ZERO CHARGE INTO THE FUTURE
O With the new 2021 range unveiled – now’s the time to grab a serious bargain
‘£1 worth of electricity will provide more than 50 miles of riding’
Interest in electric vehicles has never been higher, with record sales of electric motorcycles posted in the UK this year, despite the lockdown. Leading this positive charge are Californian company Zero Motorcycles, who’ve been in the business of making electric motorcycles since 2006. They’ve just announced their 2021 model line-up, meaning that there are some secondhand bargains to be had across the board, as dealers sell off their low-mileage 2020 demonstrators.
New, the Zero range usually starts at just over £10,000, running through to just over £18,000 for the range-topping, fully-faired, SR/S after the UK Government’s plug-in vehicle grant and, for many, one of the barriers to ownership of electric motorcycles is the perceived high purchase price. And while this is offset by minimal running costs and the ability to purchase through PCP deals, the prospect of cold hard cash off the RRP is still a tantalising one.
Nearly-new deals
As Zero’s 2021 model upgrades are purely cosmetic, those 2020 demos still represent the latest technology that the Santa Cruz company has to offer. With the coronavirus lockdown meaning that most dealers haven’t run many demo days this year, most of the ex-demo Zero bargains have minimal miles on the clock and the remainder of the factory’s five-year unlimited mileage battery warranty is also included. That battery warranty is another comforting factor for bikers looking to make the switch to electric. Despite electric cars having proven themselves for over a decade, many of us remain sceptical about the longevity of the technology, even though it is all largely maintenance-free and without all the moving parts that make up an internal combustion engine. The automotive grade lithium-ion cell chemistry and sophisticated battery management systems are a long way away from a pair of AA batteries, with Zero’s batteries reckoned to be the most densely concentrated power packs in the business. As a result, Zero themselves say that their Z-Force Power Pack can travel over 200,000 miles with the battery retaining 80% of its original maximum capacity. To put that into context, imagine a petrolpowered bike with an engine that could do 200,000 miles before a major rebuild.
Go further for less
And charging a battery is way cheaper than filling up a petrol bike. Most electric bike owners charge up at home, with £1 worth of electricity providing over 50 miles of riding. All Zeros can be plugged into a regular threepin wall socket and charged up overnight or while at work, and for those who want to travel further, the bigger bikes can all be plugged into public charging posts, which are now more plentiful than petrol stations. Depending on the spec of the bike and charger, a full charge can take less than an hour – and with some models now having a range of around 200 miles, more and more riders are finding that Zeros can provide a fun and practical ride that meets their everyday needs. From commuters looking for a super-practical machine that costs buttons to run and is future proofed against the introduction of low emissions zones and charges, to leisure riders who fall in love with the incredible thrust only an electric motor can provide, electric bikes are no longer the future but the here and now for an increasing number of UK motorcyclists.
Zero interest?
Interested in tracking down a Zero with an attractive discount? Zero have 23 dealers across the British Isles and although many are closed to the public due to the current coronavirus lockdown, most are operating a click and collect service and are available for enquiries by phone and email. To find your nearest dealer and see if they still have their 2020 demo bikes available for sale, simply head to www. zeromotorcycles.com/en-gb/ locator – fast! You can also find all the latest model information on the website and follow the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ ZeroMotorcyclesUK. Charge up, turn on, ride out – it couldn’t be simpler.