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[Lipo423]

I left this in a different post, but I may need to leave this suggestion here too.
The potentiometer problem is something they might be able to address by changing the "regular" mechanical potentiometer for a hall-effect sensor.

"A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to a magnetic field. Hall effect sensors are used for proximity switching, positioning, speed detection, and current sensing applications.
In its simplest form, the sensor operates as an analogue transducer, directly returning a voltage. With a known magnetic field, its distance from the Hall plate can be determined. Using groups of sensors, the relative position of the magnet can be deduced"

[protomech]

I have number 96 (2012 S VIN xxxx00096), 700 miles on the bike, haven't yet had a problem with the throttle.

Most of their sales thus far have been local. I live in AL, some few thousand miles away from the factory. For minor problems, like a throttle assembly, I expect Zero could ship out a part and instructions I swap the part myself. Otherwise, the closest Zero dealership is about 90 miles away in Birmingham, AL.

[manlytom]

Zero service is great. even 10000 miles+ away. can get spares direct to Oz so and as this is an so easy bike installation of throttle replacement or so --- if ever needed ---- not a problem ...
 

[oobflyer]

I'm bringing my ZF9 to the dealership this weekend. They will do the firmware "flash" to address the throttle issues. I have to leave it for a week and pick it up the following weekend, since the technician doesn't work weekends. So I'll be riding my old Vectrix for a week 

[rotoiti]

So I had this happen to me a few minutes ago.

I was riding in the carpool lane on 101, sport mode, doing about 60 mph behind one of those double-decker buses when I started coasting seeing the bus in front of me slowing down. When the bus sped up my throttle was unresponsive. After a few seconds of panic I remembered this thread and while still coasting, I turned the key to "off" and back to "on". That solved the issue.

Few notes:
- the throttle was unresponsive but the display was lit. I don't think it showed any indications however I might have missed them.
- when I came home my mileage was .2 miles less than usual, that tells me the controlling computer crashed, it was not just a display issue
- when booting up, my screen shows u7, 2011. Perhaps I should get the controller upgraded?

How did you guys solve this problem? Did you go through Zero directly or through the dealer?

[flar]

It's good to know that you can reboot while coasting.  Without a clutch I'd be worried that turning the bike off might lock up something, though I guess the worst it could do would be "very hard regen braking"...

[protomech]

I think I've experienced a glitch once - but in my case, it was after turning the bike on, gearing up, and preparing to leave. Twisting the grip did nothing - no warnings displayed on the cluster, the general malfunction light was not lit, etc. Switched the bike off and back on, worked fine.

[manlytom]

Hi. Have got the same glitch with motor cut out on 2011 S. no problem to restart while coasting. Have as well not got any warning lights. Replaced throttle assembly which did not fix it. I am on version r6 of the firmware.
My suPplying dealer would not know anythimg to upgrade firmware. Rather do it myself as i am trained in electronics and done many firmware ups. Lets see if Zero can send me the new firmware.

[manlytom]

So I had this happen to me a few minutes ago.

I was riding in the carpool lane on 101, sport mode, doing about 60 mph behind one of those double-decker buses when I started coasting seeing the bus in front of me slowing down. When the bus sped up my throttle was unresponsive. After a few seconds of panic I remembered this thread and while still coasting, I turned the key to "off" and back to "on". That solved the issue.

Now i have thought on this and welcome feedback. The controller limits the current especially when accelarating the bike from 0. Slowish of the line speed. Once at speed the bike is very agile and seems not limited much. If we now have a situation of slowing at speed the current drops, then accellerate current jumps up. Possibly to high through cables etc. upsetting the controller?

Anyway would be interesting to know on what firmware everyone is and if u have this.

[Richard230]

My stalling issue never occurred while my bike was moving, only when it was stopped for a minute or two. I never saw any unusual displays when it stalled or when I rebooted the controller to get going again.  Zero read about my problem here, called me up at home to say that they would pick my bike up at my home, take it to the factory and return it in a few days. They installed the latest program for the controller (I have no idea which program it is), replaced the throttle assembly, and returned the bike to my home as promised. It has worked perfectly ever since (knock on wood, as they say).

[protomech]

When I power on my bike, I see 'u 2011' (or 'j'?) on the display. Do you see that now Richard230, or has it changed since the upgrade?

[Richard230]

The only thing that I have ever noticed on the display (before and after my bike's visit to Zero) upon powering-up is "r6", below that is "2010" and off at the lower right-hand corner is "11". Upon the needle swinging to the right, the "2010" and the "11" disappear and only the "r6" remains, until the speedo needle swings back to home and that disappears, to be replaced by the running screen.

[rotoiti]

Got the software upgraded today. Hats off to Mission Motorcycles who provided a loaner so I could get back to work and called a Zero tech who upgraded the software. The bootup indicators did not change, the display still says u7 2011.

As a side note, I depleted all the 11 bars of the battery (didn't have much chance to charge it today). I rode over 5 miles on a completely empty "tank" and still had some charge when I arrived home

[Richard230]

Thanks for the information rotoiti.  It sounds like the Zero really has 12 bars and they are just hiding one of them.    Did you happen to note how many kWh it took to completely recharge the battery pack.  That would give us some idea of what its actual usable power capacity is and would provide a baseline for comparing any degradation of the pack in the future.

P.S. My Zero and I are heading for the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show at the Half Moon Bay Airport today.  When you have to slowly creep along in a long line of vehicles to enter the show, the Zero is the perfect vehicle for that task - especially when placed in Eco mode. 

[rotoiti]

Did you happen to note how many kWh it took to completely recharge the battery pack.

Yes, I just read both of my kill-a-watts -- it took 8.48 kWh. 4.15 kWh via the built-in charger and 4.33 kWh via the quick charger. The chargers were plugged in roughly at the same time. So perhaps there was more energy left in the pack than I originally estimated. I expected over 9 kWh (due to energy losses in the chargers) to fully charge a 9 kWh pack.

An interesting observation: the built-in charger completely shuts off when done (drawing 0 A). The quick charger draws about 0.14 A when idle.