Zero Motorcycles Model S (Electric Motorcycles in Canada)

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arekzjawin

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I had a chance to test ride one of those interesting machines and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised.

Range of 140-160km, easily 130km/h with room for emergency acceleration.

But here is the amazing part .... the cheaper version has 373,000km of battery life till 80% of capacity... can you believe it?!!?!
The more expensive version 497,000km. It's 50 years of good riding every year!!

There is nothing to break there. Nothing!
Apparently they build their own batteries and electric motors used in the bike, which means that the raw materials for batteries did not travel from Canada to China to assembly plant (like in case of Prius).

If it only was didn't cost two pots of gold...
 
I'm interested in this too, and even though the vehicle is $ upfront, if you use it all the time it might work out in terms of $1.30/L of gas vs 10 cents/kilowatt hour of charging.

Would be a good city bike.
 
I just did the math, and it would take me almost 8 years of riding (commuting 130kms/day) to break even compared to a ninja 300. This included gas and I guessed about $200/yr maintenance. This did, however, exclude insurance. I have no idea how much it would cost to insure, but I assume it would be cheaper than the 300.
 
Renboy said:
I just did the math, and it would take me almost 8 years of riding (commuting 130kms/day) to break even compared to a ninja 300. This included gas and I guessed about $200/yr maintenance. This did, however, exclude insurance. I have no idea how much it would cost to insure, but I assume it would be cheaper than the 300.
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I'm not so sure... it's like 2.5-3 times the cost of a 300, and relatively new technology from an insurance standpoint.
 
There will always be skeptics. Despite higher up front cost, there is almost no maintenance. The tires and breaks ware out at a slower rate as there is no forces during downshifting as there is no downshifting.
It is apparently already rated in the insurance data base, and considering that the average age of a typ Zero owner is most likely 45+ the accident rate is low, hence low insurance rates.

Think about it this way, if a company claims that their batteries will last 497,000km till 80% of charge, they have to be damn sure of their product.

The whole system is governed by software, and 2013 models are suppose to come with a mobile phone app to manage the power input into the motor, which allows you to get it to an aggressive mode if you want.

I honestly will wait a few years till these get into a secondary market as I love the idea.

In California you can already find some:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2011...motorcycles&hash=item232ad01c33#ht_500wt_1182
 
Only $200 a year is a very conservative guess for yearly maintenance...If anything happens and you can't take care of it yourself, the standard rate is $90 an hour...
 
Interesting concept, but it would be rubbish as a street bike.. 140-160 km... and then what? Asking the gas station to borrow their outlet for 13 hours so you can get back home?
 
tricky said:
Interesting concept, but it would be rubbish as a street bike.. 140-160 km... and then what? Asking the gas station to borrow their outlet for 13 hours so you can get back home?
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Yea cause we have the quick charge infrastructure in place. But as battery technologies improve we should see more supporting infrastrcuture in place.

IMO EV's are the future for bikes as well as cars. Its just not going to arriving quickly.
 
wonder when he got home....poor soul

2013_zero-s_product-page_demo-image.jpg
 
Two50noob said:
Yea cause we have the quick charge infrastructure in place. But as battery technologies improve we should see more supporting infrastrcuture in place.

IMO EV's are the future for bikes as well as cars. Its just not going to arriving quickly.
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With electric cars now, quick charging the battery actually does damage, so there is only a finite amount of times you can do it before you're battery is toast. I would assume it is the same for these motorcycles?

I'm really interested in the hydrogen powered vehicles.. basically an electric vehicle with none of the battery drawbacks. I think that's the future

EDIT: I am referring to vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell, when I say "hydrogen powered"
 
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tricky said:
With electric cars now, quick charging the battery actually does damage, so there is only a finite amount of times you can do it before you're battery is toast. I would assume it is the same for these motorcycles?

I'm really interested in the hydrogen powered vehicles.. basically an electric vehicle with none of the battery drawbacks. I think that's the future
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Thouse drawbacks are called enginering challenges. Hydrogen may also be a good solution for the future but my Bet is on EV's. But the nex Gen EV's wont be anything like what we have now. Still for fairly large technological barriers to overcom yet.
 
Two50noob said:
Thouse drawbacks are called enginering challenges. Hydrogen may also be a good solution for the future but my Bet is on EV's. But the nex Gen EV's wont be anything like what we have now. Still for fairly large technological barriers to overcom yet.
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Absolutely EVs are the future... but in my opinion, using a hydrogen fuel cell to power the electric motor, instead of a battery, is a way more appealing solution, in every way.

I see these battery powered vehicles as a stepping stone. I, personally, wouldn't buy one
 
tricky said:
Absolutely EVs are the future... but in my opinion, using a hydrogen fuel cell to power the electric motor, instead of a battery, is a way more appealing solution, in every way.

I see these battery powered vehicles as a stepping stone. I, personally, wouldn't buy one
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Currently I would agree. I would not buy an EV currently
 
Currently to recharge Zero takes 4 hours. In few years that time will be reduced.
If we were to run a survey among GTA riders and recorded a typical use of their motorcycle we would see that it is 20km to work, 8 hrs of parking and 20km back with 20km for fun a day. That week riding contributes to a significant overall mileage of the motorcycle.

What is interesting about this company is that they develop their own batteries, so the product will be improving with motorcycle as a main use of the battery. Designing batteries strictly for motorcycles will allow for a more rapid development of electric motorcycles.

tricky wrote: `With electric cars now, quick charging the battery actually does damage, so there is only a finite amount of times you can do it before you're battery is toast. I would assume it is the same for these motorcycles`

Currently offered motorcycles get 497,000km till 80% of battery capacity. IT IS 50 YEARS OF RIDING!! We will not be around anymore and those batteries will still function.

The only issue for touring people is range at the moment. I believe it will improve drastically in next 5 years, well I hope it will.

One of the gizmo review magazines did an environmental analysis of Zero, I will try to dig it out.
 
They're a great solution for inner city dwellers for running errands, commuting and the ocassional joy ride. Amazing torque and seamless acceleration make them great street bikes, within their limitations.

All your trips need to be planned and battery charge needs to be monitored. No more checking the oil; this will be the new routine for EV's.
 
If there was a fast swap out on the battery I'd be in. Few more years tho as I need some range and refuel.
 
tricky said:
With electric cars now, quick charging the battery actually does damage, so there is only a finite amount of times you can do it before you're battery is toast. I would assume it is the same for these motorcycles?

I'm really interested in the hydrogen powered vehicles.. basically an electric vehicle with none of the battery drawbacks. I think that's the future

EDIT: I am referring to vehicles with a hydrogen fuel cell, when I say "hydrogen powered"
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According to Zero, there is no battery degradation due to charging at any of the supported rates, including the CHAdeMO charging systems which allow the Zero batteries to be charged from 5% back to 100% in less than an hour.
 
Batteries will degrade over time anyway, regardless of if they are being cycled or not. 50 years is a pipedream with current mass-market battery tech.
 
Iggy76 said:
According to Zero, there is no battery degradation due to charging at any of the supported rates, including the CHAdeMO charging systems which allow the Zero batteries to be charged from 5% back to 100% in less than an hour.
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Interesting, if true...

Top Gear reported the Nissan Leaf's battery life can be reduced to about 3 years if quick charging is used regularly. I don't see how Zero can be so far ahead in battery technology. I hope some independent studies are released at some point
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