Monterey, CA — All you have to do is drive a few miles a day to know that cars are the main way that Americans travel. Motorcycles, while popular, come in a distant second.
There are very few electric motorcycles on the market.
The most popular E-cycle to date is the Zero S. It’s a 17hp machine with 60 foot-pounds of torque.
A test ride of the Zero S was held during the MotoGP races at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, CA, not far from Zero’s Santa Cruz headquarters. Hundreds of people lined up to try out the e-cycle.
Electric motorcyles have automatic transmissions, like modern scooters. There is no clutch. There is also no engine braking. The throttle is very responsive throttle.
Most US drivers don’t “see motorcyclists”, so in part they rely upon the noise of a cycle to alert them to the cycle’s presence. E-cycles are virtually noiseless.
At highway speeds, and with a top speed of 70mph, the Zero S lasts about 25 miles on a charge. Lower speeds bring longer battery life. See Zeromotorcycles.com for more information, including locations of demo rides, and an explanation of the federal tax credits and state rebates available for buyers.
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:22 am
Hi, interesting topic – I have just bought an electric bike that I use to get to work everyday. I Just plug in at work to recharge it and then cycle home.
Absolutely love the bike, it was cheap and simple to use. I got it from http://www.elecbikeco.com they seemed good but I am sure there are many other companies out there too.
Good luck
Ahmet