A2 licence friendly Zero FXE
By Ben Purvis
Zero is fast forging its position as a leading electric bike brand and there are few battery-powered models on the market to challenge its SR/F and SR/S.
However, those are near € 23,000 bikes, making them inevitably niche products when compared with the sort of petrol-powered machines that the same money can buy. With the new FXE, Zero is headed down the same more affordable route as Harley with its recently announced LiveWire One, and it's easy to see that this could become a strong seller.
Mechanically, the FXE is nothing new. Under the skin it's got the same frame, suspension, battery and motor as the existing FXS, a supermoto version of the off-road style FX. But the addition of styling derived from a one-off 2019 show bike adds a whole new level of appeal.
The FXE is an A2-compliant machine, with 44 hp on tap along with 78 lb ft of torque, and a weight of just 135 kg. Those figures meet with the A2 licence requirement of a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2kW per kg, achieved because the bike's rated 'continuous' power is 15kW (21 hp), even though it peaks at more than twice that much. Want a fast bike on an A2 licence? Step this way.
As usual with electric vehicles, top speed isn't its primary strength - the FXE tops out at 82 mph - but the low weight and high torque promise strong acceleration. Range is 100 miles at city speeds, 55 miles at 55 mph or 40 miles at 70 mph. On mixed use it should get between 57 and 75 miles between charges. Those will take up to 9.7 hours from a normal wall socket, but can be reduced to as little as 1.3 hours for a 95% charge using accessory fast chargers.
Showa suspension at each end, with adjustable compression, rebound and preload, is allied to Brembo-owned J.Juan brakes with ABS and 17 in wheels. A TFT dash offers Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to tune the bike's torque characteristics and battery management via a phone app. The price? Approximately € 14,000.
