California-based
Zero Motorcycles made its Zero DS motorcycle available for sale in the United
States on July 30. The Zero DS is an all-electric, one-speed motorcycle priced
at $9,950 USD with a projected high speed of 55 miles per hour. Zero
Motorcycles previously released the $8,250 Zero MZ with plans to produce
additional models in the future. The Zero DS drew some buzz when former Tonight Show host Jay Leno featured a
test drive of the latest Zero Motorcycles model on his website.
The Zero
DS is powered by a 4kWh lithium-ion battery pack rechargeable with a 110-volt
or 220-volt outlet within four hours. Zero Motorcycle highlighted that the Zero DS achieves 50 miles per charge to alleviate concerns about the motorcycle’s utility. The automaker designed the Zero DS with a battery monitoring
system to track the performance of individual battery cells. Zero Motorcycle’s
isolated power systems prevent power surges from slowing down the
Zero DS.
Zero
Motorcycles covered every contingency when designing the Zero DS for the American
market. The motorcycle weighs in at a svelt 270 pounds thanks to lightweight
recyclable materials used from wheel to wheel. Zero Motorcycles projects that
the Zero DS costs less than a penny per mile to keep charged. The Zero DS comes
with a two-year limited warranty from Zero Motorcycles to protect buyers from faulty
parts in the first generation of this vehicle.
After a
quick glance at online commentary about the Zero DS, it is clear that some
consumers are uncomfortable with the approach taken by Zero Motorcycles to its latest product. The primary criticism marginalized the Zero DS as a novelty due to its
limited range per charge. The Zero DS features a slight frame that will come
under fire from motorcycle lovers infatuated with big frames. The aesthetic of
the Zero DS screams dirt bike rather than motorcycle upon first blush.
Zero
Motorcycles may get jostled around by Internet readers but consumers interested
in clean neighborhood vehicles will be intrigued by the Zero DS. The lightweight frame allows
a user to park the Zero DS in tight spaces unavailable to cars.
The combination of eco-friendly parts, zero emissions, limited noise and
electric power in the Zero DS is incredibly attractive for consumers looking for
alternatives to gas-guzzling vehicles. Critics of the Zero DS should realize
that this latest offering from Zero Motorcycles is only the beginning of the
all-electric motorcycle niche.
