Posted by
BLOGASSAULT on Friday, February 20, 2009 7:20:21 PM
Need a new dirt bike, but getting in trouble with the neighbors for the noise. Is the old 2-stroke choking you top death? Well why not try out
the new Zero X electric dirt bike.
So how does the Zero X compare to an old-timey gasoline-powered bike? A gas motor is only about 25% efficient, the Zero X's motor, with its single moving part, is about 95%. The battery itself puts out 300 watts amps, enough to vaporize a wrench if it's electrocuted. When asked about the whole electricity-isn't-really-green issue, CEO Gene Banman said, "Yes, burning coal to charge an electric motorcycle creates a carbon footprint, but burning gasoline is much more inefficient. The Coal/Electric motorcycle is 5x better than gasoline. The American grid with its natural gas, hydro and nuclear makes the electric motorcycle 8x better. Then as green energy sources come on line, the electric motorcycle becomes a true zero carbon solution."
But can you really eat the batteries? Founder and CTO Neal Saiki explains, "The best technology is coming out of Canada, and Canada has clean facilities. These are 100 percent non-toxic batteries. You can cut them open and eat them. They're just a salt that is tightly bound. Because it's a salt inside these they're landfill approved in the United States and Europe."
It kicks out about 23hp and 50 ft.lbs of torgue. Not to bad for an all electric ride. The all aluminum thin walled frame may present a problem with getting air, but for trail riding it would probably be okay...at least right up untill the battery ran-down, then it's a long walk back. One good thing is, if you get stuck way out there and wind up lost, you won't starve to death.