With just a decade of experience in the industry, ZERO Motorcycles->ke3362 has been at the epitome of electrically powered machines on two wheels. Showing the world how to do it right all this while, the folks have upped their game for 2018.

Offering higher performances, the four models for 2018 will come in a set of modern colors and have battery packs that will provide for a ten percent extended range and six times faster-charging capabilities.

With this, the California Republic-based company is addressing the major issues faced by motorcycles running on 'non-liquified dinosaurs'.

“Electric vehicles are the future” is what you will see under the banner of every automotive manufacturer now. They are moving away from the addiction to gasoline in a bid to a cleaner alternative to protect the environment.

Time and again it has been proved that electric/hybrid vehicles have an overwhelming advantage especially to ride within the town and this evolution has been a gradual process for some – and an exciting start for others.

ZERO Motorcycles is one of those latter ones whose battery-powered two-wheeled machines have, over the last decade, expanded their footprints in the straight-up street, adventure, dual-sport and supermoto categories of motorcycles. This has given them enough traction to become the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains.

For the year 2018, the company that started out as a startup from a Santa Cruz garage is offering three new batteries – the ZF14.4, ZF7.2 and ZF3.6, that promise to give their motorcycles ten percent more capacity than their previous generation.

According to ZERO, this will give their bikes the highest range compared to any two-wheel electric vehicle currently on the market. Their largest battery, the ZF14.4 clubbed with their new optional range-extending ZF3.6 Power Tank will give their bikes a whopping 223 miles within city limits. That is huge by any modern standards.

All their lithium-ion battery packs will be covered with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and will be free of any maintenance. A typical Zero S or Zero DS can travel over 200,000 miles with the batteries retaining 80% of their original maximum capacity. They can also be charged up using any standard 110 V or 220 V wall outlets making use of the onboard charger unit.

Additionally, the 2018 Zero S, SR, DS, and DSR models are offered with a 6kW optional Charge Tank that increases charging speeds by about six times as compared to using a standard outlet. What this means is that the charge times will drop drastically to just an hour for the ZF7.2 models (0-95%) and around two hours for the ZF14.4 models.

That's an impressive 30 miles of range while you sit and sip your cup of coffee and a full recharge over lunch. Nonetheless, this fast charge is only compatible with over 14,000 Level 2 EV charging stations around the world and with the home charging stations installed at your place.

That is not all. ZERO has fine-tuned the power delivery system to increase performance levels of their powertrain. The models running with the ZF7.2 battery will now provide 11 percent more rear wheel torque and 30 percent more power and torque for the models running on ZF14.4 battery.

Regenerating levels have also improved across all their 2018 range, and customers can now perform firmware updates using the new Zero’s smartphone app from the comfort of their home.

There has never been a better time to use zero-emission vehicles that cater to a larger mass of bikers and commuters alike. There hasn’t been a lot of success stories on this front, but things have now started to change for good, especially with ZERO leading the way here.

ZERO Motorcycles model range:

S is Zero's basic model, a smart streetfighter for both commuting and pleasure driving.

SR is the 'R' version of 'S' with higher performance. Starting MSRP $10,995

DS is the on / offroad version where 'DS' stands for Dual Sport - for gravel and asphalt.

DSR is the 'R' version of Dual Sport for a fast-paced adventure.

FX is the street-registered cross version for both lane and traffic.

FXS is the supermotard model for silent bursts on asphalt.

Model

ZERO S

ZERO SR

ZERO DS

ZERO DSR

ZERO FX

ZERO FXS

Price

$10,995 - $13,995

$16,495

$10,995 - $13,995

$16,495

$8,495 - $10,495

$8,495 - $10,495

Range

89 - 206 miles

179 miles

82 - 188 miles

163 miles

46 - 91 miles

50 - 100 miles

Power

34 - 60 hp

70 hp

34 - 60 hp

70 hp

27 - 46 hp

27 - 46 hp

Torque

78 - 81 lb-ft

116 lb-ft

78 - 81 lb-ft

116 lb-ft

78 lb-ft

78 lb-ft

Top Speed

91 - 98 mph

102 mph

91 - 98 mph

102 mph

85 mph

85 mph