Zippy electric motorcycle comes at a price

The electric Zero S, by Santa Cruz-based Zero Motorcycles

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

The Zero S electric motorcycle is impressive, but be careful with the throttle--it accelerates superfast from a standing start--and keep in mind that it weighs only 225 pounds.

Those are the initial observations of this first-time rider, who took the street model made by Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Zero Motorcycles out for a spin.

It's an odd feeling to twist the throttle and feel the powerful acceleration (62.5 pound-feet of torque) and still hear no sound except a slight clanking from the chain, not yet lubricated on this pre-production vehicle. Making tight turns is a little tricky, as there's no clutch (and no gears). But once you get used to it, it's just like an ordinary street motorcycle.

That's the point. In contrast with Zero's earlier off-road model Zero X, which is not intended for road use, Zero S is made for daily use, such as commuting or making trips up to 60 miles, which is the maximum range on a single charge (complete charging takes 4 hours on 110 volts).

According to Zero Motorcycles CEO Gene Banman, the Zero S is the first in its class ready to ship. Competitors would be the Strada from Swiss Quantya, X Rider from Xtreme Green Products, and the VX1 from Vectrix Electronics.

But the Zero S is the only typical street bike among them, and it's also the most powerful of the four, with 31 horsepower.

Still it's not the Tesla of motorcycles. Maximum speed averages 60 mph, though it can reach 70 mph, making it less practical for highway use.

Going to work with no local emissions might ease your environmental scruples. Measured on the U.S. electricity grid, Banman estimates the Zero S releases just an eighth of the total carbon dioxide of a gas motorcycle. But it comes at a price. Zero S ships at $9,950, roughly $4,000 more than an equivalent 250 cc gas motorcycle. Direct competitors include the Honda 230M ($5,400) and the Yamaha WR 250X ($6,200).

Considering that the cost per mile for charging is about 1 cent, the Zero S saves about 4 cents a mile compared to a gas motorcycle. Riding 10 miles from home to work and back would require some 20 years of commuting to break even with riding a conventional, gas-powered machine. Once you factor in a U.S. tax credit of 10 percent, and a $1,500 rebate from California Air Resources Board if you live in the state, however, it might take just seven years to break even. But that doesn't include the cost of the 80-pound battery that needs replacement every five years. The battery costs some $5,000, though Banman hopes that will come down drastically in a few years.

It's worth noting that both the motor and the battery are modular and easily exchangeable--a configuration intended to make the Zero S more sustainable in the future development of electric vehicles.

It also makes the motor and battery easier to fit and remove for service on a machine that may be shipped a long way from California.

"We have about a hundred orders for Zero S already that we will ship during May and June. About 40 percent are from California but the rest are spread all over the world," Banman said. He added that the breakthrough for electric vehicles was the lithium ion cells for power tools that reached the market in 2004. He expects a real boom once energy density increases from today's 120-watt hours per kg to 500-watt or 600-watt hours, which is the same performance delivered by gasoline. "At that point there will be a switch. There will be more electrical vehicles than gas vehicles," he said.

A threatening scenario comes from a study commissioned by the World Wildlife Foundation in Germany. It predicts that if electric vehicles become a massive success, when everyone charges their vehicles after returning home, societies will require huge carbon-based electricity production, resulting in higher carbon dioxide emissions per mile from electric vehicles in 2020 than from gas vehicles today.

If that's true, you'd better enjoy your electric motorcycle as soon as possible.

A quiet motorcycle

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

[geosmurf]

as a oldtime motercytlist just give me a gas run mukti cylinder machine

[assman]

10k for a bike that can barely reach highway speeds? this is pretty sad. Also most people want their bikes to be loud and powerful.

[twburger]

They technology is probably not capable of a small enough unit but recharging brakes would be a good idea to reclaim some of the energy.

It's not just the World Wildlife Foundation in Germany's study about higher carbon dioxide emissions from recharging. What happens when more and more of us have electric vehicles? How is the electrical grid going to handle the peak demand? Buckminster Fuller's world wide electrical grid concept will have to built to support the increases by shifting production capacity from the dark side of the planet where demand is lower. Canada has started planning such a linked power grid system.

[read_learn]

Variable rates and timers will solve that. Many electric companies already have them in their new meters. Don't need to worry about "peak demand" with variable rates and timers.

[electricscootergirl]

The Vectrix VX-1 does have a regen throttle that does motor braking and recharge to the batteries. As a dealer of all electric vehicles, these all use very small amounts of energy. Its going to be a while before long distance electric vehicles are at a reasonable price, so for now, the smaller electrics will be chosen. Studies show that 85% or more of daily driving done in the US is 20miles or less, so bigger machines are not always a necessity! As for the CO2 emissions, go back and redo calculations-- Even if you are not choosing green energy, the net amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases goes DOWN, not up from using an electric vehicle. There are no tailpipe emissions, no tailpipe drip to pollute the water aquifers, less power used to produce these smaller electric vehicles and less natural resources, such as metals, plastics, etc. to build an electric vehicle than a conventional one.

[wilson350z]

This seems like a case of another company trying to jump on the "green" bandwagon. There are so many advancements in technology that are much better than what was used on this bike such as in wheel motors, which are much more efficient that a chain driven wheel, and hydrogen fuel cells, that in the long run will most likely be much greener than charging off the grid. You can tell this company just threw an electric motor and batteries in a cheap motorcycle just to make a quick buck.

[sartor1]

I think they should gear the bike for more speed/less acceleration, then maybe they could get 60 miles per charge, and make it to the next town to charge up... Who needs to do wheelies on an electric motorcycle? I want long range economy!

[tipoo_]

"Zero S ships at $9,950, roughly $4,000 more than an equivalent 250 cc gas motorcycle."

The 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R goes for 3500 dollars.

[regulator1956]

And gets 60+ MPG.

[kozarman]

Why can't they add a gear box so it cant go faster than 100kms? It seems to have plenty of Hp and torque.

[msiwiec]

It'll be OK...

So the solution to reduce carbon emissions is by killing everyone who purchases this bike. You can't produce carbon when your DEAD!! No noise and emissions will definitely NOT be coming from your bike once you get hit by a car.

[odubtaig]

If your observation skill are that bad, you shouldn't be driving.

[msiwiec]

tell me how someone who rides a silent motorcycle will anticipate your merge while blabbering on the phone and not looking. What state do you drive in? I'll make sure I stay out of it.

[odubtaig]

Here in the UK, that's what the police call 'driving without due care and attention' when they pull you over. If you're seen talking on the phone without a headset that's an automatic fine and three points off your license (out of 12).

Personally, I'm sick of people not paying proper attention; if I wasn't constantly looking out for pea-brains in Chealsea Tractors one of them would have killed me by now. Simple basic observation of signs and junction lanes seems to be beyond the ability of some people as they try to move into the space my car is occupying at the time.

Either get off the phone and pay attention or get off the road. No, I couldn't give a flying **** what 'important' business you have to talk about, it's not as important as other people's lives so if you're going to be so inconsiderate as to put your personal crap above the safety of others then you deserve to have your car set on fire.

[Dalkorian]

by odubtaig May 4, 2009 4:29 PM PDT
Either get off the phone and pay attention or get off the road. No, I couldn't give a flying **** what 'important' business you have to talk about, it's not as important as other people's lives so if you're going to be so inconsiderate as to put your personal crap above the safety of others then you deserve to have your car set on fire.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE!!!

I've been saying this for years - if that call is so blasted important you can pull over, park the car and answer it (or call back). That's what I do. But I'm not some self absorbed retard who thinks I'm more important than everyone else either.

We need to find a way to prove in court that it's a threat to our lives when you drive while talking on that blasted self absorbed toy. Then it would be legal to kill you for it (self-defense).

[tep492]

Check out Mission Motors for another example. 100 ft-lb of torque, regenerative braking, 150 mile range, 4X price of the Zero. Disruptive technology always lags current technology, then leapfrogs as the technology gains momentum/lowers costs/gains adoption. Naysayers have another 5-10 years before they'll be proven wrong.

I've been riding for 17 years and the electric bikes are exciting.

http://www.ridemission.com/

[cyclonesamson]

It will take 5 years before the electric motorbike is common usuage.
I wouldn't worry about grids for two reasons.
I live in Australia. And they are starting to promote solar power at the same rate as what you would pay normally like on a phone contract and then after two years you own the system.
So if I get a solar panel, then I can recharge this bike for free. Which means no gas money for ever.
I also have a gs500. Which costs me about $10 per week on fuel. So for me it's not the money, it's just that I don't like being ripped off by the amount fuel and electricity will be in 5 years.
So we have to support this type of technology and get behind alternative energy usuage.
Otherwise we will all end by like China and Bangkok with black skys.