Green Rides is a pure zero emissions vehicle company that is located in Campbell California.
These folks happen to make new vehicles and they are ZENN vehicles; Zero Emission No Noise (enlightened mobility)
I saw Green Rides website when Chas_stevenson put out a list of pure electric vehicle companies on the forum.
I was extremely curious about wanting to test drive a ZENN car.
The first person I spoke to was Todd Madeiros of Green Rides. I wanted to find out if he had some time available
to take a test ride on a ZENN. I was able to do so this afternoon.
I met up with Mike Curtis and we took a look at one of the ZENN models that he had available to test ride.
When I pulled up to the front of their shop, it was amazing to see a small stock of vehicles just lying around waiting to be driven. 
I got to test drive a three door hatch back 2008 ZENN vehicle, which was listed for $17K
but they were having a sale which was extended through today with $7,000 off the MSRP. WOW!
They only had two different types of models one was a basic model with no power windows no radio etc
and the other (which I drove today) was a Delux. It had everything from a moon-roof to a JVC stereo system
with a detachable face, power doors and windows, and a remote keyless entry system. It was incredible!
What amazed me the most was that this ZENN vehicle had more room in it than a two door (brand new) Honda Civic!
I drove a Honda Civic before I bought my Honda Accord, and there was absolutley no arm room at all
(you were literally hugging the door). The body frame of the ZENN vehicle is really incredibly built.
This is what I drove today
This vehicle only does 25 mph. This would be a great "in-city" driving vehicle for short trips.
What I would be worried about is taking it on 35 mph city limit streets.
When I first started driving the ZENN, it felt like I was literally learning how to drive all over again.
There was absolutley no noise, except the pavement from the streets underneath your wheels. That was the only noise
It was a little frightening at first because I was thinking "is this thing on??" LOL
You had to clearly get used to the amount of power it would give off when you used the gas pedal (sorry use to that term).
It started off very slow and then regained speed (compared to an ICE).
Braking is completely different (again compared to an ICE). It takes a lot more effort to stop an EV atleast with the
ZENN's. It was something you had to get used to and I was literally learning how to drive again.
I took it around the city a few times and around the block under the 25 mph zones. Though I kept
having to pull myself over so that other ICE's could pass me, while they looked at me and went "What is that???"
Okay now for the goodies:
If you notice on the picture I uploaded of the inside of the ZENN; It has the dashboard set-up
and the only gauges you have are the battery gauge and the MPH gauge.
What was more interesting, there is no shift lever for drive reverse or park.
It only has buttons that you use for drive reverse and to put it in park you use the parking brake.
So the ZENN is set up like a regular ICE vehicle it is just Pure Zero emissions.
Other important goodies:
Charging: Standard 120 volt outlet plug-in 80% recharge in 4 hours, complete charge in approximately 8 hours.
Wheel base: 81.8 in.
Curb Weight: Approximately 1,200 lbs.
GVWR: 1,705 lbs.
Track: Front and Rear - 49.8 in.
Storage: 13 cu. ft.
Available: Heater, Air Conditioning, wipers, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, panoramic sunroof etc
Range: up to 35 miles
Speed: 25 mph, limited in accordance with FMVSS 500 regulations
Steering: Automotive rack and pinion with permanently sealed Tie-Rod ends
Suspension: Independent front wheel suspension with two coil spring/ shock units
Rear trailing arm suspension with two coil spring/ shock units
Brakes: Dual Hydraulic system, 4 wheel disk, with electromagnetic regeneration
Batteries: Six 12-volt Heavy Duty, sealed, valve regulated Lead-Acid non-spill Zero maintenece (only difference) Safety: Meets or exceeds FMVSS 500 standards
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/index.html
Oh I thought I would throw in some other pictures of the inside of their shop and clearly they have
other Model A's in the back and I think this is an older Porche???
I love it they have the same kind of paint job on their lifts, as we do in Dayton's shop :)
Speaking of which Todd Madeiros is keeping Dayton Automotive in mind for future refrence in need of different types
of repairs etc :)
Green Rides 86 Railway Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
(408)871-0500
www.greenrides.com
Todd Madeiros and Mike Curtis
Alias,
Wow, that was a great report. It sounds like you enjoyed the experience, wish I could have been there too. We don't have anything like that here in the Midwest, that is why I bought a SmartCar to convert. Keep looking and one of these days you may find the EV you just can't live without. LOL let us know when it happens. :)
Grandpa Chas S.
I did enjoy the experience, and would love to do it again :)
Though I do not think I would want to spend $17K on an ev that only does 25 mph.
I will be waiting for the day when they start making EV's that do freeway speeds and have long range :)
Sigh* (well I have found it) if only -----------!!! Anyway
$10,000 for a vehicle that goes 25 mph. What a bargain!
Seriously, what kind of person would buy that?
There are lots of people who live in small communities all over the world who would benefit from this type of vehicle if the government would allow it. My own mother lives 12 miles from the nearest town of any real size and if she had a vehicle with a top speed of 25 MPH and a range of about 80 miles this would be a great little vehicle for her. It would save her several hundred dollars per year and slow her down to a reasonable speed for someone over (well I'm 55 I'll let you do the math) years old. As it is she only knows 2 speeds go (gas pedal to the floor) and stop (brake pedal to the floor). Frankly, she scares the ______ out of me when I ride with her and I like speed but I didn't know a Buick could move that fast. Back to the small neighbor electric vehicle or low speed electric vehicle, I think they are a great idea for use in large and small cities. They are small, economical, and easy to operate. I would like to see a city ban all gas powered cars. I think this could be done by building parking on the edge of the city where you would leave your gas guzzler and pickup a city vehicle for use in the city. The only fossil fuel vehicles allowed would be delivery and emergency vehicles. Put the cops on electric scooters or E-bikes they don't need those big comfortable Crown Victoria gas hoggs. I think the government has it fingers in too much of our life as it is. Let us have our little cars if we want them!
Sorry - Thanks for listening to my little rant,
Grandpa Chas S.
Chas_stevenson wrote
I couldn't help but get a kick out the story about your mom, she sounds like a sweetheart :)
ehem didn't know buick's could go that fast either.
When I get that age, I am not gonna be driving.
You know Chas this could be an interesting "start up program" for a city.
You know how they have those companies out there, where you find a company on the internet and you need to
rent a commuter vehicle for a day or a week, and you pay a fee for it.
In Portland they actually have the "Flex Car" program and it does just that. Anyway-----
I like the idea of leaving gas guzzlers at major parking facilities and picking up an EV to use for the day.
Only allowing deliveries and emergency vehicles to operate.
It could be an interesting start up program if the government would allow it.
Hey!I miss those days! Crown Victoria's, those are total guzzlers
Though they are fun to do over 100 mph and do wheelies :)
The only problem with this is if you have to make an arrest, where is your suspect going to go??
Are ya going to have him/her jogging along the side of you to the police station?
hehehe actually it would serve it's purpose :)
chas_stevenson wrote
They already charge for parking on parking facilities, so why not charge the facilities where the gas vehicles
would be stored then use that money to do research for EV's. It may not be enough, but it would be a start.