The future arrived in Tulsa on Saturday.
It was traveling at a speed of 25 mph.
An electric car produced by Toronto's Zenn Motor Co. stationed outside Whole Foods Market, 1401 E. 41st St., provided a glimpse at a mode of transportation that figures to develop further as the 21st century progresses.
The event attracted the curious, the environmentally conscious and — given its 11 a.m.-to-2 p.m. running time — those evidently not concerned with the OU-Texas football game.
"It's a wonderful idea," said Phillip Hathaway, 57, of Tulsa, who was the first to test-drive the display vehicle around the parking lot.
Zenn is an acronym for Zero Emission No Noise. According to the company's regional sales director Bill Williams, the cars are designed for residential and urban roads where speed limits are 35 mph or less.
"It's not a freeway car," said Williams. Instead, he said, its more likely use is as a second or even third vehicle for those who want to avoid using gasoline for short trips.
Williams said a model such as the one on display Saturday typically costs $15,995 and would likely be closer to $17,200 when shipping costs are considered.
However, he said, the price could be as low as $5,500 with appropriate tax credits.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission decided Oct. 1 to withdraw a rule that had blocked certain electrically powered vehicles from being eligible for a state tax credit.
Zenn says its cars are charged from a standard 110-volt outlet and take eight hours to go from "empty" to a complete charge.
For those short on time, however, as little as four hours of charging will provide 80 percent of capacity. After 25 to 30 miles of driving, the car is due for another charge.
It runs on six 12-volt batteries — two in the front, four in the back — that Williams said can stand about two or three years of heavy use before needing to be replaced.
David E. Brown, 71, of Broken Arrow said after his test drive that although he enjoyed taking the car out for a spin, the technology would have to advance before he would seriously consider buying one.
Specifically, he said the car would have to be able to go about 55 mph and the battery would have to be able to last closer to 150 miles before he would see it as a practical option instead of a novelty.
Still, others on hand Saturday were more open to what is available.
Ron Flanagan, 70, said there was an 80 percent chance he will end up buying such a car. A planning consultant who lives a few miles from his office, Flanagan said the concept "seems very intriguing."
"I'm very green to begin with," he said. "It just makes a lot of sense to me."
Pat Atwood of Tulsa said she enjoyed her test drive. She said she liked the idea of using the car to get around the vicinity of a lake house.
Although the cars don't go very fast, their future is arriving quickly.
Nearly every major automaker is exploring the technology and is working on making the batteries smaller, longer lasting, faster to charge and easier to replace.
Analysts expect global production of electric cars to expand rapidly in the coming years. At least one forecasts that overall production will grow from 9,500 this year to more than 58,000 in 2011.
Tulsa World: New electric autos energize the future 
New electric autos energize the future 
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