TA S K

ZENN and Now

The ZENN (Zero Emissions, No Noise) car is an environmentally
friendly commuter car invented in Canada. The current model
is powered by six 12-volt rechargeable batteries, and has a top
speed of 40 km/h.
The batteries have the following discharge characteristics:
Fully charged: 72 V
Totally discharged (0 V) with constant usage: 12 h
The battery discharge is not constant.
ZENN Car Batteries The graph shows the discharge pattern of
V
the batteries.
80
V  72 • During the first two hours, the batteries
70 discharge exponentially to approximately
80% of original charge. The function for
60
Voltage Stored 共V兲

共2, 53.6兲 this period has the form V  a(10kt), where

共10, 50.4兲
50 V is the remaining voltage, t is the time in
hours, and a and k are constants.
40
• The batteries then discharge nonlinearly over
30
the next 8 h to 70% of original charge. The
20 function for this period has the form
V  b  √c  t , where b and c are constants.
10
• During the last 2 h the charge drops on a
0 12 24 36 t steep curve to 0 V. The function for this
Time 共h兲 part is V  n(t  p)2  q, where n, p and q
are constants.
a) Justify in writing that the graph meets all the conditions described.
b) What happened between 12 h and 24 h?
c) Find the equations for the three parts of the curve, for the time interval
[0, 12]. Specify any restrictions on domain and range, using appropriate
mathematical notation.
d) If a new rechargeable battery has a discharge time of 20 h, describe how
this would effect the graph and change your answers to part c).
e) Use the Internet to research how the cost to run this battery-powered car
compares to the costs to run a compact gasoline-powered car. Write a
brief report to a courier company that is planning to purchase a fleet of
small cars for city deliveries.

198 MHR • Advanced Functions • Chapter 3