PH2 ridden: Zero DS
Electric cars we know about, but electric bikes? Yup, on the way too
Instant torque limited to prevent wheelies
Ok, let’s get the bad news out of the way first. The DS costs £11,795. Well it did new, this is an ex-demo and because the bike is being updated for 2013, most Zeros for sale now in the UK are also ex-demos priced around £9,500, which is the same as a secondhand 2011 Fireblade. Eek. What do you get? A fully electric bike with 29hp, a claimed 112-mile range, 80mph top speed and nine-hour recharge from flat.
The Fireblade makes about 160hp and does 140 miles to a tank with five minutes to fill plus an extra two to stuff a chocolate bar down your neck. But you have to pay upwards of £1.40 a litre on a ’blade, making a full tank cost about £24.
The Zero takes 9kWh to recharge, costing 26p (or 5p at night on economy seven) so that’s £0.04 per mile against the Blade’s 17p. Then there is the servicing. A service on a ’blade is about £250. The Zero requires no servicing. The only things that get used are brake pads and tyres. But what about when the battery dies?
Range (of) issues
Zero claims a range of 114 miles, but I killed the battery in just 33 miles. I was riding in my usual style, which is fairly rapid but all the same that’s pretty miserable. After 26 miles I had just under half a ‘tank’ left so I decided to ride it to a nearby power station for a cool picture – the irony wasn’t missed when I had to turn home due to a lack of battery power. 33 miles and the battery was basically flat with the gauge flashing a warning to charge up. The charge point is pretty badly placed on the 2012 bike, directly in the line of fire for road crap but this is changing next year.
Belt drive and ungainly pulley look odd
Slight charging hiccup over come I retried the Zero’s range in ‘economy’ mode. Which seems to cut response and therefore acceleration and speed. Riding below 60mph and taking care not to abuse the throttle I managed 27 miles and returned home with 2 bars under the halfway point on the battery charge meter showing. Better than before but I reckon only about 20 miles left until the battery went flat, meaning a range of 45 miles.
Is this the future?
Electric vehicles certainly do have a part in our two-wheeled (and four-wheeled) future. Just look at the electric TT on the Isle of Man this year for evidence of how impressive they can be. But at the moment they are too expensive and limited in their use.
In town a Zero may make sense as you should be able to get over 80 miles on a battery, but the cost is just so high. Battery life will extend and the price will drop but that is the future, this is now.
Charging point vulnerable to road grime
If the Zero was, say, £5,000 or £6,000 it may be an option over the likes of the SV or Hornet for an urban commuter. But it isn’t. Could leasing be the future? I could see a commuter paying a set amount a month to lease one, which would take the sting out of the price and is certainly an option. Zero is offering PCP on its 2013 bikes with £199 monthly premiums, which is a start.
Zero is a big player in the electric bike market and the Californian company is not short of backing (it is owned by the same investors as Weight Watchers!) so it will crack this nut. If the Zero was a bit cheaper and did over 60 miles between charges irrespective of how you ride it I could be converted. It will never be a ‘first bike’ as it is too limited but as a zipping around town or to and from the local shop at £0.04 a mile and no tax it is an option.
ZERO DS ZF9
Engine: Brushless electric motor
Power (hp): 29
Torque (lb ft): N/A
Top Speed: 80mph (max), 70mph (sustained)
Weight: 155kg
Range: 62 miles (US ‘Highway’ rating)
Price: £11,795
t. This has similar weight/power/looks as my old DRZ.
The DRZ cost £4000 and had a range of about 75 miles when playing (But would do 65mpg when being restained as in your second ride)
Would take about 62000miles before the fuel cost caught up with the Zero (In fairness, the DRZs engine would probably be dust by then, not sure about the Zero's engine and batteries!)
Best bit was the twist grip throttle. Twist it forward (beyond the "off" position) and it applied regenerative braking. Very intuitive to use and good fun.
If they could make one that had a genuine 160 mile range at a steady 60mph, i'd have one.
I really don't agree with electric sport bikes though but could live with a commuter leccy bike doing 12 miles a day. I think I'd always be worried about getting stranded somewhere though!!
But the lack of noise really concerns me.
Personally, if I had one, I'd want it to sound like one of the pod racers from the phantom menace.
But the lack of noise really concerns me.
If not your left arm will be free to hold a stereo blasting out rise of the valkyrie.
Personally, if I had one, I'd want it to sound like one of the pod racers from the phantom menace.
This is expensive and not all that great compared to petrol bikes. Do you all really think that in 1900 people were riding about on Fireblades? This is the beginning. Bikes will develop over the years.
Would I buy one? No, not at that 'usablity' level, although I'm sure some people will. And hats off to them, as they'll fund the development of future models.
ETA; I'd have thought a silent green laner would be ideal. Would stop lots of the moaning from walkers/horse riders.
I take it everyone slagging it off is going to give up driving/riding when we run out of fuel or it becomes prohibitively expensive? Even better. Empty roads for the rest of us that aren't luddites... ;-)
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