Cross country trip on a Zero S

[FreepZ]

That's a very good explanation. Thanks protomech.

Now, who makes a line of controllers that goes all the way up to 11?  That way when someone asks why my EV is better than my gasser, I can say because this bike goes to 11...

/spinal tap

If your bike was that awesome, you wouldn't want anybody to touch it, or even look at it! /spinal tap

[Richard230]

Terry is trying to get out of Texas as fast as he can, but he keeps getting delayed by Texas hospitality.  

[Richard230]

Terry is still fighting his way across Texas. He had an issue with a ChargePoint station, as he discusses below, but he solved his problem with a little "guerrilla" charging.

There's a ChargePoint station at Oncor Electric in Big Springs TX I counted on using. But it is not only on the wrong place on the map, but behind a locked gate. I was empty and stuck. Found a truck service center and plugged into their welding outlet and am fast charging at the same rate now. I'm learning so much on this trip that electricity is everywhere, you just gotta be resourceful to find it.

Here are the latest photos of his trip posted on his Facebook page.

[Richard230]

It appears Terry's trip has ended.  Here are his latest comments posted only an hour ago from Universal City, CA:

There are only 4 ChargePoint brand stations between Dallas texas and Tucson Arizona. That's 950 miles! Sadly none of those, all run by Oncor Electric between Big Spring, and Odessa TX allow the public to use their charging stations. My question is, if they are not for public use, why in the world are they on the map??? When planning my route across west Texas, I chose I-20 because of these charging locations. Good news is I made it to California for the important event today at 1 PM in Long Beach, CA. But I had to make a difficult choice...

It sounds to me like he had to abandon the rest of his electric motorcycle trip in order to get to LA on schedule, but he doesn't explain just how he got to California by 1 pm yesterday.  

Terry's latest photos are attached.

[protomech]

I see Jeremiah Johnson is at the LA motorcycle show as well. Perhaps Jeremiah drove his van as a support vehicle for Terry, and they loaded the bike into the van when it became clear they had reached the end of civilization, or at least civilized grid support, in Texas.

[protomech]

From facebook:

Great question! A world record was set, but it was not coast to coast yet, as I ran out of time to be in CA for the event yesterday. The trip was over 3000 miles and ended just short of the destination, and myself and the bike took a trip in a van. I am completing the coast to coast part on the way back in a few weeks. But getting here yesterday was most important.

[Richard230]

Here are photos of Terry in LA.

[Richard230]

Here is an article by AutoBlogGreen describing Terry's trip across the U.S., how he modified his Zero and his immediate plans:

http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/13/terry-hershner-rides-zero-s-electric-motorcycle-in-guiness-world/

After he sets a record for crossing the U.S. on a Zero electric motorcycle, someone riding a Brammo Empulse will have to give it a try. I can see an electric Cannon Ball looming in the future.   

[protomech]

Cross-country is going to be all about rider endurance, aero, efficiency, and charging speed..

The stock ZF11.4 is rated for 85 miles @ 55 mph. It has two charging options:
120/230V AC: 7.4 hours 95% = 10.9 miles/hour. Charge 4.6h, ride 1 = 9.8 mph ave
480V DC CHAdeMO: 1 hour 95% = 81 miles/hour Charge 1h, ride 1.6 = 34 mph ave

Stock, the Empulse probably does around 70 miles @ 55 mph. It has two charging options:
120V AC: 8 hours 99% = 8.8 miles/hour. Charge 6h, ride 1 = 7.9 mph ave
230V AC: 3.5 hours 99% = 20 miles/hour. Charge 2.5h, ride 1 = 15.7 mph ave

With better aero, Zero's range could be improved..
Say 45 mph, 130 miles. Charge 1h, ride 2.9 = 33.5 mph ave
Say 55 mph, 110 miles. Charge 1h, ride 2.0 = 36.7 mph ave
Say 70 mph, 95 miles. Charge 1h, ride 1.36 = 40.3 mph ave..

When you start to charge more quickly, your travel speed actually goes up by riding at higher speeds.. even if the bike is less efficient at those speeds.

[FreepZ]

Looks like Zero has the advantage with the CHAdeMO charger, except that (according to www.plugshare.com) you're not going to be able to get very far since those chargers seem to be all grouped around a few population centers (Dallas, Houston, Chicago, etc). There are a couple of exceptions:

• An electrified highway (I5) from Ashland, Oregon, up to Seattle, Washington.
• An electrified loop that links Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga (I40, I75, I24) in Tennessee.

Having a bunch of charging options like Terry has on his Zero would be vital, unless you're willing to be very organized and ensure that every charger you stop at has the right equipment before you leave.

I wonder how much the Empulse could be modified to have more charging options.