| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/03/25/on-the-record -abe-askenazi-cto-zero-electric-motorcycles-cycle- world-interview/ | ||
| Court |
>>>>Abe Askenazi has always been the smartest person in the room. That has been an accurate statement since the mid 90's. Abe has been at Zero since shortly after HD axed Buell and has an amazing record. If you know Abe . . .you take electric bikes seriously. He's an incredible engineer, incredible person and great rider. | ||
| Tempest766 |
I can't get excited about electric bikes...ever. Not to mention, the tech is still smoke and mirrors, encouraged by those who will make money based on "Joe Sixpack's" incapacity to fully understand what is really going on. Sure, the battery power density is coming along, but the overall price and rare earth materials carbon footprint will keep it in the realm of expensive and less efficient toys...but in the end we'll all be forced to drink the cool-aid, so I digres. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Pray tell, explain what is really going on. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Pure electric motorcycles are much less smoke and mirrors than other pure electric vehicles. Particularly the Zero's. I continue to do the math. Basically, if you get the Zero dual sport (which is the one I want), and you figure the cost difference for the gas versus electricity for the life of the battery pack, you are paying an extra $5000 over 5 years for the pure electric. Performance of the Ebike is *better* than the equivalent KLX-250 (or Ninja-250 if you would rather). Basically, the Zero feels like a KTM-450, which if you haven't ridden one, is just this side of terrifying when geared down like a dirt bike. Range is *worse*. But there are many very reasonable scenarios where 50 mile per day range is absolutely reasonable. Maintenance is *better*. There just isn't much to break. And most people would probably say that rolling the bike into their garage and plugging it into an extension cord is preferable to stopping for gas and changing oil. So basically, you are giving up range and spending and extra $5000 for a little more power and significantly more convenience. And you get the "conversation piece" benefit as well, the zero bikes are VERY nicely designed and made. I'm unfortunately not in a position to get one (I need an 80 mile range, and I have too many kids to be buying new motorcycles). But if those two things weren't true, there would already be a Zero in my garage. If gas goes back up to $5 per gallon, the math changes really quickly and things get much closer to a wash (in which case, the EBike probably wins). | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Abe says that there are battery chemistries in the works that will quadruple power density. That gets a bike into the 400 mile per charge range. That will make my day. | ||
| Buewulf |
I have also seriously considered a Zero FX. Had I not made the decision to stop commuting to work on the motorcycle, I would have gotten it. With the dual pack, it would have had enough range to get to work where I could recharge it in my office for the ride home. A spare set of wheels with knobbies mounted would be tucked in the garage for weekend trail riding, which the batteries have ample range for. I don't really care about the economics of it. I was just attracted to never having to stop for gas during my commute (which ruins my day for some reason), having virtually no maintenance, and combining the serenity of riding a mountain bike (quiet) with the thrill of MX powwa when tromping through the woods. An ICE bike would still be in the garage for all of the long range riding, of course. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Exactly. Parked next to the Uly, the Zero FX, or even the DS, would be perfect. | ||
| Josequinones |
Zero Files Trademarks for Zero DSR and Zero FXS | ||
| Tempest766 |
[rolls eyes and nods head in fearful despair for the human race] |
