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[Lipo423]

In this kind of digital-controlled applications using regular potentiometers -the high quality ones last a little longer-, sooner or later the headaches show up...
I really hope they are working in replacing the potentiometer for a hall-effect sensor, or similar (with a suitable retrofit kit for all of us). Software twisting, or adjustments may soften the problem, but it will not fix it long term. Unfortunately, I know what it is like...(had to replace a few hundreds potentiometers in a machine joystic controller, and in the end move to hall-effect)

[CliC]

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.

My onboard (single) charger draws the same 0.14A once it's charged and balanced, but the power factor is very low, <0.3. Guess it needs a little juice from one, and only one, charger.

[Richard230]

My on-board charger shows a 7-watt draw all the time, after bulk charging is completed.

And there wasn't a single electric vehicle at the Dream Machines show that I was able to locate.  A lot of interesting gas-powered machinery was there, though.  Well, there was one electric motorcycle there - mine.   

[flar]

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.

The 9kWh pack has 7.9kWh "nominal", whatever that means.  I took it to mean that they never let the batteries get to 100% charge (similar to the Teslas which limit the charge on their batteries unless you specifically request a range-maximizing charge - I would expect a smaller battery pack on a motorcycle to be even more sensitive to maxing out the charge and so they may not allow a full charge to a full 9kWh capacity).

[CliC]

And there wasn't a single electric vehicle at the Dream Machines show that I was able to locate.  A lot of interesting gas-powered machinery was there, though.  Well, there was one electric motorcycle there - mine.  

Strange -- the web site even mentions a "green machines" exhibit (mostly hybrid cars, it looks like):

http://www.miramarevents.com/dreammachines/greenmachines.html

At least you carried the torch. I mean, come on, who _doesn't_ dream about electric bikes?

I look forward to some local charity rides around where I live later in the year. Should be interesting, the hundreds of Harleys (and their puzzled riders) and me. I sure hope I don't experience "the glitch" in the middle of it all, though I doubt anyone would notice in all that racket if I turned the bike off and back on again

[Richard230]

If there were any Volts, Leafs or plug-ins at the show, I sure didn't see them.  

No electric-powered planes either, other than a few RC models.  

Although I couldn't find any electric motorcycles to photograph, here is one that is sort of the opposite of an EV   

[rotoiti]

Dream machine indeed. Straight from a nightmare

[CliC]

Yeah, if I ever need to pull my travel trailer with my bike, I'll look into one of those

Anti-EV, indeed. On a trailer, Valdez-size oil slick underneath, Cummins power -- Cummins?!? Least he could do is take off the rear tire(s), hook up a generator and let you charge. Dang.

[oobflyer]

I just got my bike (2012 ZF9) back from the shop - they updated the software to deal with the throttle glitch. I've only ridden it for a couple of days, but so far it seems fine - I haven't experienced the glitch again.

[Richard230]

Good news oobflyer.  Let's hope this issue has been corrected at the factory and later models will finely be glitch-free.   

[trikester]

Now I'm convinced, there is definitely a problem with the ECO mode operation.

Yesterday I did a SoCal desert dirt ride, out and back, 25 miles total. I rode the first half in SPORT mode and then for the return trip I wanted to ride in ECO mode to take advantage of the "compression braking" to hold me back on sandy downhills. This worked very well until one time there was no power when I rolled the throttle back on. Power was restored in a couple of seconds. Then it happened again. After rolling off the throttle I had no power when I went to accelerate. It didn't come back this time so I switched off the key and changed back to SPORT mode for the rest of the ride.

ZERO had repaired the original problem I had with ECO mode so this is something different. I think the software is misinterpreting what is happening and telling the controller to shut down.  

Other than that the ride was great! The 2012 DS with its greater fork rake angle handles soft sand much better than my 2010 DS did. I only fell down once.   The 25 mile ride used 1/2 of the battery so it looks like I have at least 50 miles of dirt riding capability (ZF 6)

[RickSteeb]

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?

My first commute with the new street tires this morning, [on my '12 DS ZF6] travelling in the diamond lane about 75 MPH for a couple miles up 101, when the dreaded 'glitch' occurred again; this time I noticed a strong vibration just before the power loss, as if a phase of the motor had "locked on" or similar... 

After exhausting a full charge on twisty roads going as fast as I felt comfortable, and then experiencing a shutdown on the first highway run with the ~3% smaller rear tire-- I am wondering how to acquire a front sprocket for the "S" model, i.e. the 28 [vs 25] tooth version.  That would seem to be the solution to the daily commute speed requirements, at the expense of off-the-line acceleration... and hopefully reduce the frequency of the motor/controller's objections to its ~100 Hz extended attempts!

[RickSteeb]

-- and I forgot to mention, the odometer was a couple tenths 'short' when I arrived at work this morning... coasting with the key off / rebooting doesn't count!

 

[rotoiti]

Maybe it's a 101 problem, not Zero problem? ;-) My shutdown happened in the same situation.

Did you get your software upgraded?

[RickSteeb]

Maybe it's a 101 problem, not Zero problem? ;-) My shutdown happened in the same situation.

Did you get your software upgraded?

After the original occurrence, Zero replaced the controller and updated the software [?] and things seemed OK for some time.  After looking at the specs for the motor, it seems running it at 100Hz is exceeding the recommended limits...