Zero Motorcycles nabs EPA Certificate of Conformity, gets rated at 455 mpg

We still think it's a wee bit odd that electric motorcycles need a Certificate of Conformity from the Environmental Protection Agency, but that is indeed the case and Zero Motorcycles has issued a press release indicating that its two-wheeled highway-speed EVs now satisfy that requirement. For what its worth, the EPA says the Zero S and DS achieve an equivalent of 455 MPG and generate zero grams of carbon emissions per mile.

Further, Zero's products have garnered passing grades for both the Canadian and US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Perhaps the real news here is that this certification now allows Zero buyers to qualify for a ten percent Federal tax credit and the state sales tax credit established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Add it all up and the final price for either the Zero S or its off-road-ready DS sibling will be $8,995 for customers living in the States. Those who don't qualify for the U.S. savings will pay $9,950. Hit the jump for the official press release.

[Source: Zero Motorcycles]


PRESS RELEASE:

Zero Motorcycles Leads the Industry: First to Pass National EPA Certification and to Meet US and Canadian Safety Standards

- Zero's All-Electric Motorcycle Achieves Equivalent of 455 MPG -

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Zero Motorcycles today announced that it is the first and only electric motorcycle company to achieve three major milestones. They have passed both the US and Canadian safety standards and attained a 'Certificate of Conformity' from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a result, buyers of the Zero S and Zero DS can now benefit from major government incentives. They can also feel confident in the motorcycles' superior engineering and environmental benefits. Under the proposed EPA regulations issued on Sept 15, 2009, the Zero S and DS achieve an equivalent of 455 MPG and generate zero grams of CO2 per mile.

"We are extremely pleased to be the first electric motorcycle company to have completed these rigorous testing programs," said Gene Banman, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. "Passing these tests allows our customers to save money while also giving them confidence in the design and safety of our motorcycles."

The Zero S is a fully electric motorcycle that is built from the ground up around its revolutionary drivetrain technology. It is a street legal supermoto motorcycle that is designed for urban riding. The Zero DS is the dual sport version of the Zero S and can be ridden on anything from city streets to dirt trails. While performance usually comes at an environmental cost, the Zero S and DS are enticing to even the most environmentally conscious consumers. The motorcycles are not only zero emissions vehicles; they are also completely non-toxic and almost 100% recyclable. This unique combination of performance and low overall environmental impact sets a new high standard in the industry.

Completion of the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) along with the US EPA Certificate of Conformity means that the Zero S and DS meet all the requirements for newly created Federal tax credits on street legal electric motorcycles. It allows buyers to receive the 10% Federal tax credit and the state sales tax credit established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The fully homologated and government certified Zero S and DS are available for purchase exclusively through Zero Motorcycles' website. They are priced at $9,950 and for US customers this means a post Federal tax credit price of $8,955. For more information on these electric motorcycles visit:

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

Zero Motorcycles first entered the motorcycle industry in 2006 with the fully electric Drift. In 2008 it launched the Zero X, which exceeded all expectations by selling out before the year's end. Its success blazed the path for the long awaited launch of the street legal Zero S in 2009. Earlier this summer Zero Motorcycles announced the Zero MX and the Zero DS. The Zero MX is made specifically for dirt track riding and motocross. The Zero DS, a dual sport, is their most recent model and can be ridden on any surface from a city street to a gravel road or dirt trail.

For more about Zero Motorcycles, visit http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/.