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[Richard230]

I can tell you that air temperature can make a noticeable difference in battery performance.  My experience is that there is a big drop in range and apparent power when the ambient air temperature drops from 30 degrees to 10 degrees C

Between 30°C (86°F) and 10°C (50°F) what percentage of range would you say is lost?

BTW, my Zero DS goes to the shop this morning for its lack of range issue. But I lost at least  50% of my range since last summer.


-Don-  Reno, NV

My observation, based upon the SOC dash display and the distance that I travel regularly, is about 10%, if my calculations are correct.  My usual battery charge reads 72% in warm weather and 65% at 40 degrees F, after riding 37 miles, consisting of 1/3 65 mph travel and 2/3 at about 35 mph speeds.

[DonTom]

My observation, based upon the SOC dash display and the distance that I travel regularly, is about 10%, if my calculations are correct.  My usual battery charge reads 72% in warm weather and 65% at 40 degrees F, after riding 37 miles, consisting of 1/3 65 mph travel and 2/3 at about 35 mph speeds.

Here in Reno, where it gets a lot colder, I would expect about a 20% drop in range, but mine has been more than 50% on my DS compared to last summer.

Yesterday, I rode it from this house in Reno to my other house in Cold Springs Valley, about 18 miles NW of here. Only a mile on the freeway, the rest was city riding. I wasn't sure if I would make it, as I was down to 15 SOC  when I arrived. I make this trip often. Last summer, I always had ~75% left on this same trip. So 20% down or 60 SOC left  would be reasonable for now, certainly not 15 SOC.

It's now in the shop. If they find the battery meets spec, which I think is very unlikely, it will cost me $165.00. Either that or a new battery and no cost to me. If they don't have any 6.5 KWH batteries left, I assume I will get a 7.2 KWH which will be nice as than the bike will have 11% more range than when it was new.

-Don-   Reno, NV

[KuRi]

That's very weird Don, but please keep us updated because it is good to know how Zero responds to this problems...

Here where I live is very cold in Winter and I have driven my Zero with 2C-3ºC. I cannot say if the range is affected or not because I am still enjoying the first days of the bike and using a lot of power : D

[dittoalex]

My 2017 SR with 8k miles has lost at least 10% of its range, irrespective of temperature.  I've been keeping notes and hoping that maybe this summer it will restore, but I think I'll have to use the warranty.

[DonTom]

My 2017 SR with 8k miles has lost at least 10% of its range, irrespective of temperature.  I've been keeping notes and hoping that maybe this summer it will restore, but I think I'll have to use the warranty.

What size battery in your SR?  The smaller batteries are more likely to crap out sooner than the larger batteries.

Zero says the life expectancy  of the 6.5 KHW battery  is 165K miles. But my DS ZF 6.5 has less than 10K miles.

Zero says the life expectancy  in the same bike but with a 13 KWH battery is 331K miles.

Zero says the life expectancy  in the same bike but with 16.3  KWH of battery is 414,000 miles.

IOW, if the battery is twice the size with the same loads, it will last twice as long, not only on a charge, but also on how long it takes the battery to reach less than 80% of it's KWH capacity.

I would think Zero would change their warranties based on battery size, but they don't, as they expect even their smallest batteries to last five years as not many put on 165 K miles on a small Zero 6.6 in five years.

FWIW, my Zero SR has as much range as it ever did. but it has the 16.3 KWH worth of batteries. Also takes forever to charge, as it should.

-Don-  Reno, NV

[KuRi]

OMG, Today I decided to measure tire pressure, and they were at 60% of recommended values! (22psi). I just put 30/32 (I know recommended is 32/24) and now everything is smoother. Better acceleration and better handling...

Not sure if this was the problem or not, but I think the bike rides now as it should

[DonTom]

OMG, Today I decided to measure tire pressure, and they were at 60% of recommended values! (22psi). I just put 30/32 (I know recommended is 32/24) and now everything is smoother. Better acceleration and better handling...

Not sure if this was the problem or not, but I think the bike rides now as it should

I have a TPMS on all of my bikes.

For my Zeros, I use a Garmin GPS that is compatible with their  TPMS sensors.


But for just a TPMS only, they are very cheap these days and work very well:

The one here I use on several of my bikes, but they require 5 VDC USB power.


For 5 VDC USB power you can use one of these from your 12 V supply.

Both of the above use small external sensors where the battery can easily be replaced.

I won't ride a motorcycle without a TPMS.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[KuRi]

Yes, I was about to buy them a 10 days ago... but I can't remember why I completely forgot about it!!! Ordering in 3...2...1...

Do you know of any that also has ambient temp? Thanks!

[DonTom]

Yes, I was about to buy them a 10 days ago... but I can't remember why I completely forgot about it!!! Ordering in 3...2...1...

Do you know of any that also has ambient temp? Thanks!

The 5VDC has tire temp alarms. I don't know any that display  ambient temps.

-Don- (Charging Energica in Genoa, NV on a 240 VAC outlet)

[KuRi]

I have found this, but it is overpriced, and installation is not as easy:
https://tirewatch.com.au/wordpress/

It is very annoying that the Zero has an ambient temp sensor (you can find it in the logs) but it does not allow you to show the ambient temp on the dashboard. It is a value I find very useful because it is very cold here in Winter and helps me know when there can be ice on the road.

Thanks!

[Crissa]

Ambient temp is really handy for knowing when you're going to hit condensation, too, as well as knowing which thermal layers to add.

The SR/F has ambient temp on its dashboard.

-Crissa

[DonTom]

Ambient temp is really handy for knowing when you're going to hit condensation, too, as well as knowing which thermal layers to add.

The SR/F has ambient temp on its dashboard.

-Crissa

So does the Energica, and my Harley, and my TTSE. And my two Jeeps and Tesla M3.

And I think my Moto Guzzi, but not sure. It's got all types of stuff to display.


-Don-  Reno, NV

[KuRi]

Maybe I can get a TMPS with 4 sensors and use 2 of them for the wheels and leave 2 of them attached to the frame so they measure the ambient temperature? Will they work when not attached to the wheel?

Regards!

[dittoalex]

Maybe I can get a TMPS with 4 sensors and use 2 of them for the wheels and leave 2 of them attached to the frame so they measure the ambient temperature? Will they work when not attached to the wheel?

Regards!

Get this TPMS and permanent and screw-on Schrader tee valves here.  Been meaning to make a blog post, combining these with Ride-on tire sealant has saved me from 3 flats in the past month.

[DonTom]

Maybe I can get a TMPS with 4 sensors and use 2 of them for the wheels and leave 2 of them attached to the frame so they measure the ambient temperature? Will they work when not attached to the wheel?

Regards!

Nope. They need the tire psi to work. But see here.

-Don-  Auburn, CA