Zero XU
Lightweight electric motorcycle
Zero XU is a lightweight electric motorcycle introduced in 2011 by Zero Motorcycles in Scotts Valley, CA.
The XU uses the Zero X dirtbike frame, road tires and a lower suspension for street riding.
01Model history
The 2011 XU has spoked wheels (19" front / 16" rear) and road tires. A bay for a single removable battery module allows for quick swaps or charging away from parking. The XU uses a brushed DC motor and chain drive. The onboard 1 kW charger allows 90+% charging in 2 hours, and an optional quick charge accessory drops the charge time to 1 hour.
In 2012 the XU switched to belt drive and to a single-rotor brushless AC motor, reducing bike maintenance. Battery capacity increased by 50%, and both range and top speed improved. The onboard 1 kW charger allows 95% charging in 3.4 hours, and an optional quick charge accessory allows 95% charging in 1.7 hours.
In 2013 the XU switched to the more powerful 75-5 motor developed by Zero Motorcycles. A second removable battery bay was added, and the XU is now sold as the ZF2.8 and ZF5.7 models with 1 or 2 battery modules installed. When a single battery module is installed, a lockable storage container can be held in the empty bay. The 2013 XU is now capable of highway operation with a maximum speed of 77 mph (124 km/h). The onboard charger is reduced in power to 650W (95% charge in 3.7, 7.4 hours for ZF2.8 and ZF5.7 respectively), but an optional CHAdeMO inlet provides a 1-hour 95% charge for both models.
The XU was discontinued after the 2013 model year.
02Specifications
All specifications are manufacturer claimed.
| 2011 XU | 2012 XU | 2013 XU ZF2.8 | 2013 XU ZF5.7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Power | 4.8 kW (6.4 hp) | 14 hp (10 kW) | 27 hp (20 kW) | 28 hp (21 kW) |
| Max Torque | 22 lbf⋅ft (30 N⋅m) | 42 lbf⋅ft (57 N⋅m) | 42 lbf⋅ft (57 N⋅m) | |
| Top Speed | 51 mph (82 km/h) | 65 mph (105 km/h) | 77 mph (124 km/h) | 77 mph (124 km/h) |
| Weight | 218 lb (99 kg) | 221 lb (100 kg) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 267 lb (121 kg) |
| Capacity (nominal) | 1.7 kWh | 2.6 kWh | 2.5 kWh | 5.0 kWh |
| Range (EPA city) | 25 miles (40 km) | 42 miles (68 km) | 38 miles (61 km) | 76 miles (122 km) |
| Range (55 mph) | 21 miles (34 km) | 24 miles (39 km) | 48 miles (77 km) | |
| Range (70 mph) | 17 miles (27 km) | 35 miles (56 km) | ||
| MSRP | $7695 | $7695 | $7995 | $10490 |
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Zero XU”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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