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Topics - evtricity

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Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Zero S 2014 progressive loss of power - anyone seen this problem?

« on: September 14, 2017, 09:09:13 AM »

A friend of mine in Australia has a 2014 Zero S 8.5 with a problem that started a couple of months ago.

"The power output at the rear wheel slowly decreased over the period of a few rides until now it has insufficient power even to start as fast as a bicycle. When I open the throttle fully, I can easily stop it moving at all just by hand, and only about 1 bar of power appears on the dash."

The issue seems to be unrelated to the battery as the bike was able to be readily charged after the bike was ridden and the state of charge had no effect on the problem.

Has anyone seen similar behaviour or suggest a potential cause. The bike has been at the local dealer in Sydney for over a month but the owner has been told they are not getting support from Zero to resolve the issue. Other Zero owners are also being told by that dealer that Zero are not providing support for the recent battery related firmware upgrades.

I have a spare throttle that we'll try to use to see if that helps.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Compact lightweight up to 8kW fast charger for under USD1600 delivered

« on: April 05, 2017, 06:23:37 AM »

Update as of 5th October - after a delay in receipt of the custom charger cases, the final double chargers will be shipping from Tuesday 10th October. There are 6 new double chargers remaining for purchase at http://evtricity.com.au/shop and these will be the final EVtricity chargers that will be offered in 2017. We will continue to provide support to all of our charger owners and truly appreciate the emails and pictures about how you've been able to enjoy longer trips on your Zeros. We've been warmly supported by almost everyone in the Zero community we've engaged with in our endeavour to provide lower cost fast charging and have shipped almost sixty 3.3-8.8kW chargers worldwide in just 5 months. A sincere thank you to all the EVtricity charger owners.

On a personal note I have been splitting my time between the EVtricity Zero chargers and a new electricity comparison and energy saving service for Australian households at https://wattever.com.au. I'll be devoting the majority of my working time to wattever.com.au over the next few months while continuing to provide support to EVtricity charger owners in 2017 and 2018. I'm also hoping to ride my SR a little more and enjoy spring and summer in Australia.

In terms of future charging solutions, we have some new Zero fast charging options - in addition to what we have provided in 2017 - that we will be evaluating over coming months. In 2018, we'll assess whether there is an opportunity to again provide fast charging options for Zero motorcycles.

Update as of 1st August - we have sold out of our single chargers and are not planning to make any more at this time. We have 8 double chargers that will be shipping in September. The double chargers provide up to 8kW DC charging, can be configured at lower power levels and also run at half power (i.e. 3-4kW) if you only have access to limited power.

Update as of 24th July 2017 - thank you to everyone who has purchased or shown interest in our chargers. We have now delivered close to 300kW of double and single chargers in the last two months across the USA, Europe and Australia. We're very pleased to have been able to offer Zero owners lower cost fast charging for those whose needs match the capabilities of our products.

Due to the lower demand for the single chargers and increase in cost of the rectifiers we use as the basis for these charging kits, we will only be offering the double chargers once the remaining single chargers are sold out (there are three left as of 24th July). The price of the double chargers will increase from AUD1690 to AUD1990. I've updated the thread title to recognise this as well as the Aussie dollar's increasing strength against the US dollar in recent weeks. All pricing will remain in AUD so please check the conversion for your currency. Pricing includes Express International delivery and tracking but does not include any local import duties or sales tax/VAT. We have secured supply of more rectifiers so that the next batch of double chargers will be available in September. Pre-orders are welcome as are questions to support@evtricity.com.au. We have also modified the charger power on our online shop and in this thread title to reflect the full capabilities of the chargers i.e. they are 4kW DC (4.4kW AC) and 8kW DC (8.8kW AC) for the single and double charger respectively. We are happy to configure lower current settings (and corresponding power output) if you need to be able to use the chargers on 15A or 16A circuits.

Update as at 9th June 2017 - worldwide production deliveries of our 6.6+kW and 3.3+kW charging kits are commencing Tuesday 13th June. We expect to send all pre-orders on that date and any orders received going forward will be configured and shipped within 3 business days where items are in stock. Product details and stock levels are shown on our site at http://evtricity.com.au/shop

Update as at 11th May 2017 - we are now offering pre-ordering of 3.3+kW and 6.6+kw fast chargers on our web site at http://evtricity.com.au/shop. Detailed products specifications, configuration options and accessories are all available for your review - even the User Manual! Deliveries of final production units is to commence in June subject to testing in Europe and the USA underway in May.

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Running a quick poll to confirm what interest there is for compact, low cost fast chargers for your Zero

Over recent months we've been developing and testing chargers with Zero riders around Sydney, Australia using high efficiency (96%+) data centre rectifiers. The chargers utilise a pair of rectifiers and deliver up to 4kW DC and are packaged in a rugged, aluminium case.

Here are some basic specs on the chargers:

Single charger:
Standard AC input socket = IEC C20
Standard AC current = 15A
AC input voltage = 85-300V
Standard DC output = 3.3kW - 15A @ 220v
Maximum DC output = 4kW (on request)
Dimensions = 29cm x 18cm x 5cm
Weight = 3kg
Charging time from empty with onboard (useable 10kWh capacity) = ~ 2 hours
Single DC fast charger cable included
BYO IEC C19 15A+ cable for your country

Double charger:
Two chargers in one case with separate AC input and DC output
Standard AC input socket = 2 x IEC C20
Standard AC current = 2 x 15A
AC input voltage = 85-300V
Standard DC output = 6.6kW - 30A @ 220v
Maximum DC output = 8kW (on request)
Dimensions = 29cm x 18cm x 10cm
Weight = 6kg
Charging time from empty with onboard (useable 10kWh capacity) = <1.5 hours
Double DC fast charger cable included
BYO 2 x IEC C19 15A+ cable for your country

Optional J1772 32A adaptor can be made supplied to allow you to use these chargers at J1772 stations. Cost = <USD200.

For these chargers, the default power will be set to 15A AC per single charger - that's 3300W @ 220v or 3600W @ 240v. This allows them to be used on common 15A sockets and paired up at 30A charging stations (double charger or two single chargers). Their maximum AC power draw can be pushed to ~4400 watts for a single charger if desired. The double charger is double these outputs.

Important Note: these chargers are fan cooled and are not water or dust/dirt proof. They need to be protected from the elements whether on the bike (weather proof panniers, top box or backpack) or off (undercover when wet and away from mud, sand etc).

If you want a charger that you can leave exposed to the elements this is not the charger for you.

Thanks for reading - please fill out the poll above and if you have any questions please post them here.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Onboard charger wiring for 2014 and 2015+

« on: August 30, 2016, 06:57:09 AM »

I'm working on a new charger solution for my 2014 SR and looking to understand the wires used by the onboard charger to chat to the MBB.

On the 2014 model there are only three wires, however in a post by Farfle it shows 7 or 8 wires. Does anyone know how these wires are used by the MBB to manage charging. I'm assuming for the 2015 a more sophisticated CAN control was implemented for the chargers and I'd like to understand that so the charger I create can work for later model bikes too.

Thanks

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Brembo rear brake upgrade

« on: May 01, 2016, 04:19:32 AM »

I've struggled to get good performance with the J Juan rear brake on my 2014 SR. The brake wasn't progressive and even with a left hand brake lever it was hard to control brake pressure between gentle slowing to locking up the rear.

I was looking at brake pad catalogs and stumbled across the fact that many of our Zeros use the same rear pad as that available on the BMW S1000RR. I figured that bike would have a capable rear brake and so looked out for one to try on my 2014 SR.

Fortunately I picked up a new one cheap on eBay including bracket and then went about fitting it to my SR. The S1000RR uses a 220mm disk rotor versus the 240mm used on many of the Zeros. I then went in search of a 220mm rotor that would fit the 108mm 4 bolt pattern of our Zeros. Lo and behold I found the Ducati 748/916/996 around the year 2000 use the same bolt pattern. So I acquired one of those to complete the package. I understand some Zero 2013 models also use a 220mm rear rotor so that would have worked as well.

When the bracket arrived it needed to be machine down on the outside (too wdie) and the axle hole filled with a spacer/ring to match the smaller axle of the Zero. With some additional machining of the bracket to fit the Zero's swingarm lug slot and the creation of a slightly wider wheel spacer to go up against the rear wheel bearing, the caliper and bracket fitted nicely.

So how does it work?

Well it is a much more progressive brake that the J Juan with better feel. I matched the 15mm piston of the BMW caliper with a 5/8" clutch lever which gives a good combo of leverage and travel (the J Juan caliper is 13mm). Worth noting that the brake doesn't lock as easily as the J Juan (requires more lever pressure) using the stock Brembo pads (I previously used EBC's HH road/track pads).

All in all, I'm very happy with the upgrade. Total cost about AUD250-300 for parts and modifying the brake bracket.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Tires for your Zero

« on: April 27, 2016, 12:38:56 PM »

I wanted to gather a list of tires people have used on their Zero's.

I've tried quite a few and thought it would be good to share specs and how people have worked within the constraints of the rim widths and belt drive.

To kick it off here are the tires I've tried with some measured widths and circumferences:

Front (17 x 3.0" wheel)
Bridgestone RS10 110/70 17 : width = 109mm, circ = 1835mm
Dunlop Alpha 13 110/70 17 : width = 107mm
IRC Road Winner 110/70 17 (stock)
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II 110/70 17
Pirelli Diablo Superbike 100/70 17 (slick) : width = 97mm, circ = 1805mm
Pirelli Supercorsa SC1 110/70 17 : width = 106mm
Sava MC50 Racer 110/70 17

Rear (17 x 3.5" wheel)
Bridgestone RS10 140/70 17 : width = 140mm, circ = 1930mm
Dunlop Alpha 13 140/70 17 : width = 135mm, circ = 1950mm
IRC Road Winner 140/70 17 (stock)
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II 140/70 17
Pirelli Diablo Superbike 125/70 17 (slick) : width = 121mm, circ = 1870mm
Pirelli Supercorsa SC2 140/70 17 : width = 135mm, circ = 1955mm

This is from a 2014 SR - other years and FX/DS etc model families welcome too. If you want to write a review or recommendation for any of the tires feel free.

If you've used different width wheels would love to understand how tires fit on wider (or narrower) wheels eg. 3.5" front or 4.25" rear.

Thanks

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / 2014 S/SR rear shock length

« on: February 26, 2016, 05:59:41 AM »

Does anyone know the length of the stock Fastace BDA58RC shock on the 2014 SR/S.

I'm looking at a replacement shock and the new Yamaha R3 uses a 277mm shock and there are some good aftermarket options for that shock (Ohlins, Mupo, JRI).

Thanks,
David

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Sunny Boy Storage 2.5 - an inverter/charger for our Zero's

« on: February 11, 2016, 11:18:25 AM »

SMA have recently announced that they will be bringing a high voltage inverter/charger to market in March 2016 (data sheet attached).

Rather than support the 48V pseudo-standard for residential battery storage their new unit will support the Tesla Powerwall and other HV lithium batteries with voltages between 100-500v.

The units will talk to the battery via CANBUS. This opens the opportunity to using our Zero's 102v nominal 116v max packs in a home energy storage system.

The units will be capable of single and three phase configurations and will be able to provide a battery backup capability (for grid outages) later in 2016. With most residential batteries just under $1,000kWh using your own Zero to power your home during grid outages can be done a lot cheaper than buying/installing a Tesla Powerwall, LG Chem or other storage systems and their associated battery inverters. For those with solar there's also the option to charge your Zero during the day and use it's energy to power the house at night (recognising that will use some of the 3,000 cycles on your Zero before it's capacity is reduced to 80%).

Buy Sell Trade / Wanted - pair of Zero 2014 SR/S wheels - new or used

« on: February 05, 2016, 09:50:29 AM »

I'm after a spare pair of wheels for my 2014 SR so I can easily swap between track (wet/slick) and road tyres. Can be new or used.

I'm in Australia. If you're in the US shipping can ship via Oregon to make it simpler for you (and cheaper for me).

Thanks,
David

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Why is trail measurement on Zero bikes so low?

« on: January 25, 2016, 06:00:10 PM »

I've always been intrigued by how low the trail figures are on Zero bikes - 80mm on the SR/DSR/S/DS with a relatively common 24 degrees of rake (steering angle).

With most sports bikes running around 95mm of trail I would expect the Zeros to be very twitchy at only 80mm but I don't find that when riding my SR. I suspect that the lower centre of gravity of the Zeros (versus gas bikes) contributes to an increased stability and less willingness to turn so perhaps the shorter trail has been chosen to counterbalance that.

What do you think about the low trail figure - does it make the Zeros twitchy compared to sport bikes you've ridden?

While the Zeros are relatively light I've always found my SR still needs a good push (countersteer) to get it really leaned over i.e. more than 40 degrees.

Does the low centre of gravity change its dynamics with respect to cornering e.g. harder to lean over?

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / What is your Zero's Cell Balance?

« on: December 02, 2015, 08:13:41 AM »

Was interested to know what cell balance figures people have when they check the Zero App (Battery 2 tab).

My 2014 SR 11.4kWh battery started out quite low (<10mV) but since I exclusively use 2 x 2kW fast chargers (to take the voltage to 116V) I've found that the cell balance now hovers between 100-137mV which seems too high. I'm tempted to change the chargers to temporarily stop at a lower voltage e.g. 114V, and set a lower current to give the BMS more time to self-balance and get the figure down at least under 50mV again.

Thanks

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Options for narrower/slick tyres for racing

« on: November 27, 2015, 04:45:53 AM »

I've been racing my SR for a while and have been thinking about running a set of Pirelli Diablo slick tyres. I currently run Dunlop Alpha 13 in 110 F and 140 R.

Unfortunately there seems to be no manufacturer who makes slick tyres in the stock sizes - 110 front and 140 rear.

Pirelli produce a 100 70 17 front and 125 70 17 rear which would fit well on the Zero's relatively narrow 3" and 3.5" rims. This might put more wear on the rear tyre with the SR's high torque but I believe the improved handling (easier turn in) would be worth it. I've read of Ninja 250/300 riders using them and their bike weights are comparable to the Zero.

Has anyone run slicks on their Zero or have run narrower slicks on a gas bike? Any other tyre options I could consider?

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Zero in Australia clearing 2014 DS model

« on: November 17, 2015, 11:18:41 AM »

Received an email from Zero Australia offering what looks like 2014 model DS bikes for AUD14,500 if any Aussies are interested. From memory these bikes RRP was AUD19,990.

They are available from any of the Australian dealers including the two new Procycles dealers in Sydney.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / Racing a Zero SR - new web site for EVtricity

« on: November 08, 2015, 12:58:08 PM »

Some of you may be aware that I race a 2014 Zero SR on the track in the Australian electric Formula Xtreme Challenge. I've created a web site with details about the Zero customisations, race reports and photos.

It's located at http://evtricity.com.au. If there's other information about the SR or racing you're interested in let me know.

Buy Sell Trade / Apex 4" Riser Clip-on Set suits Zero motorcycle with 50mm forks & 7/8" Handlebar

« on: October 10, 2015, 04:23:56 PM »

I'm selling a pair of Apex 4" Riser 50mm Clip-ons to suit 7/8" Handlebar diameter. These are a great set of adjustable risers that allow you to get to customise your riding position much more than you can with the stock Zero bars. Suits motorbikes with 50mm outer fork diameter like the 2014 Zero S/DS/SR etc

I have the clip-ons listed on eBay at http://www.ebay.com/itm/151843812092 if you're interested.

Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ / TC (Elcon) Canbus Fast Charger setup, parts & costs

« on: May 27, 2015, 06:38:41 PM »

My TC chargers finally arrived and I have been able to get them working well.

Here are the details of the setup, parts and approximate costs.

2 x TC Max 130V 18A chargers with CANBUS support
2 x Batrium Umon/Sican/Cmon to configure, enable and monitor the chargers
1 x Anderson SBS75X connector with ancillary pin and 100k resistor to B+ to enable charging while ignition is off
1 x Anderson SBS50 connector (taken from the onboard charger so I don't need to buy a Y cable to get over 4kW charge)
1 x 12V DC supply to feed the Batrium Sican (will probably run this off the bike's 12v accessory circuit in time)

I have set the chargers to a max of 116V so they push a maximum of 116V x 18A = 2,088 watts. With some losses through to heat the units consume about 2300 watts which is perfect as I'm plugging them into an Australian 10A 240v (2400W) circuit. As the Batrium Sicans allow you to adjust the charge current you could potentially use a higher capacity charger and lower the current just enough to keep under the socket/circuit rating you are using. The TC chargers come with an IEC 14 male plug and a separate cable with IEC13 female on one end and whatever your countries standard plug is on the other - in my case a 3 flat pin 240V 10A plug.

Setting up the charge parameters in the Batriums is pretty straight forward and the instructions well documented.

The only tricky thing I found was getting the charger connected to the fast charge port and getting it to close the contactor while the bike was still off. Trikester's advice to use a 100k resistor from B+ to the adjacent ancillary pin in the SBS70X charger was spot on however I worked out for my 2014 bike you have to initiate the charge with the bike turned on. When I did that and then turned the ignition off with the 100k resistor in place, the contactors stayed closed, the charging continued and the rising battery capacity showed on the dash. Good stuff. I can now leave the bike fast charging without having the bike switched on!

For configuring and monitoring the chargers with a PC you need to use the Umon (a fancy USB stick) - along with the Sican and Cmon cable - but the Umon is not required for charging. However as it's a CANBUS controlled charger you do need both the Sican and Cmon cable and a 12V DC supply to the Sican. This could be the 12V accessory circuit on the Zero or a separate power brick/supply or 12v battery.

Here are the parts I used, with approximate costs in AUD.

Parts:
1. TC 2kW max 130V 18A charger (canbus version) = AUD700
with IEC14 AC input cable & KST 50A 600v DC connector (compatible with Anderson SB 50 black connector)
2. Anderson Connector SBS75X inc two pins = AUD20
3. Ancillary pin for Anderson connector PM16P1620S30-50 = AUD5
4. Batrium Umon (USB connection to PC) = AUD25
5. Batrium Sican = AUD85
6. Batrium Cmon (Canbus cable) = AUD35

For parts only, total cost per charger would be AUD870 plus postage. Postage would push the price to AUD1000-AUD1100 (the chargers are heavy and shipped from China).

So total price would be up to USD900. Add a couple of hours of your time to configure the charger, wire in the resistor and connect the Sican to the bikes 12V supply or a separate 12v supply and for USD1,000 you've got an adjustable 2kw charger for your Zero.

TC offers a range of capacity chargers, here's a link to the one I bought http://www.tccharger.com/english/Product/T35/48.html

Details of the Batrium items are at http://www.batrium.com/products