Zero has some of the
best range guidance available for electric motorcycles. If you haven't read through that link,
go read it. Note: these tests were performed with a 2010 Zero S, which has a maximum capacity of 4.0 kwh and a likely nominal capacity of 3.5 kwh.
With the 2012 motorcycle update, Zero has dropped the unrealistic maximum range calculations, now reporting only a city (EPA UDDS cycle) and highway commuting range.
City RangeCity range is listed as the result of the
EPA UDDS dyno test.
Since the test takes place on a dyno, air resistance will be either neglected or very minimal .. but at least it is a standard point of comparison.
per emotofreak below, the UDDS dyno test does have a compensation factor to account for air resistance.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Universal Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) is a standardized test that is used to provide emissions and fuel efficiency data to consumers. The resulting labeling is posted on most ‘for sale’ gasoline vehicles and allows consumers to judge the fuel efficiency of competitive vehicles on an equal plane. Now adopted by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), and named “City Driving Range Test Procedure for Electric Motorcycles", Zero Motorcycles uses this newly adopted standard with the hope that other manufacturers will follow suit. For electric motorcycles, this provides interested buyers with standardized information to compare the range of one motorcycle against another.
Here's what the EPA UDDS cycle looks like:
The 2012 Zero S (9.0 kwh or 7.9 kwh nominal)
claims 114 miles on the UDDS test (69 wh/mile), up from 43 miles (91 wh/mile) for the
2011 Zero S (4.4 kwh, 3.9 kwh nominal). The 2011/2010 Zero S used a brushed DC motor, the 2012 Zero S uses a brushless AC motor with regenerative braking. Some combination of the new battery, new controller, and regenerative braking is likely responsible for the 2012 improvement in range.
How accurate is this? Probably pretty close, despite the quibbles over air resistance - at low speeds, drag isn't a huge factor in energy consumption. Zero tested the 2010 Zero S in a suburban route at 41.4 miles (~84 wh/mile), at speeds from 25-35 miles.
Highway RangeZero computes their highway commuting range as the geometric mean of the city and steady-state 70 mph highway ranges.
For 2012, in order to give our customers additional range information, Zero collaborated diligently with the Motorcycle Industry Council on the development of a new "Highway range" test and reporting standard for electric motorcycles. This new standard is meant to provide a range value riders can expect to achieve when using the motorcycle for highway commuting. It is based on an extensive 3rd party research which concluded that, when coupled with the distance traveled on city roads getting to and from the highway, as well as the distance spent in highway congestion, the average "highway commute" is made up of 50% steady-state high speed riding and 50% city-like riding. For Zero's higher top-speed S and DS models, the steady-state high speed used in this test and reporting standard is 70 mph. For Zero's lower top-speed XU, this speed is 55 mph.
The Formula:
S and DS 70 mph Highway Commuting Range = 1 / [0.5/(70 mph steady-state range) + 0.5/(EPA UDDS range)]
XU 55 mph Highway Commuting Range = 1 / [0.5/(55 mph steady-state range) + 0.5/(EPA UDDS range)]
The 9kwh Zero S claims 114 miles of UDDS city range and 63 miles of "highway commute", which is really combined city and highway. Breaking out a bit of high school algebra,
the 9 kwh S should run for 43.5 miles at a steady 70 mph.
The highway commuting range assumes you travel half the distance (32 miles) on the highway at 70 mph, using roughly 73% of the pack, and travel the remaining half the distance (31 miles) on the remaining 27% of the pack. This is equivalent to a two-way commute with 16 miles of highway, 15 miles of suburban riding.
Similarly, the 6kwh S claims 73 miles UDDS city range, 43 miles of "highway commute".
Steady running at 70 mph for 30 miles is sufficient to deplete the 6kwh S battery.
Bottom line? Your mileage WILL vary, of course : ) Travel speed and temperature will be the major factors in range (and Zero doesn't publish temperature data). Aggressiveness of acceleration and braking will impact range, though less so. Riding two-up will decrease range somewhat in the city, less so on the highway. Luggage will decrease range slightly. Battery wear will decrease range, although honestly wear should be a non-issue on the 2012 models.
Riding at 25-35 mph? Expect 90-110 miles.
Riding in a mix of highway and suburban conditions? Expect 58-63 miles.
Riding flat-out on the highway? Expect 43 miles at 70 mph, maybe a little less if you decide how long you can hold the Zero S's maximum speed of 88 mph before you drop back to the sustained 75 mph top speed.
Doing quarter-mile drag runs? *hand-waving* maybe 30-40. Also you'd better hope your pack runs out before an Empulse shows up :>
