Motorcycles _ Zero S Electric

The bikes all feature direct-drive by chain, and are recharged from either 110 or 220-volt household supplies. The street machines have larger battery packs than the off-road equivalents, and weigh a little more. But none of them is heavy. Zero claims 277 pounds for the dualsport DS model and 161 pounds for the X trailbike.

Designed by aero-engineer and accomplished mountain-bike designer Neale Saiki, the Zeros feature aviation-grade lightweight aluminum frames weighing just 18 pounds in the roadgoing models, and 13 pounds in the off-road editions. Light wheels and suspension components, mostly sourced from Taiwan, help keep the overall mass down.