21-Nov-07 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
What’s with the wait??? Let’s get these cars on Canadian roads now!!!! We are doing our part for the environment why doesn’t the government act. I suppose twenty years down the road when our kids are putting the blame on us for the environment, the government with then have some lame excuse that their citizens didn’t want to do enough, and blame us.
Michael Nesbitt | 21-Nov-07 at 1:18 pm | Permalink
I learned about ZENN about 15 months ago. Since then, I have also learned about Electrovaya, Think, ZAP, Lang, Dynasty, Canadian Electric Vehicle Co. and a host of other upstarts.
Where were Transport Canada and provincial rules in 1900? Well, P.E.I. did not allow vehicles when Silver Fox millionaire Frank Tuplin went to Massachusetts and bought his president-favoured Pierce Arrow in 1913 - he had to have horses tow it to his Summerside residence from the wharf!
Where is vehicle use now? Unfortunately, the infernal-combustion crowd can’t read speed-limit signs and are not conscious enough to entertain the idea that there are slower vehicles on the road. Can you imagine the highway destruction imminent if neighbourhood vehicles are thrown into the mix… and they will be by equally foolish nv drivers who consider the whole world their playground.
Stop wasting your time complaining and give them support: buy, invest, promote! The best way to support improvement is to buy along the way.
Pick one and run with it; the multitude of companies will buy one another out over the years and stock price will rise with expanded markets.
Electric vehicle use is coming. Youthful investors will live a rich retirement.
For now, I just want to get to town and back without wasting my money on inefficient petroleum.
George Countryman | 22-Nov-07 at 10:35 am | Permalink
Transport Canada have finally bowed to the demand to issue the covetted “Safety Mark” to Zenn. Now its up to the provinces to enact legislation to allow them on the roads. We have the CBC to thank for embarassing TC into certifying the car.
Take a look at the ZENN website for the Rick Mercer vid clip. This will stimulate Canadian interest like nothing else.
This low speed unit is just the first ZENN vehicle and if the provinces ever allow 50+ KPH then the Zenn can be quickly changed to allow that speed limit with only a laptop and some cheap software. Once they get the new Eestor super capacitor into the vehicles then we will see a unit that will actually rival internal combustion vehicles for urban travel. At 1/2 cent per km driving cost and virtually no maintenence, these cars make incredible sense for urban travel not to mention that they save 6 tonnes of carbon emmisions per year.
Dwight Williams | 22-Nov-07 at 10:55 am | Permalink
This is indeed good news, deserving of its own blog posting, yes?
*applause*
Dan Patterson | 23-Nov-07 at 2:42 am | Permalink
Although I would have absolutely no use for the current Zenn model due to its speed and range limitations, I am appalled at our government for not working with this company to make the Zenn vehicle available to Canadians who would make use of it and I encourage everyone to contact their MP, MPP and the PM to express outrage.
Saskboy | 23-Nov-07 at 12:51 pm | Permalink
Perhaps Dwight, do you have a link to CBC or something for me to post? :-) I’m a touch too busy to hunt one down.
Dwight Williams | 23-Nov-07 at 1:32 pm | Permalink
This should do it, I’d think:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/feedback/index.html?
If I’m wrong, let me know…?
Saskboy | 23-Nov-07 at 1:43 pm | Permalink
That’s just for feedback, not a story. Or did you mean we need to tip CBC off as to the update?
Dwight Williams | 23-Nov-07 at 2:07 pm | Permalink
Might be a good idea.
Jean Bertrand | 10-Feb-08 at 10:46 am | Permalink
For the first time we have economic car and it’shelp environnement too . harper you should resign.
ROBERT CHOWN | 19-Feb-08 at 1:01 am | Permalink
Greetings from Vancouver, BC.
Great comments here.
I just spent feb 18 writing and e-mailing the PMO, TC and each Premier in Canada about Electric Vehicle use in Canada.
There is an awful lot of e-mail and letter writing to be done out there.
Feb 20 Transport Canada are reviewing the ruling regarding low speed vehicles in Canada. It does not sound encouraging.
If you want to get really upset rent the DVD ” Who Stole The Electric Car.”
Keep your hopes up…. and keep trying.
Thanks to all.
R.
Kristin | 26-Feb-08 at 6:40 pm | Permalink
I wrote a bunch of letters/e-mails in early Feb too. I’m in Toronto. Unfortunately the ZENN is only sort of legal now. Transport Canada has redefined LSVs to say they are only supposed to be used in restricted environments like retirement communities or parks. And the government of Ontario currently has no intention of allowing them on public roads. We need to do a lot more if we want to be able to drive this car on our city streets and we have to do it fast if we want to keep this company and its manufacturing jobs in Canada. This is an emerging market and this kind of technology is so critical to creating livable cities. I hope you will continue doing what you’re doing to tell people about the issue and motivate them to take action right now. I’ve got links to all the provincial government websites, the government of Canada website and Transport Canada on my blog. And a few more YouTube videos of the ZENN.
Have a look at my ZENN blog for more info if you like: http://causalitybrunch.blogspot.com/
Saskboy | 27-Feb-08 at 9:56 am | Permalink
Thanks for the info Kristin. Let’s hope politicians realize what an winner the Zenn will be for our country.
J.P. De Grandmont | 12-Mar-08 at 9:28 am | Permalink
Shame on the Canadian Government for being less than pro-active in facilitating the development, production and distribution of electric vehicles like the Zenn car.
I would be in the market for an electric ATV for use on the farm, but the only such product I can find is the Gorilla ATV manufactured in California.
Must we remain hewers of wood and drawers of water & oil?
What’s the matter with laissez-faire conservatism Mr. Harper?
Kristin | 22-May-08 at 12:49 pm | Permalink
I’m continuing to follow the ZENN story on my blog and I just added this link that I thought you might be interested in. It’s an on-line petition that’s just got started to allow the ZENN in Saskatchewan. Here is the direct link:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zenncarsforsask/index.html
Manitoba introduced legislation to allow the ZENN and other low speed electric vehicles onto its roads last month. It’s part of a larger bill and is still in first reading, but it looks promising.
Saskboy | 22-May-08 at 1:11 pm | Permalink
Thanks for the update :-)
BCrandstillzennless | 16-Jun-08 at 9:55 pm | Permalink
I really want one of these zenn cars, but can’t find a dealer anywhere in Canada.
John F. E. | 29-Jul-08 at 8:44 pm | Permalink
There used to be a flying car, made in Sask., and that’s gone as of two years ago. There were hundreds flying around the world. Couldn’t get any real official support here in Canada. Now they are assembled in South Africa. You expect too much from Canada bearocrazy.
Saskboy | 29-Jul-08 at 9:03 pm | Permalink
John, I hadn’t heard of this other car, do you have a link to more information?
Canmorite | 15-Sep-08 at 9:21 pm | Permalink
Check out a little movie/documentry, available at your local video rental outlet, by the name of
“Who killed the electric car” very enlightening. Might even explain why the Canadian government is reluctant to get involved.
Ryan | 19-Sep-08 at 11:20 pm | Permalink
I think the Zenn could be better if they upped the speed and improved the distance the car traveled. You want to see a very promising Electric car look at the THINK City. top speed 75 mph or so and can travel 110 miles. If Zenn could make it so their cars could travel hwy speeds, as well as get that extra bit of range then they would be a pretty practical vehicle for me to run my kids to school, hockey practice, work the store. That’s like 75km per day right there.
Saskboy | 19-Sep-08 at 11:38 pm | Permalink
I think they could use better range and speed too, but they are aiming at a very specialized market, not to be an every-man car.
The Ford vehicle that gets 65MPG on diesel would be nice too, but they aren’t selling them in the States because they think consumers are too stupid to learn to like diesel engines.