Driving the Miles ZX40S Neighborhood Electric Car
By Todd Kaho
Logic too seldom is a primary motivator in new vehicle purchase decisions. If that were the case, more drivers would consider alternatives outside those offered at mainstream automotive dealerships. That said, extremely high gas prices are starting to influence the way that buyers view their driving needs. Some are discovering that neighborhood electric vehicles – essentially special-use cars intended specifically for driving on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less – may fit their needs for daily around-town use.
We recently had the opportunity to drive a Miles ZX40S Advanced Design low speed electric vehicle on the suburban streets of Santa Monica, California. The experience was a breath of fresh air, literally, since the car operates inexpensively on clean electric power with zero tailpipe emissions. Heck, it doesn’t even have a tailpipe.
Unlike many of the entries striving to gain traction in the low speed – or neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) – market, the Miles has the look and feel of a real car. In other markets around the world this body style is produced with a small internal combustion engine. The Miles ZX40 platform is a licensed version of the Daihatsu Move, a Japanese model built by a subsidiary of First Automobile Works in Tianjin, China. As such, the Miles low speed electric is a car with the kind of features one would expect from a conventional production vehicle, such as all steel unibody construction with side-impact door beams, crash resistant bumpers, and an impact absorbing steering column.
The tall-but-small wagon is quite roomy for its overall size, measuring just over 11 feet in length bumper-to-bumper. There’s a pair of bucket seats up front with a folding bench in the rear. Four large side doors make entering and exiting the interior a breeze, while a swing-out rear door provides easy access to the cargo hold. The fold and tumble rear seat design allows an impressive 41 cubic feet of cargo capacity when folded out of the way.
The ZX40 is offered in three models: the base ZX40, ZX40S, and ZX40S Advanced Design. The difference between the three models is essentially the motor. The ZX40 is offered with a 4kW (9kW peak) DC series wound motor with a 48V controller rated for 275 amps. For more power you can move up to the ZX40S with a 6.3kW (17.6kW peak) DC motor that has a 72V controller rated at 400 amps. The top model in the lineup, the ZX40S Advanced Design, replaces the DC motor with a brushless 3-phase induction AC motor that produces 7.5kW (26kW peak) power with a 72V controller rated for 550 amps. All motivate these vehicles to 25 mph, a top speed that’s limited by federal law for all NEVs.
All three Miles models store electricity in six advanced, sealed absorbed glass mat lead-acid batteries. These are charged from a 110 volt household outlet using a power cord that plugs into a connector housed within the car’s normal fuel filler location. The ZX40S Advanced Design model we drove offers an estimated range of 50-60 miles, plenty for around town errands and urban commutes on compatible roadways. Miles says the car will go from 0-20 mph in 5 seconds, which actually may be a bit conservative. With the more powerful AC motor, the ZX40S offered plenty of zip to keep up with the flow of traffic and would accelerate on the steep grades we drove in suburban Santa Monica.
It’s easy to see how a low speed, full featured vehicle like the Miles ZX40 could supplement a gasoline powered car for many daily transportation needs. Operating costs are a fraction of even the most efficient gasoline powered cars. You don’t give up much with this full featured NEV, either. Standard equipment includes a heater, front and rear defroster, windshield wipers, electric mirrors, and alloy wheels. An AM/FM/CD sound system is optional on all models, and you can even add air conditioning on the ZX40S Advanced Design. Suggested retail price ranges from $14,900 to $18,900. For those whose driving needs match the capabilities of a low speed vehicle, the Miles ZX40S is a clean and logical alternative worth considering.
Want to know more about neighborhood electric vehicles? Be sure to check out these articles on GreenCar.com:
5 Electric Cars You Can Buy Now
Will NEVs finally hit their stride?
Bombardier Debuts Under-$7,000 Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
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