As to the fate of the ZENN car.NOT I. Clifford's fault.
Blame the Liberals under Paul Martin who fouled the nest of regulations and bureaucracy so deep that Transport Canada didn't know which way was up.
It was too late by the time the Harper Team was able to have a look at that Department and have them get their act together.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/electric-car-maker-charges-ottawa-blocking-its-sale-in-canada-1.641357
Not a bad looking city runabout.
https://www.auto123.com/en/news/the-zenn-now-available-in-canada/4254/
https://www.auto123.com/en/car-reviews/2008-zenn-first-impressions/31666/
If anything Ian was ahead of his time with ZENN, and unfortunately he tried to capitalize the business in the weak-knee Canadian Capital markets, where serious investors don't have staying power for longer than 3-6 months, if that. (Don't get me started...)
His foray into the cap's market was an attenmpt to get ahead of the 'range anxiety' stall of the EV industry at the time.
Read on.
At the time the EV market was 'charred landscape'.
Coda Holdings - Bankrupt after making 100 cars
Fisker - laid off 75% of it's workers
https://www.cantechletter.com/2013/05/who-killed-the-zenn-motors-car0501/