My 2018 Zero S, with a Power Tank, (16.6 KWh, nominal) charges at a rate of about 8% SOC per hour on a 120V outlet at around 11-12 amps (less when at a low SOC). Fully charging that battery pack from empty takes a good 12 hours. Does Energica measure their battery capacity the same way Zero does?
Yep, they both use KWH, list both max and usable when the specs are checked. The Energica shows the charge current as well as the wattage. But the Wattage is rather useless on AC charging because there is no decimal on my SS9. It just show 1 2 or 3 KWs during an AC charge so you see a 1.5 KW charge as a 1. On DC charging it is fine, as then it is showing perhaps 22, 23 or 24 KW. Only need the decimal on AC charging, which my SS9 does NOT have.
It makes more sense to look at miles gained per hour of charge. At 120 VAC, all the bikes should be close to the same amount of miles added per hour as all the 120 VAC chargers are around 1.5 KW DC output or so. 120 VAC x 18 amps=2,160 watts AC input. 90% efficiency makes 1,944 DC watts as the very max to charge with and most 120 VAC chargers (especially on a motorcycle where the charger has to be small) will want to stay well under that. To charge at the full 1.9 KW is little gain in charge time, but more heat and the OBCs would be even less reliable than they are now.
It's going to take longer to charge a larger KWH battery just as it takes longer to fill a larger gas tank. But when you look at miles added per KW of charge (or gallons of gasoline) it is the same as the smaller battery or gas tank.
You do not always have to charge or fill the tank to full. But larger gives you the choice.
But the way I look at it, if there are enough charge stations around, the larger battery is only more useful when you leave the house with a full charge. Otherwise, it's the same time to recharge on the road with a small battery as with a large one, just more stops necessary with the smaller, but about the same amount of total time is used charging either way.
I like to take a break about every hour anyway. So to me, the number of charge stations available is more important than the bike's range. Range should be less important as more charge stations are built away from the larger cities.
-Don- Reno, NV
