But in these days of escalating gas prices and concerns about global warming, consumers are looking for ways to get around that are both economical and environmentally conscious.
Zero Motorcycles may fit the bill for many commuters. The X can travel 40 miles on a single charge and fully recharge in two hours. Its 2-kilowatt-hour capacity makes it the equivalent of a 500-mpg vehicle. It costs 1 cent a mile to operate.
Though the X was intended for off-road use, Zero plans to introduce a supermoto-style street bike in January with a 41% larger battery pack that will last 60 miles and reach a top speed of 65 mph. A sport bike should be ready in 2010, Saiki said.
I spent a morning on board the Zero X and was impressed with pretty much everything about it, not only from a green or performance perspective, but also its forward focus on emerging technologies and its versatility.
Almost all motorcycles on the market use manual transmissions, but the X is automatic. The rear brake is operated by hand, like a bicycle, instead of by foot. The combination means riders don't need to coordinate as many extremities to operate the motorcycle smoothly.
There are two toggle switches on the X that allow riders to customize it to match their intentions. One allows them to select between "sport" and "easy" modes, which affects how aggressively the power kicks in when twisting the throttle.
The other toggle allows riders to select between "low power," which restrains the speed to 30 mph to allow riders in some states to travel in the bicycle lane, and "high power," allowing it to get up to its full potential of 57 mph.
The icing on this already fabulous cake is the cost.
The $7,450 price tag is about $3,000 more than a comparable gas-powered model, but much less than the $11,000 Vectrix.
Despite the cost, which Saiki expects to come down in the years ahead, the Zero X may quickly pay for itself if gas prices continue to empty wallets.
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sue.carpenter@latimes.com
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
2008 Zero X
Base price: $7,450 (plus $300 for shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.)
Powertrain: Brushed DC permanent magnet motor; landfill-approved, 58-volt lithium ion battery pack; 2-kilowatt-hour capacity; automatic transmission
Maximum horsepower: 20
Maximum range: 40 miles
Maximum speed: 57 mph
Recharge time: Two hours
Weight: 140 pounds
Seat height: 36-37 inches
Source: Los Angeles Times
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On latimes.com
Throttle Jockey
The inventor discusses his unique battery on video at latimes.com/ZeroX
