Ok anyone still reading this post go to Zero's Facebook page and watch this bike KILL a supermoto track and pass ICE bikes like they are stalled. TORQUE!!!
Here is a link to the video on vimeo for those that don't want to hunt through Zero's Facebook.
Eeggcellent!! If Zero started selling this bike and stock Zero's start tearing up tracks and winning races across the country they would get a lot more mainstream attention and buy in...especially for the FX/FXS where the range is not as critical...especially when you have a system that allows you to swap packs quickly under race day conditions (if you have the $$$ for extra bricks and chargers...this is where falling battery prices could REALLY make a difference).
I'm still skeptical that we will ever see a bike like this directly from Zero (at least in the next couple years) due to the fact that they have made many public statements in the past regarding their belief that they are at a good pack voltage balancing power with safety. But I have a sliver of hope and here's why:
1. Zero collaborated with Hollywood electrics on the bike. If the custom battery pack they used to enable using the high voltage size 4 controller came from Zero that would increase the likelihood that we might see Zero up the voltage on future bikes.
2. Harlan did the size 6 controller first and then Zero followed offering an official SR. It doesn't seem like a huge stretch that they would collaborate with Hollywood Electrics to create a test bike for Pikes Peak with plans to offer higher voltage bikes in the future.
3. It wouldn't be the first time Zero increased the pack voltage on their lineup. While it may be unlikely that they would do something like double the voltage of the pack and change the motor and controller to match, switching to SEVCONs high voltage Gen4 offerings doesn't require a huge leap....current is 116V max...high voltage controllers can handle 150V max.
4. Zero started updating the monolith batteries for older Zero's under warranty and replacing them with ZF12.5 and in at least one case someone posted they got a ZF13 pack. While I trust that they may have legitimate concerns that the older packs are going to live up to the warranty they may also be taking advantage of the opportunity to clear out stock of older bricks. And the ZF13 is new for 2016 so if they are trying to clear those out then that offers more hope. That said there could be many other reasons they are trying to clear out old stock of batteries. For example, the Power Tank for 2016 is still using the ZF2.8 bricks. They may keep using the same 29Ah bricks for 2017 (i.e. ZF3.3/ZF6.5/ZF9.8/ZF13) and be planning to up the ZF13 + Power Tank from 15.9 kWh to 16.2 kWh.
5. Increasing pack voltage would allow the flexibility to keep torque at the wheel the same but change the gearing to enable a higher top end and thus make the FX/FXS a lot more competitive. (side note: Don't be fooled by spec sheets. Using the high voltage controllers offers a bigger increase in performance than may be obvious by just looking at the numbers (e.g. peak current, continuous current etc.).)
It would be really sweet to see Zero update to the high voltage controllers across the lineup. However, SEVCON is currently not yet offering a size 6 high voltage controller so if they are planning to up the voltage across the lineup they would either be one of the first customers to use it or the transition isn't planned to take place for a couple more years. I'm not sure how likely it is that they would increase the voltage on some models (i.e. everything but the SR) and not others....I wonder how a high voltage 'Zero S' with a size 4 controller and IPM motor with high temp magnets would compete against the current SR with a size 6 controller??
However, IMO, if they were to start selling this bike traction control is a must. The FXS is so light that the rear tire is already eager break loose with a quick twist of the wrist. I can't remember who said it but in one of the videos Zero posted they said that the pikes peak bike couldn't keep traction with the stock tires and they needed to go to really soft slicks to handle all the torque. I suppose they could gear to keep torque at the wheel the same as the current models and just take advantage of the higher top speed. Or they could program to keep torque tuned down when RPM is low and take advantage of the extra power when RPM is higher turning the FXS into a wheelie machine. Although traction control may or may not be all that desirable on the track, if its being used as a commuter I think even the current models could really benefit from it. I already want an FXS or an FX (or both)....if Zero offered a high voltage FX/FXS I would have a hard time keeping myself from buying one.
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Topic: Harlan, come on give us some stats on that FXSR (Read 2108 times)