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[Porsche944]

I picked up a 2013 zero fx last week. The bike was advertised to be in excellent condition. Test rode in the neighborhood and everything seemed fine. When I got on the highway after the transaction, it wouldn't go beyond 60 mph. I figured it may have been limited through the app which I had not yet set up. Rode the 20 miles to from Milpitas to Livermore when the bike died. It gradually became slower over the course of the ride. I pushed it the last mile of the trek to my house and it wouldn't take a charge. I tried a million outlets and cleaning battery contacts after seeing it had a "contactor" error. The bike still would not charge. I had a buddy help me get it to the service center in Concord where they told me the batteries were toast. $6k bill after buying an "excellent condition" bike. No support from Zero and I haven't gotten to ride the thing anywhere.

As a young tech start-up they should understand customer satisfaction is key to getting off the ground. When Tesla vehicles attracted a lot of skepticism early on regarding reliability, they offered a new 8 year unlimited mileage powertrain warranty that they retroactively applied to every Model S that had ever been produced. That is what makes them successful. Very disappointed in this company.

[giacomo]

Where did you buy the bike from? If it is from a dealer I would talk to them, I think you have also the right to sue them. If it is from a private party.... I don't think Zero has anything to. do with it....

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[StraydogEOMFD]

As much as it sucks and I feel for you, I don't think comparing Zero to Tesla is anywhere close to even in any way other than they both make electric vehicles.  Are there any sort of lemon laws that would apply to a private purchase? (which is what it sounds like to me)  Again, sorry to hear, definitely sucks major ass to say the least.

[Kocho]

Did you talk to the seller? Did you test-charge it at the point of sale to confirm it can actually charge? If not, and there is no good return policy, I'm not sure there is that much you can do to get your money back, since technically you could have caused the damage by improper use after you bought it and it would be hard to prove otherwise.

If you rode it for 20 miles, that means there was some charge in the batteries when you bought it, so the batteries couldn't have been completely toast at that point. Not being able to go over 60mph indicates (most likely) the batteries were not fully charged to begin with, or worse, they had cells out of balance and the BMS was trying to protect them.

Question to more knowledgeable folks here - does the '13 FX use the round cells or the pouches, and is there per cell BMS monitoring (or per group of cells)? Granted, if the previous owner did not charge it recently and if there were a cell or two that were too low, my guess is the BMS might not have been able to protect them when you discharged it to "empty". Especially, if you turned it off, waited a bit, then turned it on again to roll a few hundred feet until it died again and so on, I suspect the BMS might have not done its job well and allowed battery damage.

Lastly, weren't the '13 subject to some battery recall? Or was it some '12 models?

[Fred]

Doesn't Zero have a 5 year 80% battery capacity warranty? At least that's what I think I'm getting on my new Zero.

If the don't stand by that then what's the point having it. If Zero get out of it by saying the battery has been mistreated, then you've got backup in any come back against the seller.

[Justin Andrews]

I think the 13's used the non-farasis pouch cells.

Doesn't Zero have a 5 year 80% battery capacity warranty?

Yes and they applied it to the 2013's as well, from what I recall they replaced some 2013 Monoliths free(?) of charge.
Porsche944 talk to the dealer you bought the bike off, or if a private sale, try talking to a Zero Dealer (not Zero directly) as the FX's have modular batteries (aka a brick) you might have some joy there.

Also, daft idea, try taking out the brick , and refitting it. Could just be a bad connection.

I don't know the FX very well, but I seem to recall there was someway to offline charge the bricks when they were out of the bike. Not sure, I've only owned bikes with 4 brick monoliths.

Finally bear in Mind Tesla operates deliberately operates outside the Dealer model, so is set up to talk to customers. Zero uses the Dealership model, so are not really set up to deal with customers directly, though I have talked to them for technical help in the past, but I had the chance to actually meet and make a contact of one of their employees at the time which helped.

[Justin Andrews]

Off board charging an FX
You need to beg/borrow/buy one of these ( or possibly an Elcon )

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=194

and one of these

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=186&zenid=9qle5okef15qm9h56dms175r53

or you can buy one of these if your battery is dead and not covered by any warranty.

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=190&zenid=9qle5okef15qm9h56dms175r53

[ATM]

Lastly, weren't the '13 subject to some battery recall? Or was it some '12 models?

Yes some 2013 FX/MX/XU were subject to a battery recall.  It's definitely worth investigating whether your FX is eligible. 

[odedmaz]

If its a 2013 bike, than the battery is still covered under 5 year warrenty.
The warrenty is for the battery, not for the owner. 2nd hand owners still get warrenty.

Just contact zero with battery serial number.

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[ATM]

2013 FX/XU have a 2 year warranty.

[odedmaz]

2013 FX/XU have a 2 year warranty.

Ouch, did not know that

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