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[evdjerome]

I rode 90.6 miles on a single charge today. Wish I had brought my GPS to see the elevation - went over a lot of hills. Also wish I had tracked the time to determine average speed. Temp was in low 70's F. My guess at average speed is 35 mph.  I did have it over 60 mph for a short bit on a fast road.

Anyway, bike has almost 8k miles on it and range doesn't seem to be dropping yet.  Loving my 2012 DS.

[mikeisted]

I've had my ZF9S for a few months and ridden around 1,400 miles.  I love the bike!  However, I have twice now been caught out with the range on long journeys.  Both times I got down to two bars, then the bike cut out within 8 miles.  Last time the overall range achieved was 77 miles at around 45mph on average.  The first time it was raining, so I wondered if it was an electrical fault, but since then I have worked on waterproofing...  The last time it was a lovely summer afternoon.  Fortunately I ran flat right outside a garden centre where they were very happy to help recharge while I sat eating a baguette and drinking tea.  The Zero has that effect on people... 

So is it normal for the range to be so low on two bars?  Any advice gratefully received, as we are rather on our own here in Blighty..

[Richard230]

When I ran my 2012 ZF9 down to two bars, they started flashing.  The bike would then run another 20 miles, or so (at around 35 mph) before the last bar would disappear.  After that is was good for another few miles before slowing down to 20 mph and then creeping along just enough to keep you from pushing.  My maximum range when riding at an average of 50 mph was around 100 miles.  If I would have kept the speed under 35 mph, I am sure it would have gone at least 120 miles.

[mikeisted]

Thanks Richard.  It seems my bike is a little low.  I'm considering getting Cycle Analyst to get better diagnostic data and a power later on mains side to see how much charge the bike is taking...  Thanks again.

[protomech]

mike,

The dash energy display appears to recalculate the remaining energy every time the bike is switched on. I've found if riding from 100% down to near empty in a single session that the energy remaining estimate can be a little inaccurate; if the bike is switched off and back on at lower energy, you may find that it turns on with one bar fewer displayed. This newer estimate is more accurate IMO.

I've been caught out before by this on a longer ride (~75 miles), though fortunately I was close enough to limp home.

[mikeisted]

Thanks protomech.  I've taken a look at the offload voltage on full charge, which seems to a healthy 75.7V.  The BMS seems to be indicating the cells are balanced and the charger in maintenance mode.  So all looks good.

I've put the CA on my birthday list, so hopefully I can start getting more data from early September!

[oobflyer]

In warm weather, riding at "real world" speeds (on/off the freeway, at or above the speed limit with the flow of traffic) - I get about 5 miles/bar for the first 9 bars. The last two "flashing" bars seem to have less capacity - at least in my experience. I've seen as few as 2 miles per bar on the last two bars. But when the last bar disappears there is a little "reserve" capacity, which I haven't tested to the end. The longest I've ridden after the last bar disappeared was about three miles and that was at 35 MPH. This would make a "real world range" of about 52 miles for a ZF9.

Hypermiling is a different story - I've ridden slowly , in ECO mode, on back roads to increase the range to a maximum of about 70 miles.

This may not seem like much, but compared to just a few years ago there has been great progress.
For comparison - my '07 Vectrix had an advertised range of 48 miles/charge, but when I got it home I found myself stranded after just 30 miles of riding (I later updated from the 3kWh NiMH battery pack to an 8 kWh Li-ion pack).

I still think one of the biggest problems for EVs in general is the maximum advertised range (with a vehicle sitting on a dyno with no wind resistance running at 25 MPH) compared to "real world" travel which includes starts/stops/wind resistance, hills, etc.
Chelsea Sexton recommends calculating 70% of the advertised range on EVs to get a realistic idea of what to expect.
With the 2012 ZF9 advertised range of 114 miles/charge... 70% would be 80 miles. I've never seen that on my bike, but that's much closer to reality.

[godscountry]

I see you mentioned windshield as a means of increasing the range.I'm by no means a expert but I have seen some incredible results,with partial and full streamlining.Allert Jacobs streamlined Honda Innova 125 cc which you can Google,went from around 130 mpg to a a best of 221,he averages about 199 mpg with the streamlining[the top and bottom are open]He claims ,they're are no adverse handling problems in crosswinds as high as 40 mph.[Seems like design of the body,c and g, alignment,tires etc all have a effect on crosswind stability]The body and hardware added about 88 lbs and the only other mods are ,a manual clutch and sprocket change]So its faster and he almost doubled the range.He said he thinks it will go 1 liter per 100 Km / 235 mpg usa amazing in my book.So I see no reason,with proper streamlining ,your range at cruise couldn't come close to doubling.You could build your own if your equiped to do so,but I know Craig Vetter has a few do itself fairing kits and believe he modified a electric which came close to doubling its range?,but if you go to www.airtech-streamlining.com they have some really awesome looking fairings,some of the vintage one are incredible,complete with cut outs ,lights.But my point is ,your barking up the right tree,aerodynamics are the holy grail for motorcycles,period.I could talk for hours on why we don't see them as of 2014,why they were banned in the 1950's,but the truth is they work.I would hope all of you work together on a setup,body work that could increase the range,I really think you can come close to doubling the range and also to increase the top speed of these bikes.

[oobflyer]

Yes - I would love to double my range by making my bike more aerodynamic. This is what Terry Hershner did on his world-record-setting-cross-country trip, with the help of Craig Vetter.
I haven't looked into it, but I just might check it out.

[oobflyer]

go to www.airtech-streamlining.com they have some really awesome looking fairings

I called them - they are located near San Diego, CA. I spoke with a gentleman named, "Dutch" - he said they didn't have any fairings for the Zero bikes, nor any experience with them - darn.

I just read Terry Herschner's post on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifeoffthegrid - wish I had his range!