FAQ
How long does it take to charge the bike up?
The Zero X (off road) is about 2 hrs from flat to full charge.
The Zero S (street) is about 4 hrs from flat to full charge.
Remember these figures are from dead flat to full charge.
In the real world most people will just ride it
then put it back on charge, like a mobile phone…
How long does the battery last for?
The Zero X (off road) is about 45 mins to 1 1/2 hrs depending on how hard it is ridden.
The Zero S (street) is about 25-50 miles, again depending on how it is ridden. Factors reducing the range are hard accelaration, stop start, hills, and high speeds.
The life of the battery is estimated to be approximately 1000 deep cycles (or about 5 years normal usage if run flat every day or 10 years if half discharged)
Zero patented “Z-Force” battery technology will actually shut down a malfunctioning cell within the battery to prevent it from draining other cells within the battery pack therefore prolonging the useful life of the battery. The Zero X battery has 142 individual cells within it, so one cell shut down is only a less than 1% reduction in battery power which will hardly be noticed. Each individual cell never runs at full electrical capacity also prolonging battery life.
It sounds a bit weird, how do i know if i will like it?
We operate a “try before you buy policy” with either set demo days that you can come along to, or we will bring a bike to you to try. But be warned, most people that try it get hooked!
I don’t know how to ride a motorbike, will I be able to ride a Zero?
The Zero X has brakes exactly like a pedal cycle and a standard twist grip throttle. Impossible to stall, no foot controls, no gears or clutch to worry about. If you can ride a push bike you can ride a zero. Its also amazingly light and manoeuvrable. The Zero S (road version) has a right foot rear brake just like a normal motorbike.
Can I get insured for it?
We have a trade partner www.electricscooterinsurance.co.uk who will be happy to quote you for a Zero motorcycle insurance. Call 0800 1970 453 and ask for Andy Miller. This is the UKs leading electric 2 wheel insurer and they know about Zero electric motorcycles and their classification within the insurance industry.
Is it dangerous if its silent?
Our primary warning is in fact sight when assessing road situations. Many road hazards cannot be heard because of other noise inside a car (engine, tyre roar, wind, music, etc.) A car driver can react to a silent motorcycle in the same way as they might do to a cyclist.
Motorcycles are normally heard when they have passed you rather than the other way around. Now you are aware of this issue, actually test yourself the next time you encounter a motorcycle and you will find that your pre concieved idea of how you think you are aware of a motorcyclist does not always stack up to how you actually are aware of them. A headlight and high visibility clothing actually creates more awareness as it can be seen long before any noise can be detected and it cannot be drowned out by road noise or a loud car stereo. We recommend high visibility clothing is worn as on any motorcycle.
Driving a quiet motorcycle allows the rider to be more aware of their surroundings rather than their senses being dulled by their own engine noise or loud exhaust note. Riders have remarked on actually hearing their own tyres on the road surface for the first time!
How much cheaper is it than petrol?
Electricity is about 5 – 10% of the cost of petrol depending what time of day you charge up. If your petrol bill is £1000 p/a then this saving could be added back against the cost of the bike each year. Also servicing costs are dramatically reduced too. UK electricity is 18p per kilowatt/hour peak and 5.2p per kilowatt/hour off peak, and it takes about 2 kilowatt/hours to charge a Zero X battery. So depending on WHEN you charge up it will cost between 36p and 10.4p per full charge depending on if off peak electricilty is used.
How fast does it go?
The X (off road) will do 0-30 in under 2 seconds but is geared to only do 40mph.
These impressive performance figures are achieved by combining ultra light weight and high torque from the battery/motor combination. The Zero is designed entirely from scratch as an electric motorcycle and is not just petrol motorcycle that has been converted or a collection of petrol motorcycle components with an electric motor in it. This is why the Zero is different and superior to other electric motorcycles
Will i get electrocuted in the rain?
Strange as it may seem you can in fact operate an electric motorcycle in the wet without any ill effects. The Zero X is chosen by the army because of its ability to cross shallow streams without drowning out like a conventional piston engine. If water enters a piston engine the piston trying to compress water in the bore can cause “hydraulic-ing” which can bend the con rod and write a petrol engine off in seconds.
What if a more powerful motor or battery is made after i have bought it?
Zero can “future proof” your investment with a warranty that allows you to purchase the latest parts for your motorcycle at half price. No need to buy next years model because it has a better motor, just bolt in the new one at half price. Zeros ethical manufacturing policy does away with the planned obsolecence of other vehicles.
How come it’s so expensive?
The capital cost is more but the “whole life cost” is less!
Compared to vehicles like electric cars, the Zero is only about 25% more than a comparable petrol motorcycle as opposed to the electric version of a car which is normally more than double! The Zero S is actually considerably cheaper than the other US electric motorcycle too. The Zero is also made from Aluminium which is much more expensive than steel to buy and work with, however this is the key to the high performance of the Zero and they have refused to compromise on quality here. There is always a premium to be paid in terms of R&D to be the first company with a new innovation, however we belive that the small premuim paid on the Zero can be recouped in time with significantly lower running costs and maintenance, not to mention less time spent working on the machine.