One of Zenn's most interesting accomplishments before going out of business was the announcement of its highway-legal ZennCity EV. Projected to have a top speed of nearly 80 miles per hour, the amazing thing about the ZennCity was the manufacturer's claim that the car would be able to fully charge in only about five minutes.

Due to the fact that their extended charge times is one of the main things holding electric vehicles back from the major leagues, this would have been a huge breakthrough.

This highly controversial claim of a five minute charge time was due mainly to an alleged technological breakthrough from their sister company, EEStor claimed to have built something called an ultracapacitor. An ultracapacitor, according to its manufacturer, stored electrons much more efficiently than a battery, allowing for a better performance from any BEV it powers.

On the road, a BEV powered by an ultracapacitor could theoretically go for longer distances. Back at home, an ultracapacitor-powered EV would charge up in a fraction of the time used by a conventional EV. Unfortunately, due to EEStor's secretive nature and closely guarded lips, very few people from the outside world have even been able to glimpse their technology, much less test it out, and very little is known about the reality within their doors. This enigmatic nature has fostered a large amount of skepticism about the company and the products it claims to have manufactured.

The ZennCity was initially schedule for release in late 2009. The price seemed proportionate and easily affordable for mainstream America. The company and its product were set to take off as their stock price soared.

Then reality hit. Postponements piled upon delays and soon the car's imminent release was looking not quite so imminent after all. Regulatory hurdles began to look insurmountable, and the cars just couldn't seem to get out on the road. From seeming like one of the most trustworthy and realistic electric vehicle entrepreneurs, Zenn quickly went to looking like just one more imposter with a large mouth full of empty promises.

That's not to say it has all been husks. Zenn has produced a range of low-speed electric vehicles that started out bright and mildly successful. Their neighborhood electric vehicle could go up to 40 miles on one charge and had a top speed of 25 miles per hour. Then, just when they had plans to make it into the big time with a highway-legal electric vehicle with an unprecedented charge time, something collapsed out from under them and all their plans went to the dogs.

The company is currently out of business, having ceased production of all vehicles and released all production employees in 2010. If the five minute charge was ever a possibility, it now seems like a pipe dream, an overly-optimistic projection, or an outright lie to inspire marketing hype.

The electric car industry is still waiting for that magical breakthrough in technology that will cut down charge time and shoot them into the mainstream.

Still, it looked so good while it lasted.