SYNOPSIS: The 8,000 pound one-seater includes half-inch thick bullet-proof glass.
SUGAR GROVE – When the garage door rises at Greg Zanis’ house, a pyramid-shaped vehicle emerges – and it’s one that George Jetson would be proud to drive.
The neighbors are used to the silver-and-white, other-worldly ZANIS 1 gliding around their Sugar Grove cul-de-sac. Pink, neon lights border its bumpers, and its turn signals are bright orange in its sloped sides. The upper area is clear and pops open like the top of a pointy tank.
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480 batteries?? No wonder the crazy thing is 4 tonnes.
I wonder if he could get by with a few less if his design were a little more aerodynamic than a pyramid.
No mention of where the groceries or golf clubs go!
Posted by: Dave Crowder
14-Feb-2008
60363
this is a joke!! i went to his website and i said 'holy ----', this guy is insane, does not know anything about vehicle design what so ever, is a danger to all on the road and should have an internvention right away before he spends any more of his hard earned money, he has put $60,000 in a dream car that will never ever see the road and if he tries he should be put behind bars.
Posted by: henry h
14-Feb-2008
60364
the article did not mention the prototype is made of wood beams, has no mechanical steering, its skid steer, inventor claims it will go 200mph and 200 miles on a charge, uses forklift tires, no brakes (motor braking only) and the best part is when the top is lowered the joystick control acts as the seat belt!!
Posted by: henry h
16-Feb-2008
60384
If HP Lovecraft designed a car for Vincent Price to use as a daily driver, this would surely be it.
That's not necessarily a bad thing.
Posted by: John Westlund
23-Feb-2008
60488
Well it probably is safe for the driver. No one would miss it coming down the road, however I could see a lot of wrecks from people running into the vehicle ahead while they had their head turned to look at it. :)
Dave, I think the number of batteries in this 'vehicle' is 80. The author states both 80 and 480. I believe she mistook the name which was a concatenation of 4 for the number of wheel, or motors? and 80, the number of batteries. The author could have been a little more helpful if she would have said what size batteries were in it. I have 4 batteries in my calculator, and the forklift at work has only one, although it does way 1,200 pounds.:)
Posted by: Mike Swift
23-Feb-2008
60491
There is a better article with many photos and some interesting public feedback at: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=136988. I think our commentors are being a little harsh. It seems the fellow means well and is just an earnest hobbyist who isn't aware of developments in the electric vehicle world.
Posted by: Ben Wheeler
