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Messages - loggamatt

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1
Energica / SS9 lockable storage?
« on: September 21, 2020, 10:03:10 PM »
I’m thinking about the SS9+ as a possible touring machine. The Zero SR/S probably turned my head first, but it looks like for the same price the Energica has a bigger battery and faster charging. Hard to ignore that really!

But where the Zero probably does still have a leg up for touring is that it has a lockable storage option, as well as some storage under the ‘tank’.

Has anyone added lockable storage to an SS9? I would have thought, at a minimum, you’d need somewhere to keep a type 2 cable safe for using on untethered charging posts. You wouldn’t want to have to carry one of those around with you all day in a backpack while you’re sightseeing, etc.

2
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Re: Why no CCS?
« on: September 21, 2020, 03:40:24 PM »
Looking at Zap-Map for the UK (fairly unscientifically, just scrolling around the map for different areas of the country), it looks like there are a fair number of Type 2 chargers that could charge up to 12kW here. But it also seems that they are usually either older units, or expensive units, or both.

CCS is better catered for. As is 7kW Type 2.

7kW Type 2 can also often be found at a far cheaper rate than CCS, so that is one other thing to factor in here. I could charge an Energica in 20-30mins on CCS, or I could charge a Zero in 2 hours (on a 7kW charger) but save enough money on the charge cost to pay for the coffee I drink while waiting 2 hours!

I need to give it some thought really, and test ride one of them when I get a chance. I’d be using it as an all-year commuter as well as for touring, so the belt drive on the Zero REALLY appeals to me!

Maybe I would just have to re-evaluate my approach to motorcycle touring. Right now, I have a big, comfortable touring bike and can happily do 500 miles or more in a day. That said, those big mileage days tend to be at the start or end of a trip, getting to or back from the area I want to visit/ride in. Once I’m in the area I want to visit, it’s more like 200 mile days with plenty of stops to see things anyway. So maybe if I went the Zero route, I’d have to take an extra day or so at the start and end of my trips for the journey to and from the destination area.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, you could do a 200 mile day on a Zero, but a 300 mile day on an Energica (due to faster charging). The other thing to factor in is whether I would actually want to do a 300 mile day on that style of bike anyway? Currently I would do 300 miles easily, but my bike has a neutral, upright position and a wide, comfy seat. I have a bad back, and I reckon I’d be feeling ready to rest after 200 miles on a leaned-forward sports-tourer anyway.

So, a lot to weigh up! But I am maybe leaning back towards the Zero on paper at least the more I consider the difference in the real world between these bikes.

3
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Re: Why no CCS?
« on: September 20, 2020, 08:21:49 PM »
Wow... thanks guys! This is really informative and useful.

So I probably should have said that I live in the UK, which may bias me away from type 2 to CCS. I actually think (as a car EV owner) that it is starting to become easier to find CCS while on a journey here than it is to find type 2. Type 2 chargers tend to be in public car parks (parking lots), hotels, places where people expect you to leave your vehicle charging for a long time. Whereas CCS will more often be in locations where you’d just stop off quickly, like restaurants or motorway rest areas. Therefore, I think CCS will usually be the more convenient option when on a long trip.

I also think that trend is going to continue because new CCS infrastructure is going in all the time here. So even if a Zero bike was just as easy to charge now, would it still be in another 5 years?

I take your point that, in reality, charging times wouldn’t be vastly different anyway up to 80%, but I just think CCS future-proofs you more for charger availability.

I think this probably points me in the direction of Energica. A shame though, as I do admit that the SRS looks bloody gorgeous, and having just looked up the SHAD luggage for it that does seem a nice option. I also would much rather have a belt drive than a chain drive as winter riding in the UK eats chains for breakfast because of all the road salt.

4
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Re: Why no CCS?
« on: September 20, 2020, 05:35:26 PM »
Quote from: TEV on September 20, 2020, 05:27:55 PM
https://chargedevs.com/features/zero-motorcycles-was-forced-to-abandon-a-dc-fast-charging-option-in-2013-better-interoperability-testing-is-needed/

Thanks! I'd seen that article, but the rapid charging world has moved on a bit from 2013, and competitors like Energica and Harley-Davidson have CCS charging on their bikes, so it must be possible now. Maybe Zero were just so burned by their last attempt that they're reluctant to try again? If so, I can see them being left behind by the competitors.

If Energica made a more touring-friendly version of the EsseEsse 9+, I would buy that. It's just a shame that the only manufacturer who has a touring-friendly electric motorcycle doesn't equip it with a touring-friendly charging type.

5
Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Why no CCS?
« on: September 20, 2020, 03:52:07 PM »
New forum member - motorcyclist and electric car owner. I'm considering getting rid of my car as I don't really need two vehicles, and would love to trade my ICE bike in for an electric bike at the same time, but I like touring. I've been trying to convince myself that touring is realistic on an electric bike, but I think they're maybe just not there yet for that.

The closest thing I can see to an electric touring bike is the Zero DSR Black Forest Edition. Though it appears not to have cruise control, which is a big let down on a touring bike.

But the deal breaker is the lack of CCS rapid charging. A 60-70 mile motorway/highway range wouldn't bother me too much if I could combine a leg stretch with a 20-minute recharge on a rapid charger, but a 2-3 hour break on a type 2 charger multiple times per day just isn't realistic for long-distance touring.

I suspect I'm not the only person to have asked this here, but to save me trawling back through historic posts, does anyone have any information on whether Zero are working on including CCS charging on their bikes, and on the DSR in particular? Also, if there are any rumours about general upgrades to the DSR like cruise control?

Thanks!!

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