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[Richard230]

It looks like ZEV is considering adding a motorcycle to their range of electric scooters.  I have heard of the company before, but I was surprised that their vehicles are made in the U.S. but there are no dealers here.  I wonder why?  Anyway, it is nice to see more production electric motorcycle development progress and within a decent price range:  http://cleanrider.com/zev-from-scooters-to-motorcycles/

[Erasmo]

Nice, very nice.

[MotoRyder]

ZEV scoots & now a moto, based in Morgantown, West Virginia, and yet no dealership network (or even individual shops operating w/o a network) in the USA.  Their choice of basing the company in the states must be influenced by benefits to the organizational structure (location where management and labor prefer to be located at), and possibly the creative components of the company (the design, engineering, and marketing of their products) being able to be staffed as needed, more than advantages in manufacturing capability within the USA.

Their product would need to be rock-solid to be considered by someone who is serious about transporting themselves with an all-electric motor vehicle (I'm assuming that people in Asia, Australia, & Europe would mainly use a scooter for transportation), without a support network of dealers/shops to keep them running.  So I wonder how ZEV scooters perform in terms of reliability in comparison to other electric scooter manufacturers ??

[f3flight]

Interesting topic!

Being an owner of one of their top models - 10kW LRC scooter, I would be happy to find opinions on ZEV but it does not look like there's a forum where I could find many ZEV users (or I have not searched well enough). My personal experience so far has been varying, I covered around 3000 miles on mine and there were quite a few issues with it, but I cannot really compare, even with a gasoline bike - this is my first transport. Despite lack of dealerships the manufacturer is ready to provide spare parts under warranty, but customs clearance became a problem for me (I live in Russia). Every time I ride it I'm quite happy as long as nothing is malfunctioning If anyone is interested in details I've made a post on this forum a few months ago - http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=4572 or PM me, I'd be happy to share my experience.

[Kocho]

Just like the Vectrix, ZEV folks seem to be here: http://visforvoltage.org/forums/electric-rides/motorcycles-and-large-scooters

I have no experience with ZEV (have had Vectrix VX-1 for a couple of years).

[f3flight]

Kocho, thanks for this info! 

[dhzehrbach]

The details on the first of the new ZEV Electric line of motorcycles is now on their web site at    http://www.zelectricvehicle.com/30.html 


In response to moto rider, ZEV does have dealers, and sells in 25 countries.  We just do not have many dealers in the USA where motorcycles outsell scooters.  Outside the USA, scooters outsell motorcycles by a radical margin.  As we have in the past mostly made scooters, our sales are mostly outside the USA, and mostly in those areas where either gas bike use is limited or banned or where electric is pushed or subsidized.  We shall see if the USA dealers show an interest in the the electric motorcycles.  In the short run, we follow a path similar to Tesla as most USA dealers seem to reject the idea of selling electric.  We do not believe in giving free motorcycles to dealers for a year to get them to carry the bikes as others have done, and prefer to fly the rider to us to test drive.http://

With respect to reliability, we are going into our 10th year.  All of the repair parts ever sent out in that time would fit in a 4 ft sq box.  No motor has ever failed.  No battery failure since 2011.  One BMS failure.   The reliability is how we get away with limited dealers and yet have sales in 25 countries.

[kingcharles]

Why not mount the charger opposite from the motor controller?
Looks like a nice symmetrical place for it.