~ Auto Buzz ~: 2016 Zero Motorcycles – FIRST LOOK REVIEW Zero electric motorcycle lineup grows and goes farther.

The one electric motorcycle manufacturer really making a go of it so far is Zero. Changes for 2016 are not massive, but they do bring a few key improvements to extend range, increase performance, and cut charging time. There’s also a significant new competitor on the market for 2016: the Polaris-built Victory Empulse TT, a lightly massaged and rebadged Brammo. Cycle World’s experience testing has shown that Zero’s motorcycles generally have expressed the electric motorcycle at their best, at least in this early evolution of their existence. Here’s a quick look at what’s new in 2016.

NEW MOTOR Zero’s performance improvements have been based around efficiency and making the most of battery power and density. The “fundamentally redesigned” Z-Force Internal Permanent Magnet motor is still air-cooled but Zero claims it is more efficient yet again this year, with faster cooling and greater thermal capabilities.The last SR we tested produced 106 pound-feet of torque for an exhilarating ride, but it was pretty easy to trip the “heat” indicator that would eventually cut power if you used the twistgrip vigorously. The flashing light still comes on at the same 100-degrees Celsius temperature, but riders are far less likely to see power cut even through continued hard use, thanks to magnets that are integral to the motor shaft rather than bonded on. The new IPM motor is used in the Zero DSR, SR, FXS, S ZF13.0 and DS ZF13.0 models. RANGE EXPANSION How far you can ride on a charge remains the biggest challenge for electric vehicles. Zero this year has boosted energy density with more efficient cell chemistry. The S and SR models with the $2,674 2.9-kWh Power Tank extra battery and the 13.0-kWh main pack offer a claimed range of 197 miles in the city or 98 miles at 70 mph. Capacity per volume is increased a claimed 4 percent.

POWER TANK VS. CHARGE TANK How fast the battery can be charged is another electric-vehicle challenge. For 2016, Zero offers the $1,988 Charge Tank, a Level 2 charging system designed to work with the J1772 standard plug in use at public charging stations. Using this system, Zero’s 9.8-kWh packs can be charged to 95 percent in about two hours, and the 13.0 takes about 3 hours. It is a dealer-installed option that also can be fitted to 2015 models. Zero’s Charge Tank takes the space where the 2.8 kWh Power Tank extra battery goes, so you choose extended range or faster, more convenient charging. Charge time to 100 percent with the standard 1.3-kWh integrated charger for the 13.0 pack is 8.9 hours, and with the Power Tank added, it takes 10.8 hours.

ZERO DSR The 2016 Zero DSR is the highest performance dual-sport model Zero has built. It gets the more heat-resistant 67-horse/106 pound-feet motor and the 660-amp motor controller necessary to handle it, plus the ZF13.0 battery pack.

ZERO FXS & FX We had crazy fun with the Zero FX “urban dual sport.” It weighs less thanks to its smaller battery pack, but it packed a ton of torque, making it a total wheelie machine and very quick to turn and accelerate. The FX returns with ZF3.3 ($8,495) pack or ZF6.5 ($10,990). The FXS takes this package in a supermoto direction with sporty 17-inch cast wheels shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires. Claimed torque is 70 pound-feet and claimed weight is less than 300 lb. Prices are the same as for the FX. Zero says the battery packs allow for 14 percent more power storage and offer the highest energy density in an electric vehicle. There are two battery modules that can be swapped quickly and easily easily for fully charged batteries. PRICE REDUCTIONS The final barrier to electric ownership has been price. The 2016 Zero S ZF9.8 and DS ZF9.8 start at $10,995. The S and DS with ZF13.0 are $13,995 and the SR and DSR are $15,995. AND MORE Belt final drive, no clutch, and a single gear make these Zeros the quietest, easiest to ride street-going electrics we have tested. A Zero smartphone app makes for quick and easy powertrain management, including the settings for the regenerative brakes. Motor and battery performance got a major boost a few years ago, followed up with the improvements again for 2016. And Zero keeps pushing ahead with better quality components like Pirelli tires, improved brakes, and the Showa suspension introduced last year.