November 29, 2019 by Luke James
The Zetta will be Russia’s first electric car and will sport a budget-friendly price tag of around $7,000, making it the world’s cheapest electric vehicle.
Russia is set to launch its first domestically made electric vehicle next year.
The Zetta—Zero Emission Terra Transport Asset—which is manufactured by Russian Engineering and Manufacturing Company (REMC) is currently in its final certification stages, Russian Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov confirmed.
Speaking to Russian state media, Manturov was quoted to have said, “According to the report I’ve received from my colleagues, the certification process of the Zetta electric car is at its final stage. I hope this is the case. The production should start within the first quarter of 2020. I’ve been promised to be updated about the new developments,"
According to reports made by Russian media, Zetta will carry a price tag of around $7,000. This makes it the world’s cheapest electric vehicle that beats out other ‘cheap’ electric vehicles such as the Ora R1 and Renault City K-ZE which both retail for under $10,000 in Russia.
The Zetta, Russia's first electric vehicle. Image Credit: e-zetta.ru.
Although few details have been provided, what we do know is that Zetta is a four-seat vehicle that is reportedly capable of achieving a range of 200 to 560 km depending on the battery pack being used and able to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h.
Zetta measures in at a mere 3.03 meters in length, 1.75 meters in width, and is 1.60 meters tall with a curb weight of 486 kg to 708 kg depending on battery capacity. Built from composite materials screwed to a metal frame, Zetta can take on several versions of bodywork.
Initial plans peg production at 2,000 units next year rising to a maximum of 15,000 units per year in the future. This may be subject to change should demand require it.
Zetta’s manufacturing and engineering company, currently based in Russia’s automotive capital of Togliatti, is currently working on a future neuro-controlled version of its Zetta electric vehicle for disabled people.
This version of the vehicle will allow full control of the vehicle with use of the mind and muscle movements, much like some of today’s advanced wheelchairs.
Writing about this neuro-controlled alternative to the Zetta, Rossiyskaya Gazeta wrote that the inclusion of a steering wheel in the vehicle is only necessary due to certification purposes and that everything can theoretically be controlled via the mind and muscles or through a joystick and smartphone app combination.
Production of the Zetta electric vehicle will be 99% localized according to the manufacturing company’s CEO. The only foreign component in Zetta will be batteries and related technologies that are to be imported from China.
