The Luxury Look: High Voltage

Early two-wheeled electric vehicles paired the novelty of silent propulsion with an unfortunate compendium of downsides, among them clunky operation and anxiety-inducing range. Two remarkable new EV models—the Zero SR/F motorcycle and the RION2 RE80 e-scooter—prove meteoric progress has been made on all fronts.

The fully evolved expression of the battery-powered sport motorcycle from Santa Cruz, California–based startup Zero Motorcycles is all but unrecognizable from the 13-year-old brand’s initial EVs, which were closer to glorified mountain bikes than well-rounded motorcycles. Though the SR/F’s false tank mimics the fuel reservoirs of internal combustion motorcycles, the hump contains a storage compartment with dual USB ports for cell phone or accessory charging. Nestled beneath is a lithium-ion battery pack, which couples to an air-cooled motor producing some serious grunt: 110 horsepower and 140 ft. lb. of torque. That power is capable of whisking the bike to 60 mph in a scant 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 124 mph. Cracking open the throttle induces an intoxicating rush of acceleration that delivers fierce but surprisingly Zen-like sensations: just over a subtle mechanical whine, you can hear birds chirping while scooting along at obscene speeds.

Unlike brutishly quick gas-powered superbikes whose power plants are plumbed with ignition wires and cooling fixtures, the Zero’s packaging is tidy: the monolithic battery pack lends an intriguing visual intersection with 45-degree corners strengthening the steel trellis frame. A suite of electronics includes a customizable LCD dashboard, a sophisticated stability control system, and an app that uses cellular data to transmit key info on charge state and security alerts. Offering up to 161 miles of range in city riding, or a combined range of 109 miles (based on 70 mph highway cruising speeds), the SR/F is capable of recharging in 80 minutes, or 60 minutes when equipped with the optional $2,300 rapid charger.

Ridesharing companies like Bird and Lime get a bad rap for their sidewalk-littering rides, but that hasn’t stopped entrepreneur Gal Hagoel from building what he dubs the world’s first supersport e-scooter. RION Motors makes beefy and geometrically faceted machines, utilizing carbon-fiber construction and high-performance hardware that bears little resemblance to the ubiquitous ridesharing e-scooters. Incorporating performance hardware that includes a 19,200-watt motor and an 80-volt battery, RION’s flagship RE80 model is capable of hitting a ludicrous 80 mph—enough to get you arrested in any state, especially if you’re indiscreet enough to be flying down the sidewalk. Thankfully a smartphone app can dial down the power and responsiveness, taming the fearsome two-wheeler into a more approachable ride. RION’s scooters are built by hand in Los Angeles with top-shelf components including brakes sourced from mountain bike component manufacturer Magura. Currently available is a $5,500 standard model with a top speed of 60 mph and 30–40 miles of range. The top-dog RE80 version is $1,000 extra and can travel 30 miles before needing a recharge.