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Topic: Hardware

Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

Summary: New battery technology allows for up to 3,000 complete charge cycles before it degrades to 80 percent of its original capacity.

Heather Clancy

By for GreenTech Pastures |

Electric motorcycle maker Zero Motorcycles plans to deliver a 2012 model line that can deliver more than 100 miles of range on a single charge. The new motorcycles are due for delivery in February 2012.

In order to achieve the 100-plus range, the Santa Cruz, Calif.-based company has updated its battery power pack, creating a configuration called Z-Force. This is a platform that uses new, denser battery cell technology that is up to 95 percent more energy-dense than the previous generation and that can handle up to 3,000 charge cycles before it degrades to an 80 percent capacity. If you do the math, that means one of the models, the Zero S, can travel up to 308,000 miles on its original battery pack.

The new Zero DS can achieve up to 114 milles and reach top speeds of 80 mph.

The new Zero DS is designed to reach top speeds of 80 mph.

The new line includes the following models:

  • The Zero S, which the company calls a street fighter. Available in a 6 kilowatt-hour or 9 kilowatt-hour configuration, the motorcycle offers a top speed of 88 miles per hour (mph). It starts at a list price of $11,495.
  • The Zero DS, described as a dual support. The top speed for this bike is 80 mph and it is also priced starting at $11,495.
  • The Zero XU is a street model for inner city riding that include regenerative braking technology; priced starting at $7,695.
  • The Zero X is a trail rider that is also street legal; priced starting at $9,945.
  • The Zero MX was built for motocross riding; it is priced starting at $9,945.

(Photo courtesy of Zero Motorcycles)

Topic: Hardware

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42 comments
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  • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

    None of the models listed offer any advantages over what is currently available. These look like junk to appease the eco-weenies. The increase in pollution from the higher demand fir electricity far outweighs the pollution from riding d real motorcycle
    Rick_Kl
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

      @Rick_Kl
      Not if you live in Quebec where our electricity comes from Hydro
      TTPinc
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

      @Rick_Kl
      Not if you live in Quebec where our electricity comes from Hydro
      TTPinc
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

      @Rick_Kl Junk? Eco-weenies? Troll??? The high school down the street from me recently installed 750kW of solar panels for the kids to park their cars under. Tell me again about "increased pollution". You think gasoline is refined without electricity?
      RSteeb
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @RSteeb yes junk to appease the eco-weenies. Anything that reduces the overall efficiency of transportation is junk. What is not listed is that to get the full 100miles you have ti ride at under 45 mph. If you travel faster than Vespa speeds the milage drops radically. But like anything, the condition of how they got the miles per charge are not explained.
        Rick_Kl
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

      @Rick_Kl
      You are soo wrong. 1st off, ICE motorcycles are horrible polluters. A brand new ICE motorcycle is 100-1000 times more polluting than a new car. 2nd, electric means you can charge from any energy source you want. You are as polluting as you want to be. Please educate yourself. Don't spread your ignorant FUD here.
      emotofreak
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

      @Rick_Kl

      Actually, they DO exactly tell you how they got their mileage figures. Right on their website, click the little ? next to the range number. As a matter of fact they are the ONLY electric motorcycle company to actually test and report their ranges per the Motorcycle Industry Councils Recommendations.
      emotofreak
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

    I'd be interested in knowing what the cost in electricity is for a full charge ... that way we can calculate the difference in operating costs. Are repairs more expensive? How long do they expect it to take until the bike pays for itself?

    Ludo
    Ludovit
    Reply Vote

    • Solar is free

      @Ludovit There would be no impact once solar cells are on every rooftop, wind generators take over from coal, and we stop using fossil fuels entirely, which only generate income for big oil, and do nothing for the consumer but cause headaches.
      Another plus of these is that they are almost entirely quiet, so there would be NO MORE LOUD pipes. I really wish those loud motorcycles would be illegal. They make people want to kill the riders, rather than "saving lives." A dead biker is a happy biker, though, I guess.
      janitorman
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @janitorman To bad you hate motorcycle riders. "and do nothing for the consumer but cause headaches" Go ahead get rid of oil ? Where you gonna get the plastic everything you own comes from ? "A dead biker is a happy biker, though, I guess. " Sweet ! Moron! Is a dead janitorman a happy janitor?
        agiambra@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @janitorman - why is it that everytime when one should discuss a matter of pro's and con's, bulls**t like yours apears on the scene?<br>What has a dead biker to do with electric bikes?<br><br>Although I personally enjoy the (loud) sound of certain bikes, electric ones are the future.<br><br>And to some of the others: This is not about costs, it is about enviroment. Unfortunatly enviromental issuses are generally not taken that serious in the US... but hopefully that might change (slaughter me, I live in Europe) <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="happy">
        hardie42@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @janitorman
        Loud pipes save lives. It's been said before, but it's true. If you hear me, you are less likely to kill me, if you don't see me. Oh and I hate you too janitorman.
        zdnet@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @janitorman What are the costs of Solar Cells right now, not some mythical point in the future? Have cells passed the 15% efficiency rate yet? And pray tell how do you use solar energy at night? Oh yeah, they currently burn coal for that. Lets all give up gas powered vehicles, So they can burn more coal, to make up for the 60% spike in electrical demands. Let alone these companies have yet to solve the issues with batteries and extreme cold climates.
        Rick_Kl
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @janitorman I'll tell you exactly what fossil fuels do for this consumer, they keep my costs down! That's right your green technology costs 20 times more than electricity generated by conventional means. If my electric company used green technology it'd pump all the green out of my wallet and then some. My $100 a month electric bill would skyrocket to $2,000 a month.

        That cost increase would effectively kill me. But I wouldn't die too happily.
        paulfx1
        Reply Vote

    • cost

      @Ludovit
      Cost to you for a single charge, under $2.
      Costs will expensive per repair but cheaper overall, in the long run.

      This is a tiny step in the right direction but not 100% greener as Rick points out.
      Sqrly
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

    100 miles? What the hell is wrong with these people? If you cannot ride upto 8 hours a day on the highway these are lame!
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • commuter bikes

      @Peter Perry These are not designed for roadtrips, they are designed mostly for city use (in one model's case in particular.) If you live more than 50 miles from work, or the bank, or the grocery store, and want to keep commuting, you're either on a farm with a truck, or you're a lost cause anyway. If you have to take your motocross bike over 50 miles, well, stick with your noisy gashog one, or better yet, drive a truck. Trucks will also be all-electric within the decade.
      janitorman
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @janitorman
        They are not designed for city use. It is city use that happens to be within 100miles a day trips. They sound a good idea, but need to have some sound function for safety reasons, otherwise they will become like a high speed silent wheelchair that cause 100's of accidents each year.
        itworkhorse@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zero Motorcycles unfurls 2012 electric models with 100-mile ranges

        @itworkhorse that argument for needing noise on electric vehicles is a red herring thrown out by the loud pipes=penis extension crowd. If you have ever stood and listened to passing traffic you can quickly hear that most of what you hear is tire noise, modern cars/bikes are very quiet unless you want them load.
        carlson1@...
        Reply Vote

  • It will be fun (not) seeing the first lithium fire when one of these things

    is in an accident.
    baggins_z
    Reply Vote
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