Joerg Teuchert
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In recent years, many European countries and some American states have made considerable efforts to ban passenger cars with combustion engines in large cities. The domino effect of these bans could change the motorcycle industry as we know it today, and it may be safe to start taking electric motorcycles a little more seriously. Zero Motorcycles is one step ahead and has made significant strides in becoming the world’s leading manufacturer of electric motorcycles with an impressive line of all-electric motorcycles.
For the avid motorcycle enthusiast, the idea of ​​the lack of clutch and gears sounds like sheer heresy. Still, given that popular brands like Harley-Davidson and Ducati already have their toes when it comes to electrification, plug-in culture could very well be the future of motorcycling. Zero Motorcycles is a start-up that believes in zero emissions. It achieved its goal with an unprecedented combination of revolutionary “smart†bike technology, cutting-edge power and traction. But since that’s not all there is about Zero, here’s what we know so far about the all-electric motorcycle company.
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Zero was founded in 2006 under a different name
Neal Saiki, a former NASA engineer, founded Zero Motorcycles in 2006 in Santa Cruz, California. Registered as Electricross at the time, Neal worked as CEO and CTO to develop electric motorcycle technology, including electric motors, lithium-ion batteries and motorcycle frames.
Through his innovation as an aeronautical engineer, Neal led his team to manufacture the company’s first prototype electric motorcycle, dubbed “The Driftâ€. In an era when there wasn’t a single mass-produced electric car or motorcycle on the market, the 140lb electric bike was not only exciting to ride, but a revolutionary masterpiece for the time. .
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The Zero X Set The Rolling Ball
After changing the company name to Electricross, the company rebranded the Zero logo to highlight its Zero Emissions theme in 2017. Zero had already made waves in Santa Cruz from the Drift prototype and thrilled local bikers. and professional mountain bikers. Therefore, it made sense to focus on off-road bikes to break into the motorcycle market.
The Zero X was Zero’s first bike, and it featured two switches; one for torque and one for top speed. Although the Zero X lacked range and high top speed, its electric powertrain was powerful and quiet. The motorcycle opened up new riding possibilities and formed the DNA of the current Zero motorcycle line.
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The world’s first 24-hour electric off-road event
In 2009, Zero Motorcycles proudly hosted the world’s first 24 hour electric motorcycle race. Zero organized the off-road event, labeled The 24 hour Electricross, in the heart of San José in a local off-road motorcycle park.
The racing event involved completing a dizzying 1,015 laps and 502.1 miles, with the winning team setting a world record in the process. The ten teams that participated managed to cross the finish line, an incredible statement about the durability of Zero electric motorcycles.
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The first Zero street-approved motorcycle arrived in 2009
Although Zero Motorcycles had success with off-road motorcycles, the first street-approved motorcycle did not arrive until 2009. And despite a range and top speed limited to 50 miles and 60 mph, the Zero S made world news as the first street-legal motorcycle. Zero motorcycles. The day Zero launched the Zero S, it sparked so much interest that the company’s website collapsed.
The Zero S also marked a milestone for the start-up. According to Top speed, the bike was the world’s first road-approved electric supermoto to go into mass production. The Zero S cradled an all-new bodywork and all-new chassis that paved the way for the Zero DS, a road-approved motorcycle for off-road enthusiasts.
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Zero S ZF6 boasts Salt Flat records
In 2012, Brandon Miller rode a Zero S ZF6 motorcycle at Bonneville Salt Flats to reach a speed of 101.652 mph, averaging a distance of one mile. After completing several races throughout the four-day event, he broke the ground speed record previously held by an electric motorcycle.
As reported by Motorcyclist, Brandon set two new ground speed records for a fully electric motorcycle at the Bonneville Shootout event. After registering 102.281 mph over the half-mile distance, he set another speed record, the FIM record for modified production bikes weighing less than 330 pounds.
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The Zero Motorcycle app
As a world leader in electric motorcycles, Zero Motorcycles launched the Zero Motorcycles app in 2013. Designed for Apple iOS and Android devices, the Zero Motorcycles app is the world’s first mobile app capable of monitoring the performance characteristics of the motorcycle. ‘a production motorcycle.
The app is connected to the bike via Bluetooth and archived or live bike information is transmitted from the bike to the app on the owner’s mobile device. For the first time in history, a rider could easily adjust the motorcycle’s torque, top speed and regenerative braking in seconds. And with the new Cypher III + feature, owners can purchase significant performance upgrades in a virtual marketplace.
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Zero Sells Color Kits
Whenever you choose to buy a motorcycle, you can select the color preference that the motorcycle will have for the entire period of ownership. Well, unless you take it to an aftermarket dealer for a custom paint job. For Zero motorcycles, however, owners may approach the colors of the motorcycles a little differently.
If the owner changes their mind about color after purchase, Zero Motorcycles offers a select range of color kits to customize. The kit includes relatively easy to install tank, front fender and rear fender covers. Riders have the freedom to mix and match different colors on their bikes and return them to the original shade if they get bored.
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You can run but you can’t hide
Since Zero motorcycles have no gears, clutches, or noise, they offer the perfect stealth solution for law enforcement. In 2011, law enforcement discovered the benefits of electric motorcycles for event safety, security, and crowd control. Today, more than 80 parks and police departments across the United States, not to mention the police in cities like Bogota and Hong Kong, trust Zero motorcycles for their day-to-day work.
Plus, the stealth and speed of electric motorcycles make them perfect for covert military use. Since 2012, Zero Motorcycles has launched military motorcycles and has offered essential switching devices, custom tires and replaceable batteries.
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Zero Motorcycles achieved racing success
Zero Motorcycles scored their first road racing success in North America’s first-ever Electric Superbike race. Sean Higbee, a company engineer, won the TTXGP eGrand Prix at Sonoma Raceway in California in 2010. Kenyon Kluge, another Zero engineer, also won the very first TTX75 class race for the company and dominated the eSuperstock class in the follow-up series. .
After partnering with Hollywood Electrics, Zero Motorcycles won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb production class in 2013, the first time the competition included an electric motorcycle division. In 2014, the Zero FX became the first electric motorcycle to cross the 12-minute mark. Between 2013 and 2015, Zero Motorcycles found success in the race to the clouds; winning wins in the production electric motorcycle category for three consecutive years.
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Zero offers motorcycles for several markets
Zero Motorcycles has been in the industry for over 14 years and has successfully delivered motorcycles for several markets during this time. Although the company distributes motorcycles in nearly 30 countries, sales are concentrated in Europe and the United States.
The company’s production models include Zero S, Zero SR, Zero FXS, Zero DS, Zero DSR, Zero FX, Zero FXE, Zero SR / F, and Zero SR / S. The current range of motorcycles includes street racing, street racing, supermoto, dual sport, dual sport and motocross terrain.
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