Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Zero motorcycles – zero emission, but a whole lot of cool

[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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