[Photos courtesy Zero Motorcycles]
In the first quarter of this year 4.8% of new vehicles
registered in California were zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrids, the
highest share ever recorded. Nearly 14,000 electric vehicles, or EVs, were
bought in the state, raising their market share to 2.7%, up from 2.2% in the
previous quarter and from 1.4% in the year-earlier quarter.
A small but growing segment of these zero-emissions vehicles
are electric motorcycles, an exciting development in the electric vehicle (EV)
world. Operating out of Scott’s Valley, California in the Santa Cruz Mountains,
Zero Motorcycles (https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/) currently has a virtual lock
on its market. Although there are several electric scooter companies fighting
for market share, and Alta Motors and its Redshift MX are the recognized leader
in electric motocross machines, most of the electric motorcycles on the street
today are made by Zero. The Scotts Valley factory makes up to 20 bikes a day
and Zero competes in 30 markets globally, mostly in the U.S., Canada and
Western Europe, with 60 percent of their volume in the US.
Since 2006, when the first Zero prototypes were introduced,
the bikes have made the advantages of electric over gas clear; no trips to the
gas station and zero exhaust merely top the list. Other perks include freedom both
from engine maintenance and the regular replacement of plugs, filters, and
fluids. Utilizing their Z-Force™ electric powertrain and specially designed
rigid, aircraft-grade aluminum frame to minimize weight, these exceptionally
rideable, quiet and user friendly bikes are proving a viable alternative to
gas-powered transportation.
Jeff Biafore, a sales associate at San Jose BMW (where Zero
cycles rub elbos with top of the line BMNW motorcycles, Vespas, and Liberty
scooters) notes that Zeroes appeal to “lierally everybody; men, women, young,
old. I get guys who come in and treat this as a computer with wheels. They can
warp their head around that. Its not a dirty greasy biker thing.”
Though Zero motorcycles are higher in initial cost than
their internal combustion counterparts, low maintenance expense and the
“penny-per-mile” electricity cost versus gasoline should end up making the Zero
more economical to own than a conventional bike in a short time.
Unique to all-electric vehicles is the torque
characteristics of the electric motor. Unlike an internal combustion engine
whose torque increases with RPM, an electric motor produces nearly full torque
right from the bottom of the RPM scale. Therefore, instead of a transmission,
there is a direct connection between the motor and the drive wheel by means of
a virtually silent constant tension belt. Not only does direct drive minimize
friction loss by eliminating clutches and gears, but it also helps eliminate
the need for routine powertrain maintenance and reduces the weight of the
motorcycle. Moreover, Zero’s powertrain produces so little heat that the motor
can be completely air-cooled.
The CEO of Zero, Sam Paschel, an avid rider himself, spent
more than 20 years in various positions with other consumer brands like
Skullcandy, Burton Snowboards and Giro Sport Design. When he was offered the
CEO position, he had not yet been on a Zero, but after his first ride he was
hooked. His company philosophy hinges on a faith: “To believe in the future of
this business, you have to believe fundamentally…that EVs will continue to grow
and be a more significant part of transportation, globally, [and, that]
motorcycles will be a part of that movement, especially as infrastructure
continues to grow and change.”
Improvements in battery chemistry are responsible for the
existence of viable electric motorcycles. With roughly 8% improvement in
efficiency per year, the technology allows Zero to build a light, fast platform
with a practical range. In the 2017 model year, Zero SR and DSR models finally
exceeded 100 mph in performance, while the S and SR boasted a range of over 200
miles with the optional Power Tank. Available charging and battery options can
bring recharge times (to 95% full) down, in some cases, to little more than an
hour.
Zero offers six different models, each with choices of
battery size and charging options. The 6.5 kWh (kilowatt hour) batteries on an
S model, for instance, save about a hundred pounds over the 13.0 kWh versions,
but effectively halve the combined highway and city combined range estimates.
Prospective owners will need to think about the tradeoff between a lighter,
nimbler bike and one with more range.
Even though the operation of the Zero is user-friendly,
“friendly,” say Biafore, “can be deceiving.” Even though the design of the
throttle uses electronic potentiometers, a sort of “fly-by-wire” system to
translate drivers’ throttle actions into behavior that mimics typical motorcycle
acceleration, “when you crack it to full throttle, it doesn’t get to full
throttle, it is full throttle.”
Biafore reminds prospective buyers that these are
motorcycles in every legal sense. Drivers are required to have the proper
insurance and motorcycle driver’s license to ride. First time riders should
definitely take the California Motorcycle safety course. “I’ve been riding for
30 years,” says Biafore, “and the Zero feels familiar, but you have to respect
the Zero’s power. When you go around a turn and hit the throttle, if your tire
starts to spin, you have to know what to do,”
2017 list prices of the six Zero models range from $8495 for
the FX and FXS (essentially street-legal off-roaders) to $18,690 for
fully-loaded SR and DSR models. All Zero cycles are quality tested at the
factory and are delivered to the dealership about 7 to 10 days after the
customer places an order.
Are electric bikes the future? “That’s the GE Kitchen of the
Future question, isn’t it?” chuckles Biafore. “You can’t really see the future,
but this is definitely moving toward the new norm.”
San Jose BMW
1990 West San Carlos Street
San Jose, CA
(408) 295-0205
SF Moto
275 8th Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 255-3132
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