http://www.think.no/think/Press-Pict...
As I have said many times before: 2010 will be looked upon in the future as the turning point in the development/progress of EV's in the US. There are just too many forces at work coming together to delay this much longer. Too many power sources, too many domestic and foreign manufacturers, too many people ready to shift from the sidelines to the market place for EV's for too many reasons. If we are truly seeing the bottom of the recession forming, as it looks like to many we are seeing, then the recovery later this year or early next year will create the proper environment to sell a low priced competitive EV, especially if we see a rise in the cost of petroleum at the same time. The writing is on the wall. There is truly not much time left for Ian and ZMC to act. The race has long ago started and ZMC is still at the starting gate. Developmental delay excuses related to the ESU and/or to problems with bottlenecks in the supply of parts will not put ZMC back into the race again. Mr. Clifford: Excuses will no longer work. You must put a highway speed, DOT safety factor approved, economical BEV on the market in competitive numbers during 2010 at the latest. 2011 will be too late, way too late. Taking the CitiZENN to Europe first would be a mistake. There is no significant market in the US or anywhere else for the NEV concept. Sure it is a niche market, but that niche is mighty small. I am sure there is a "market" for Jalapeno Chocolate Raspberry Apricot Ice Cream as well, but it is similar to the market for the NEV: a very, very small market. The above cited article clearly shows that Europe is bringing their version of the BEV to America soon. Apparently European BEV manufacturers feel like America is ripe for BEV sales, ripe and ready enough to build factories for their BEV's in the US. Failure to produce a viable BEV CitiZENN in competitive production numbers and at a competitive cost to the consumer in 2010 will mean the demise of ZMC. The French Micro Car shell without its internal combustion engine is still a terrific platform on which to build a BEV. Just DO IT! With or without the EESU you have no time left to vacillate. You must cross the Rubicon now!! Anything else is economic suicide for ZMC and its stock holders. If the EESU is a reality now then go with it, otherwise it is time to go to Plan B and put Electrovaya's high density Lithium Ion battery (or another quality competitor power source) in the CitiZENN and get these babies on the road. Wake up, Ian. There is no time left.
