Zero S and DS Electric Motorcycles are Now $1,000 Cheaper
Zero Motorcycles has just announced that they are the first electric motorcycle company to meet all US and Canadian safety standards as well as pass EPA certification allowing their bikes to qualify for major federal tax credits of 10% of the purchase price as well as a state sales tax credit.
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Considering that the base price of both the 2009 Zero S and DS is $9,950, if you buy one you will now be able to claim a tax credit of $995 when you file. And, if you don’t live in a state that has already had the forethought to suspend the state sales tax for purchase of electric vehicles, you can now also claim whatever state sales tax amount you paid for your Zero bike on your federal tax return.
This is good news for the electric motorcycle nuts out there and it means that soon enough many other electric bike companies will likely also qualify for the same tax credits.
With jaw-droppingly fast acceleration, excellent handling characteristics, gorgeous looks and huge eco-cred, Zero Motorcycles’ groundbreaking electric bikes have made big headlines recently. A while back Gas 2.0 contributor Susanna Schick had a chance to test drive one and came away with a good impression. If you were on the fence about buying a Zero bike, now’s the time to get off.
Image Credit: Zero Motorcycles
What do you think of their claim the bikes get 455 miles/gallon? See: The Zero S motorcycle is certified to get 455 miles/gallon equivalent
David,
Well it is based on EPA’s standards for calculating MPG equivalents (MPGe) in non-liquid-fueled vehicles, so technically it’s not Zero’s claim. That said, the world of MPGe calculations is a rather seedy and mysterious thing. Everything is in the eye of the beholder. But then again, even liquid-fueled vehicles use more energy per mile than their simple MPG number expresses, so in the end neither MPG or MPGe really mean all that much when you’re looking at a vehicle from cradle to grave.
Great bike! I hope it sells very well. But gorgeous it is not. They took the pic from the most flattering angle. If you look at the bike on their website, the plastics and front end look hideous. But it is an awesome application of some very good ideas. I really do hope that it is insanely successful, so that many more electric bikes will be released.
Uh, This thing has a top speed of 55 miles per hour. There are Vespa scooters that go faster than that. To me, that doesn’t really scream, performance…