Zero Motorcycles and the Future of Motorcycling

I have read about this bike in magazines such as Motorcyclist and on-line as well. This 2009 Zero X Electric Dirtbike is quite remarkable in many ways. I photographed it at Velocity Motorcycles in Richmond, Virginia yesterday. The designer of the bike (Neal Saiki) worked for NASA for many years, got into designing mountain bikes, and then took on this project. The bike has a weight of 151 pounds, the electric motor puts out 23bhp, and an impressive 50 lb-ft pounds of torque. Many of the components are from mountain bike suppliers, and the frame (fitting his aviation history) is aircraft grade aluminum. The bike provides almost instant full power and full torque. The battery pack is the heart of the design; weighing 45 pounds, the lithium-ion battery puts out 300 amps, which can get the bike up to 55 mph. Range is one to two hours depending on how it is ridden. No oil changes, no tune ups, no clutch....just twist the grip and go (and refueling is a recharge). Price is about $7450 or $9450 for the "extreme" model. In checking out the web site for Zero Motorcycles I have read that there is a street bike in the works as well.
Of course, I have also read that Vetrix (who makes an electric scooter) is on its last legs. Zero Motorcycles seems to be doing well, though the current fall in gasoline prices (and the recession) has to be taking a toll on sales (Harley-Davidson announced more layoffs this week due to the drop off in big bike motorcycle sales). Still, the Zero is a great and on-going advance in motorcycle technology.
Electric motorcycles are quickly becoming more than toys. An electric drag bike called Killacycle is running on two 1850 amp, 500 bhp total hp (800 lb.-ft of torque) at a speed of 174.05 mph at 7.89 seconds. This is 1.02 seconds less than the NHRA Pro-stock motorcycle ET record! Plus it does it on 7 cents worth of electricity, getting a recharge after each run which takes 4 minutes!
The bikes will continue to improve, battery technology will as well. Fuel prices, while down now will eventually be heading back up. I believe that electric motorcycles will eventually give remarkable performance, and lower the cost both of fuel and maintenance (got to remember no oil changes or valve adjustments on electric bikes) and still be something remarkable to ride.
This technology will be worth following!