Zero surprised showgoers with the LS1 scooter. This is the brand’s entry into the scooter market. Like the X-line of motorcyclers, the LS1 is also imported from Zongshen in China.
Increasingly, Zero has been building a lower range of products with help from Zongshen. This is important because the traditional Zero range is far too expensive.
The LS1 is a typical full-size city-commuter scooter with 14″ wheels at the front and 13″ at the back, on a 1330 mm wheelbase.
Power comes from an 8.4 kW (peak) mid-drive motor that drives the rear wheel through a belt drive. Zero puts the top speed at 100 kph.
Energy comes from portable batteries that go inside the floorboard. The packs are moderately sized at 1.86 kWh each, but the show stopper is the option to carry a third spare pack inside the underseat boot. With three moderately sized packs, the overall battery capacity reaches 5.58 kWh.
Zero claims a 166 km range with three batteries installed.
With Zero now making Europe its home, the LS1 is more important than it seems. We would not be surprised if Zero adds more scooters below the LS1, expanding the range downwards.
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The Zongshen relationship works for Zero in many ways. With the Chinese manufacturer doing the heavy lifting on the development of the lower-priced range, and also doing all the manufacturing, it leaves Zero free to focus on its mid-segment and top-end motorcycles.