Electric Mini-tank in Limited Production - ZIESEL

When we first encountered the Ziesel back in November, this go-anywhere, do-anything offspring of a drunken three-way between an electric power chair, an ATV, and an M1 Abrams tank was just a concept. It’s been a few months, though, and you can now (like, right now) head on over to DerZiesel and buy one of the completed Ziesels, or order one built to your own spec.

Speaking of specs, DerZiesel’s web page has a full run-down of the final production specs. Most notable among those, I thought, was the 20+ MPH top speed- that’s sure to be thrilling in a machine that’s as wide-open as the Ziesel. Take a look at the full rundown of tech-y gear head stuff…

SPECIFICATIONS Drivetrain: 2x PMS electric Disc Motors Rated power 2x 4,4kW Peak power 12/14/18 kW Torque more than 500Nm Topspeed 30/35 km/h or 18.6/21.7 mph Battery: Lithium-Ion Battery 96V nominal Voltage 6,3/7,9/10,8 kWh Capacity Autonomic heating system for low temperature use Integrated function-surveillance guarantees highest safety Controls: Joystick with intelligent input-analysis Permanent, redundant securitychecks of complete system Selfdiagnosis and errorhandling Preset driving-profiles for different use scenarios Construction: Tubuluar steel frame with rollover protection 4-point safety seat belt and body-contoured seat for best traction Deltatracks for maximum road grip and best stability on every surface Height: 154 cm Width: 120 cm Length: 132 cm Full weight including battery ca.: 245kg

… then take a look at the photo gallery, below, and let us know if you think the off-road electric DerZiesel tank is worth the asking price of nearly 30,000 USD. I’ll award points to commentors who figure out how much an off-road capable, medical grade electric scooter runs. Enjoy!

Source | Photos: Der Ziesel, via Core 77

Ziesel Off-Road Electric Armchair Tank Just Missing Ordanance

Winter is coming, as the popular meme goes, and if last year’s mega snowstorms are any indication, then there’s a whole lot of frozen precipitation heading our way. Not even the beefiest 4×4 can handle these brutal winters, but a mechanized, all-electric armchair with tank-like treads and 295 ft-lbs of torque? Now we’re talking.

The Ziesel, which is German for “land squirrel”, is the ultimate armchair for seeing the endangered polar bears without ever having to stand up. A 6 kWh battery pack sents 295 ft-lbs of twist the the treads, which are operated via a simple joystick system that any armchair gamer could figure out in all of five seconds.

Still in concept form, no other specs like range or price have been released, though the Ziesel has been wisely limited to a top speed of just 22 mph. Seriously though, throw some laser tag cannons on a dozen of these and open up a tank-themed amusement center. I’d pay good money to play a couple of rounds with my friends in some Laser Tank battles.

Of course, more practical soluations, like using it as a search-and-rescue vehicle in cold climates, should probably have first priority. Weighing in at just 462 pounds, the Ziesel can certainly scoot along at an impressive pace. It’s a lightweight armchair roundabout with a myriad of uses limited only by your imagination.

Source: CarScoops