Zero unveils plan for cheaper electric motorcycles, shows off first models
Zero Motorcycles, the leading premium electric motorcycle maker, has just unveiled at EICMA its bold new plan to enter the more affordable end of the e-motorcycle market.
That’s right, to all those who have spent years pining for cheaper Zeros, they’re finally coming.
And this isn’t just lip service. Not only did Zero unveil its first two lower-cost models on a pair of novel platforms, but the motorcycle maker claims it will have six unique models all priced at under US $10,000 in the next two years.
It’s part of the brand’s new “All Access” initiative built around adding more affordable models to the Zero lineup. But Zero isn’t doing it alone. This All Access plan is made possible in large part due to the success of Zero’s partnerships, namely Zongshen, a leading Chinese motorcycle maker.
The newly-announced X line of lower-cost electric motorcycles debuted today, starting with the Zero XE. The company is calling this its “first true trail bike”, and it certainly looks the part. On the tech side, it gets a 4.3 kWh removable battery – one of the largest removable batteries in the industry. That battery powers a 15.5 kW (21 hp) peak-rated air-cooled motor that propels the bike up to 85 km/h (53 mph). The US version will be off-road only, while the European version will homologated for street-legal use as well.
Perhaps most eye-opening, the XE model starts at just US $6,495 and €6,500 – an unheard of price for a Zero motorcycle.
“The new X Line delivers the best performing models in one of the most exciting growth categories from the most trusted electric brand in powersports,” said Sam Paschel, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. “Our mission from day one has been to revolutionize the two-wheeled transportation industry, and we will stop at nothing to deliver on that promise to our growing global community of riders.”
But the prices get even better, with the Zero XB carrying a mere US $4,195 and €4,500 price tag. Of course, the XB is an even smaller bike, closer in line to Sur Ron or Talaria in both look and raw spec sheet figures.
Consider the slightly smaller 7.5 kW (10 hp) motor and the pint-sized 2.4 kWh battery, which is easily removable for charging. The bike also has a slower top speed of just 28 mph (45 km/h). Zero rates it with a range of 47 miles (75 km), though time will tell how accurate that figure proves to be.
Just like its larger brother the XE, the smaller XB will also be available in a street-legal version in Europe but off-road only in the US.
The partnership seems to offer an interesting mix of advantages from Zero and Zongshen. From first glance, the bikes look largely similar to Sur Ron-style machines. They likely benefit from Zongshen’s ability to offer cost-effective electronics such as motors and batteries. But they also carry signature Zero influences, such as the factory-tuned suspension, the high-quality TFT instrument panels, the clearly visible and highly detailed user interface, and the precision throttle response.
Electrek’s Take
The new X-line is absolutely the takeaway message from the EICMA show. The rest of Zero’s lineup largely received cosmetic updates with new colorways, making the new All Access plan the star of the show. Six new models in two years is certainly impressive, and Zero is well on its way with the first two offerings in the XB and XE.
I would have loved to see Zero target an on-road model in the North American market the way they did for Europe, though I understand that regulations regarding licensing provided a unique advantage to bring those bikes in as lower-class homologated models with lower licensing restrictions. Perhaps part of Zero’s plan for the other four models could include affordable on-road electric motorcycles for the US market.
As it stands, the XB and XE mark interesting new additions to the market, not because these form factors don’t exist yet, but because they haven’t existed from a company like Zero. You can buy a Sur Ron or Talaria today, but it’s not going to come with the same level of suspension, the same high quality screen, the same refinements in the software, or many of the other unique advantages Zero is offering.
For many young riders that are drawn to these classes of vehicles, that won’t matter. There’s no shortage of riders flocking to Sur Rons and Talarias these days. But for other riders who want to know they aren’t just getting a basic Chinese bike, but rather a Chinese bike with more sophistication and refinements, there’s something to be said for entering into the Zero family. And for Zero’s part, they’ll certainly be glad to bring in new riders that wouldn’t have looked at a $15k Zero before, but now suddenly like what they see in a $4-6k Zero.
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It’s Labor Day weekend, which means big deals on car lots across America – especially if you’re shopping for a new electric vehicle to help with your labor. We’ve rounded up the best offers on electric pickups, vans, and even a great option for ride share drivers!
Sure, there’s a bit of irony in pitching “work vehicles” on a holiday meant for not working – but for many small business owners, work is part of who they are. And with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit set to expire, plus a wave of great Labor Day deals on work-ready EVs, now might be the best time yet to plug into a new electric ride.
Here are some of the standout electric vehicles offers we found this Labor Day weekend (2025), organized by vehicle type.
Electric pickup | F-150 Lightning
The “Ford for America,” summer sales event continues through Labor Day with interest-free 0% financing, $0 down payment, and zero payments for up to 90 days for retail customers. Ford is also throwing in $0 maintenance for 24 months.
But wait, there’s more! Ford Authority is reporting that a complimentary home charger and standard installation might also be included as part of the Ford Power Promise promotion happening at participating dealers in select markets with the purchase of a new F-150 Lightning pickup through the end of September.
Lease customers aren’t being left out, either. You can lease a 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT 4P 311A pickup at $399 per month for 36 months, with “just” $399 due at signing (basically your first month’s payment).
Electric van | Chevy Brightdrop
The best electric vehicle deal in the business keeps on truckin’ into Labor Day weekend, with new 2025 Brightdrop models currently eligible for up to $21,500 in manufacturer rebates before any Federal, state, local utility, or even Costco membership incentives kick in.
For your money, you get a capable, Ultium-based electric cargo van with more room than your college dorm and a nationwide dealer network to keep it up and running when you need it most.
Electric van (hon. mention) | Mercedes eSprinter
Despite being based on the company’s existing diesel platform, Mercedes’ eSprinter has proven itself a capable urban hauler in the hands of Amazon, DHL, and countless European tradespeople. Despite that, there are still a handful of leftover 2024 models hanging around dealer lots – enough that Mercedes is offering up to $30,000 (!) Customer Cash on any new ’24MY eSprinter purchased from dealer stock.
That discount is enough to bring the price of this 2024 eSprinter in Chicago from $87,823 all the way down to $57,823 this Labor Day weekend – and that’s before you factor in state and local utility incentives that can bring the price down even further.
As you can imagine, there’s some fine print on that Customer Cash deal. It can’t be combined with Special APR programs through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS), but it can be combined with the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Medium Fleet Program.
Ride share ride | VW ID.4
Ride share drivers looking for comfortable seats, room for five adults and their luggage, proven battery life, and lickety-quick charging speeds can stop looking. Volkswagen is offering a sweet ID.4 lease at nearly half the cost of an entry-level Jetta with payments starting at just $129/mo. – that’s despite the ID.4 carrying a significantly higher MSRP.
And, while we’re at it, it’s probably worth noting that serious road warriors will probably save more than $129/mo. in fuel alone.
If you prefer to own your vehicles after making payments on them for a few years, you can also get 0% interest financing on select ID.4s for up to 72 months. It’s important to note here that Volkswagen’s deals can vary wildly by region. That $129/mo. offer is available in California and a few other West Coast states, for example, but the electric crossover’s listed at $329 for 24 months with $4,499 due at signing in others.
Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirect, CarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 29AUG2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.
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Sustainable construction experts McKinstry have teamed up with leading BESS developers Viridi and the Denver Public Library to deploy a first-of-its-kind solar and battery storage system that sets a new standard for fire safety.
The Denver Public Library sought a battery energy storage system (BESS) that could deliver cost savings without compromising safety for staff, visitors, or the architecturally significant, Michael Graves–designed structure itself. That required a battery backup solution that not only met the city’s fire safety standards, but also addressed public fears about the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.
That unique set of project priorities led the library to Viridi, makers of the RPSLinkEX battery solution that’s equipped with a unique, “passive Fail-Safe thermal management and anti-propagation technology” designed to prevent the sort of thermal runaway that leads to li-ion battery fires.
“Public facilities like the Denver Public Library are at the forefront of demonstrating that energy resilience and safety can go hand in hand,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO at Viridi. “This installation highlights how fail-safe battery storage can empower communities to maximize renewable energy, reduce costs, and maintain reliability – all without compromise.”
Keeping it safe
Viridi doesn’t talk too much about how its passive Fail-Safe thermal management system works, but if you’re picturing heat-dissipating layers, fire-resistant insulation, and strategically-placed phase change materials (or PCMs) limiting the transfer of heat from one cell to another if it begins to overheat, you’ve probably cracked it.
These passive safety features enable safer deployment scenarios in occupied buildings or near critical infrastructure by reducing dependence on active fire suppression systems like sprinklers or fire extinguishers, and convinced the City of Denver to move forward with the project, which is the city’s first-ever solar + battery storage system.
“The entire McKinstry team is very excited about developing and constructing the first Solar + BESS project for the City and County of Denver,” said Jon Ensley, Sr. Construction Project Engineer at McKinstry. “We are appreciative of all our partners and stakeholders who helped to achieve this goal. We value Viridi’s expertise in deploying this technology and the whole team has been great to work with.”
McKinstry says this latest solar project sets, “a new benchmark for how cities can combine renewable energy and battery storage without compromising safety.” And, with solutions like the RPSLinkEX building systems that meet city planners and politicians where they are, instead of trying to educated them about the objective, proven safety of li-ion batteries, Viridi is helping communities adopt cleaner, more resilient clean energy solutions sooner rather than later.
READ MORE
SOURCE | IMAGES: Viridi, via PV Magazine; Michael Graves.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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China’s Dongfang Electric has installed a 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine, snatching the title of world’s most powerful from Siemens Gamesa’s 21.5 turbine in Denmark.
The Chinese state-owned manufacturer announced today that it has installed the world’s most powerful wind turbine prototype at a testing and certification base. This turbine, the world’s largest for capacity and size, boasts a blade wheel diameter of more than 310 meters (1,107 feet) and a hub height of 185 meters (607 feet). Dongfang shipped the turbine’s nacelle earlier this month – the world’s heaviest – along with three blades.
This offshore wind turbine is designed for areas with wind speeds of 8 meters per second and above. With average winds of 10 meters per second, just one of these giants can generate 100 GWh of power annually, which is enough to power 55,000 homes. That’s enough to cut standard coal consumption by 30,000 tons and reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tons. Dongfang says it’s wind resistant up to 17 (200 km/h) on the extended Beaufort scale.
In May, Dongfang said it had completed static load testing on the turbine’s blades, and the turbine is now undergoing fatigue testing, which could take up to a year before the turbine is fully certified.
Read more: Trump just killed all offshore wind zones as US power needs surge
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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