If the 2015 Zero DS had wire spoked wheels I could openheartedly say that this electric bike is the perfect zero-emission all-rounder. If you’re really in for some serious off-road adventure around your city, the DS should do if you tread carefully and constantly remember you’re not aboard a KTM EXC. The lightweight cast wheels are really stylish and the absence of the front rotor carrier makes the DS look sleek.
For scrambling purposes, Zero equipped the 2015 DS with Pirelli MT-60 midly-knobbied tires which provide plenty of terrainability on gravel but will also stick well to the asphalt. A popular dual-sport and flat track choice, these tires should also provide you with decent mileage, while looking cool and mean.
Three battery options, money talks
Zero delivers the 2015 DS in three flavors and two colors. While choosing between the white and orange versions (orange and off-road seem to go well together) is easy, deciding how much juice you want to store aboard your new DS is a matter of money. The standard DS is the one equipped with the 9.4 kWh Lithium-ion intelligent Z-Force battery, but extra dough can get you the 12.5 kWh power pack or the extra Power Tank add-on for a max range which can now reach 170 miles (274 km) in the city.
The motor is the same for all the DS versions, a 54 hp, 92 Nm (68 lb-ft) radial flux permanent magnet brushless type, with passive air cooling, regenerative deceleration and which can do 0 t 60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.2 seconds. On the top speed side, the 2015 Zero DS will reach 98 mph (158 km/h) but the top cruising speed is 80 mph (129 km/h).
Well-equipped and cheap to ride
Zero understood that in order to get riders into the e-bike world, the machines need to be loaded with fancy technology. That’s why the new DS arrives with switchable ABS, Showa suspensions for both forks and rear monoshock and powerful J-Juan calipers with revised hydraulics. This makes sure the ride is comfy both when streaking through the urban clutter and when tacking the gravel road towards your fav fishing pond, while dependable stopping power is always a finger away.
The new motor and battery tweaks bring in a really neat economy, with the 2015 Zero DS offering 425 MPGe (0.55 l/100 km) and a total recharge cost for the top battery choice of $1.72. The base version will run you $13,345, while the biggest battery choice will need some extra $4,493 from your account. The charger is built-in, but you can also get a quick one for $600. In Europe, one of the best starting price we spotted was €13,490, in Germany.
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