ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: JaimeC on September 21, 2019, 07:11:56 PM
-
I've been noticing Level 2 stations popping up all over Long Island recently so with a recent influx of unexpected cash (unfortunately due to the untimely passing of my mother earlier this year) I decided to order the Charge Tank. That was two weeks ago and I haven't heard anything yet. Does anyone know how long it typically takes Zero to deliver one? I'm already planning a long day trip around Long Island once I get it... The Hamptons and the North Fork are now within reach!
-
I had my factory installed charge tank replaced within 2 weeks upon order (BC. Canada).
However, since it was covered by warranty it was all handled by the dealership.
-
Dealer contacted me yesterday to let me know my Charge Tank left the factory and is en route. Woo hoo!!
-
Perfect timing! My company just installed four charging stations (to accommodate eight vehicles each) in our two locations here in Brentwood, NY. They will be complimentary for employees only. They'll be available for us to use on the first of October. I won't have the Charge Tank installed by then, but I still carry my trusty J1772 adapter so I can top up after lunch and take the scenic route home if I like!
-
Just dropped off my Zero at the dealer this morning to have the Charge Tank installed (it FINALLY came in on Wednesday). With luck I'll have it back before they close this afternoon; otherwise I pick it up on Wednesday.
-
Just dropped off my Zero at the dealer this morning to have the Charge Tank installed (it FINALLY came in on Wednesday). With luck I'll have it back before they close this afternoon; otherwise I pick it up on Wednesday.
Best wishes; you will like it.
I really wish level 2 stations in the US would run at 12K. I'm pretty amazed at how electrics (cars, mainly) are taking off, when we've got, let's face it, really bad charging infrastructure. Sigh. This will change in the future.
-
I didn't get it back yesterday. With luck, I'll get it Wednesday. If it's not ready then, it'll have to wait till I get back from Biketoberfest.
-
I really wish level 2 stations in the US would run at 12K. I'm pretty amazed at how electrics (cars, mainly) are taking off, when we've got, let's face it, really bad charging infrastructure. Sigh. This will change in the future.
IMO, it's about time for Zero to totally redesign their bikes to accept CCS charging. I charge my Energica at 25KW, which makes a lot more sense for the times. And CCS can also use J-1772, when you have all night to charge at home. Also can charge on 120 VAC with a supplied charger (that I never even used once).
The problem will be that Zero will have to restart from the beginning on just about everything in the bike. So perhaps a better plan is to keep what they have but make a new CCS model. Will also be very expensive to start for a small company, but IMO, if they don't soon take care of their slow charging issues (and 12KW is still slow, IMO for year 2020) they will be left behind as other new electric motorcycles hit the market. Seems CCS is the most common fast charger of them all and perhaps most newer electric motorcycles will all have CCS.
Zero's 116.5 v battery has to go. There will never be any really fast DC charging (25KW up) for those on the road.
Tomorrow, I will be riding my Energca back to Auburn, CA. In that 100 miles, there is a CCS charge station every 20 miles if I take the Interstate freeway (80) but I will take hwy 20 out in the boonies. A new CCS charge location in Grass Valley, CA makes that now possible. That's how I came to Reno just a few days ago. New CCS chargers are popping up almost everywhere--Wal*Mart, Harley Dealers, grocery stores, gas stations, etc. Zero is going to be left behind if they don't join the bandwagon soon, IMO.
-Don- Reno, NV
-
-Don- Reno, NV
Don, I think this deserves its own thread, rather than tacked onto someone else's upgrade report.
I think there's a space for the low-mid Level 2 capable bike. Keeping down the cost has clearly worked for Zero so far - but they're taking a step with the SR/F into a more expensive space. I saw them rolling out of the dealership, so maybe this is the interim step they need.
For my needs, I don't need anything more - most days I don't charge my Zero at all.
But you're right, the lack of infrastructure for the easily modded Zeros will limit their penetration into the long weekender space and with the relegation of Level 2 as Level 3 fast charging starts filling the electric highways, they'll need to adapt.
-Crissa
-
"Seems CCS is the most common fast charger of them all and perhaps most newer electric motorcycles will all have CCS."
I'm not sure where you live but here Level-2 J1772 chargers outnumber CCS by almost ten to one just looking at a Plugshare map...
-
I remain happy with my Zero's L1 charging. A few hours charging overnight works out fine for me. When I am going on a long trip, I like to ride along roads that haven't seen a gas station in 20 years, much less have an L2 or L3, or even a public L1 electrical outlet. So it is still gas-powered motorcycles for me for long trips. Besides, what do you do when you ride into an area where PG&E have turned off the power for hundreds of miles in all directions for the next few days because they are concerned that their electrical infrastructure might cause a wild fire due to hot windy weather.? You end up camping at a commercial L3 outlet waiting for the company to turn the power back on - and they only do that after they have visually inspected thousands of miles of their electrical lines and transformers. ::)
Unfortunately, I just realized that you could use the same argument when it comes to gas stations that have had their power shut off. But at least gas stations typically have a convenience store as part of their operation and you could eat your meals there for a few days, if you don't mind warm soda and beer, stale potato chips and 26 different kinds of candy. :o And the toilet in the bathroom should flush.
While I admire long-distance electric motorcycle riders, I feel that at this time the mass electric motorcycle market (such as there is of it) just does not need vehicles that can use fast charging if that system is going to increase the initial price of the vehicle. Maybe in 10 years when the major manufacturers jump into the business. ??? In the meantime, have fun fast charging your Energicas and LiveWires. ;)
-
I'm not sure where you live but here Level-2 J1772 chargers outnumber CCS by almost ten to one just looking at a Plugshare map...
There is very little need for any fast charging close to where we live. It's more needed for longer trips.
CCS can also use J1772. But there are a lot of J1772's listed on Plugshare that are NOT always open to the public. And most CCS locations have several chargers at each location and I have NEVER seen any CCS location where several were not available.
There are even several Wal*Marts now that have CCS but no J-1772 (but a few do).
-Don- Reno, NV
-
But at least gas stations typically have a convenience store as part of their operation and you could eat your meals there for a few days, if you don't mind warm soda and beer, stale potato chips and 26 different kinds of candy. :o And the toilet in the bathroom should flush.
I have yet to see a CCS charge station that didn't have the same. Between here and Auburn, for an example, all the many CCS charge stations I have been to are either at a gas station, Wal*Mart or a grocery store (especially Save-Marts).
But I think then, I would call a tow truck, if the power is out for hours.
-Don- Reno, NV
-
The ONE CCS station (actually two) I've seen here is located on the Long Island Expressway at the Welcome Center between Exits 51 and 52 on the eastbound side. That's it. J1772 stations are popping up everywhere.
I suppose there will soon be an operational CCS station at Nassau County Harley Davidson as they will be carrying the Livewire and that is part of the deal when selling that model. Not sure of the dealerships in Suffolk County though.
-
Unfortunately, I just realized that you could use the same argument when it comes to gas stations that have had their power shut off. But at least gas stations typically have a convenience store as part of their operation and you could eat your meals there for a few days, if you don't mind warm soda and beer, stale potato chips and 26 different kinds of candy. :o And the toilet in the bathroom should flush.
I was going to say ^-^ The vending machines don't work, neither do the coolers or the cash registers... So many just flat up close.
-Crissa
Erf, what the heck, page, why aren't you loading right?
-
The ONE CCS station (actually two) I've seen here is located on the Long Island Expressway at the Welcome Center between Exits 51 and 52 on the eastbound side. That's it. J1772 stations are popping up everywhere.
I suppose there will soon be an operational CCS station at Nassau County Harley Davidson as they will be carrying the Livewire and that is part of the deal when selling that model. Not sure of the dealerships in Suffolk County though.
Seems like there are a fair few CCS stations just glancing at the map.
(https://i.imgur.com/QibDkDDl.png)
-
The number of existing charging sites isn't as much a business decision as the number being built.
And if a charging site can charge 2x, 10x as many vehicles in the same amount of time, that's equal to having that many more stalls of the other one.
Right now, it's just really difficult to find a Level 2 charging where I can stop, park, and do my business. L2s have to be near where I'm going - and they're not within ten blocks, lucky if I can find one at twenty blocks.
But a CCS type charging, you can visit it for a few minutes, so it doesn't need to be near a destination. So it'll win out unless we're converting more parking lots of L2.
-Crissa
...Anyone else seeing the forums acting weird? I didn't update anything locally.
-
I remain happy with my Zero's L1 charging.
A few hours charging overnight works out fine for me.
There is an exception to every rule. But we have to admit one thing:
Faster charging is probably the hottest topic for Zeros in this entire forum. But not for Energica. It's never even mentioned in the Energica section, AFAIK.
And your slow charging was the excuse you had for not meeting us in Elk Grove!!!!
FWIW, I really enjoy my Zeros for around town stuff. But for anything else, my shorter range Energica is my choice. I just came here from Reno on it by taking a
slower route in mountains. The shorter range is no issue at all with the number of CCS charge stations around here. And ten minutes to charge back to full, in most cases.
-Don- Auburn, CA
-
...Anyone else seeing the forums acting weird? I didn't update anything locally.
You mean the lack of word wrap as we type these messages? Yes, I noticed.
-Don- Auburn, CA
-
Same here. I have no access to the funny faces and can only attach one item at a time, no matter how small it is.
And interestingly, I also am not seeing any banner ads at the top of the reply screen, although I do see one on the main screen. Very strange.......
-
But a CCS type charging, you can visit it for a few minutes, so it doesn't need to be near a destination. So it'll win out unless we're converting more parking lots of L2.
It's win-win, since the Energica can also use level two from a J-1772. CCS DC charge is too fast to stop at a restaurant for a meal.
J1772 at 3KW is too slow for the same. Bike usually won't be fully charged when I am done eating. But at least I have a choice of too fast or too slow <g>.
-Don- Auburn, CA
-
J1772 at 3KW is too slow for the same. Bike usually won't be fully charged when I am done eating. But at least I have a choice of too fast or too slow <g>.
But you shouldn't need to fully charge while you're out. At 3K, that's 20-80 for the 7.2 in a meal, easy. And that gives you another hour riding. With 6K and the 14.4 that gives you an hour on the freeway. That's the vast majority of riding.
Even with an 8.5K battery, I am tempted by the charger being offered in the want ad section, but it costs more than half what my bike did. Which is why Zero isn't doing it yet. And why my bike doesn't have a $1000 headlamp on the S, either. That'd be a major bump to the cost of the bike.
-Crissa
...I can't use Quick Reply, either.
-
Well, I got the bike back this evening... just in time for the weather to SUCK for the rest of the week. Incidentally, that's why I picked it up today and not tomorrow... didn't feel like riding it home in the rain.