Looks nice. Zero has done a
great job with the intro videos this year, big step up from past years. Worth watching each if you haven't.
Zero FX:
Zero DS | DSR:
Zero FXS:
Zero S | SR:
Zero's
media center has some additional highlights.
- We've discussed the charge tank and the 31 Ah cells already.
- Zero also reduced the front pulley size by 10% on the ZF7.2 bikes, increasing wheel torque. Max RPM was increased to keep the same top speed.
- Zero claims to have improved highway acceleration for the ZF13 bikes by 30%. Interesting..
Other thoughts:
- This is the first year Zero has doubled capacity since the first "big" battery bike, 2012's ZF9. Zero no longer lists nominal capacity but max capacity now tops out at 18 kWh on the Power Tank SR. Range in mixed riding has improved by 138%, even better than capacity, due to improved high speed efficiency.
- This is also the first year cell improvements have allowed the standard monolith to have more capacity than 2014's Power Tank bike. 26% improvement in 4 years.
- Comparing the smallest battery 2018 S ZF7.2 to the biggest battery 2012 S ZF9 .. about the same mixed riding range, lighter, much cheaper, charges almost twice as fast, much better equipment and quality. The future's bright!
- Zero continues their tradition of dumping last year's parts into unloved bikes. In past years it was the 2015 FX with the old cells and the 2016 FX and S ZF9.4 with the non-IPM motors, and the 2017 S ZF13 with the narrow belt. This year it's the 2018 S ZF13 with the old 29 Ah battery cells. Guess they have a stock to run through, though see firepower's post above about the Euro bikes all having the 31 Ah cells. Maybe look for a "2018 S bikes now shipping with ZF14.4 packs" announcement in summer?
- SR and DSR see a $500 price bump. Unfortunate. I wonder if this year the very regular "$1000 to $1500 off" games will become permanent.
- I'm really curious what Zero's electrical engineering staff is doing. They must be bored out of their minds. Zero has become a component integrator, not a technology leader. Zero custom bits are frame, battery, motor, BMS?
I would seriously consider trading my 15 FX for a 7.2 S, if they're using better quality chargers. Maybe right before the 19s come out.
No indication that the stock chargers have changed.
Zero S & DS is ZF7.2 and ZF13 battey for US but shows ZF7.2 and ZF14.4 for Europe etc
Zero only using new cells in 7.2 and selling 2017 ZF13 model as a 2018 ?
Would not be happy buying ZF13 when i know it should be ZF14.4
Good catch on the Euro S!
I don't think Zero is selling old 2017 models - the VIN on the frame would have to change, and the improved highway performance might be more than just a software change - but they probably are running through a supply of the 29 Ah cells.
Specs for highway for 2018 models is @ 70mph (113 km/h). For 2017 the specs were @ 55mph. This makes comparison between last and previous years with this year's model a bit problematical.
There's a "full specs" button you can tap above the specs list. 2018 does not show the 55 mph range by default, but both 2017 and 2018 specs list both ranges.
Author
Topic: Zero has released 2018 models. (Read 4779 times)