Although initially very strange in appearance, there may be more to this vehicle than meets the eye. The inventor, Greg Zanis, and his sons Chris and Greg, built this prototype out of readily available materials from the frame up, instead of the traditional approach of trying to retrofit an existing vehicle designed for combustion engines. And it even has neon lighting to add a little style!
Zanis estimates the car can travel about 80 miles on a charge and reaches 45 mph, neither of which is stellar, but fine for short urban commutes. Zanis would like to extend this type of technology to first develop a faster model with a range of 500 miles, then eventually spawn tunnel or track based interurban mass transit systems that can safely travel at speeds up to 300 mph.
Ted Lowe, president of the Fox Valley Electric Auto Association, whose members helped Mr. Zanis and his sons with the car, is open minded. "Maybe it won't be driven because it isn't practical. But one thing leads to another and it's a stepping stone. And who knows what may come next?"
Homebuilt Electric Vehicle Prototype
Father And Sons Build DreamCar123
Trend Themes
1. Homebuilt Electric Vehicles - Opportunity to disrupt the automotive industry by encouraging more individuals to build their own electric vehicles using readily available materials.
2. Extended Range Electric Vehicles - Potential for disruptive innovation in the automotive industry by developing faster electric models with longer range capabilities.
3. Interurban Mass Transit Systems - Opportunity to disrupt the transportation industry by creating tunnel or track-based interurban mass transit systems that can travel at high speeds.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive Industry - Electric vehicle enthusiasts and DIY builders can disrupt the traditional automotive industry by promoting homebuilt electric vehicles.
2. Electric Vehicle Battery Technology - With the demand for extended range electric vehicles, there is room for disruptive innovation in battery technology to develop more efficient and powerful energy storage solutions.
3. Transportation Industry - Developing interurban mass transit systems with high-speed capabilities can disrupt the transportation industry by offering a faster and more sustainable mode of transportation.