Battery Bike

The Zero S has more power than most petrol powered bikes on our roads

To begin with, the Zero S has a max power of 31 bhp compared to 20 bhp of the Bajaj Pulsar DTSi-Fi. Not that the Bajaj is the most powerful bike in India. The Zero S, an electric bike currently on sale in the US, also has a phenomenal torque of 84.6 Nm compared to 19.12 Nm of the DTSi-Fi (for the uninitiated, more is better in pulling its weight). The Zero does not demand extras like fuel, lubricants or regular servicing.

On the flip side, if it breaks, you will need a new power pack. This is the equivalent of getting a new engine if your fuel pipe is leaking. But it is a toy, not a workhorse. Even with all this power, it has a top speed of only about 95 kph and a maximum range of 100 km on a full-charge. Electric vehicles obviously have a long way to go before they can challenge a YZF. Till then, electric bikes will mainly be toys. But at a price of nearly $10,000, this is perhaps as good as any toy can get.

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