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Italy’s Tazzari Group used last week’s Bologna Motor Show as an opportunity to showcase its ZERO City EV. The group started development of the ZERO City EV with a chassis made by the group’s aluminum casting section. The ZERO City EV is a two-door compact sedan weighing less than 1,200 pounds and offering 6.4 cubic feet of storage. The first ZERO City EV will roll off the lines on January 2010 with distribution in Europe and North America thereafter.
Tazzari built on its aluminum-based chassis with a lithium-ion phosphate battery and a rear-wheel drive electric motor. This electric-powered drive system is capable of reaching speeds of 56 miles per hour, potentially moving the ZERO City EV out of neighborhood electric vehicle territory. Tazzari claims that the ZERO City EV reaches 31 miles per hour from a dead stop in five seconds. This diminutive EV is capable of recharging fully within nine hours using a standard household outlet. Customers will be able to buy 220v Multifast chargers with three levels of charging speed ranging from a partial five-hour charge to a full nine-hour charge. Tazzari will also offer a 380v charger capable of an 80% recharge in 50 minutes.
The ZERO City EV is notable for a drive system capable of shifting between four modes. The Standard mode is the default from the first mile with its measured approach to engine power and range. Drivers in need of more power from the motor switch over to Race mode. The ZERO City EV is capable of extending range up to 87 miles with the Economy mode. The Rain mode offered by Tazzari allows drivers to traverse rain, sleet and snow with greater wheel balance and power.
Tazzari’s presentation at Bologna offers a glimpse into an EV future balanced between NEVs and full-sized electric sedans. The ZERO City EV should be popular in major European cities with its small frame and adequate commuting range. The vehicle’s sturdy frame built by Tazzari Group should assuage concerns that smaller EVs are unsafe. The major limitation to the ZERO City EV in the United States, however, is that state vehicle laws will relegate the vehicle to NEV status for now. In the meantime, however, Tazzari will be able to build a portfolio of success stories in Europe that will show the vehicle’s potential worldwide.
