Z Electric Vehicle

Z Electric Vehicle Corporation (ZEV) is an American owned and operated electric scooter manufacturer and distributor based in Morgantown, West Virginia, with test facilities in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.[1] Its vehicles are assembled in both the US and China with assembly shops in the US, Australia, and Vietnam. ZEV says its electric scooters are the world's most powerful, fastest, and have the longest range.[2][3][4]

Z Electric Vehicle Corporation
FounderDarus H. Zehrbach, Jr.
Headquarters
Morgantown, West Virginia
,
US
Area served
US, Europe, Asia, Australia
ProductsElectric scooters
Websitezelectricvehicle.com

History

Zev began as a garage project for Darus Zehrbach Jr., in his home garage in 2006. He saw the potential for a global market, while traveling the world as a mechanical engineer. In 2009 operations moved to an airport hangar in Waynesburg, PA before moving back to Morgantown, WV in 2013 where the company is currently located. Zehrbach's son, Darus Zehrbach III, joined the family business at age 24 after earning an MBA from West Virginia University.[5]

Scooters and motorcycles
ZEV T series

ZEV has 19 electric scooter models[6] The scooters range from the ZEV 3600 with a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) and a range of 32 miles (51 km), to the 10 kW (13 hp) 10 LRC, with a range (at 65% power) of 140 miles (230 km), and a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).[3]

ZEV also makes a line of electric motorcycles, full fairing sports bikes referred to as their M-S line.[6]

ZEV hub motor

ZEV uses a gearless electromagnet[7] powered hub style motor and powers its scooters with lithium batteries, as well as less costly lead/sodium silicate batteries.[8] ZEV's large-diameter, multiphase motors, are cooled using an oil bath arrangement, which lets ZEV run a large motor at high speeds without the power sapping and motor-destroying effects of excess heat.[1][2]

ZEV claims that its motors are among the world's most efficient in that they have more range than other competing bikes with up to 30% more battery capacity. ZEV competed in the 2016 Vetter Challenge, an Ohio efficiency rally—though ZEV's scooters were disqualified for failing to finish.[9]

"What we try to do is offer higher speeds and performance than the competition, generally at 25 percent less price. We're the only company that uses hub motors, built in the back wheel. There's no chain, there's no belt drive and no air being forced through the motor, so you'll find our bikes are significantly quieter than anybody else's electric bike," said Zehrbach.[1]

Markets

In addition to sales in the US, as of 2013 ZEV was exporting scooters to 24 countries worldwide, and has won awards for exports and marketing. With 19 models of scooter, and a motorcycle, ZEV is reported to have the widest range of models of any electric motorcycle and scooter manufacturing company in the world.[5][10]

Past convictions of founder

In 1994 a court upheld the conviction of Darus Zehrbach and an associate on charges of bankruptcy fraud dating back to 1989.[11] Mr. Zehrbach was accused of rigging an auction of the assets of a bankrupt aircraft manufacturing company, by paying off others to refrain from bidding. Mr. Zehrbach was sentenced to imprisonment for 21 months, followed by three years of supervised release.[11]

In 2004 a court confirmed another conviction of Mr. Zehrbach and an associate of conspiracy to defraud buyers of aircraft kit engines between 1994 an 1996.[12][13] Zehrbach was found to have promised to deliver aircraft engine kits that did not yet exist. The court concluded the engines did not exist, he had no intention of delivering them, and simply took the buyers’ money and never repaid it. The court affirmed his sentence of 54 months imprisonment, and required restitution of $224,148.10.[13]

In April 2019 Zehrbach was again sentenced to prison time; this time for lying to a federal agent about his violation of economic sanctions against Iran by exporting scooters there.[14]

See also

References
  1. Chris Peters (May 21, 2012). "ZEV Electric Scooters born of sport bike passion". Powersports Business. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  2. Loz Blain (April 19, 2010). "ZEV comes out swinging: lays claim to world's fastest electric scooter". Gizmag. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  3. "ZEV claims 140-mile range for new electric scooter". Dealernews.com. April 10, 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  4. Eric Schaal (June 20, 2014). "5 Electric Motorcycles With Over 130 Miles of Range". Wall Street Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  5. "It's Electric: ZEV Ships gas-free scooters, motorcycles around the world". The Dominion Post. August 30, 2015. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  6. JP (September 3, 2015). "ZEV: from scooters to motorcycles". CleanRider.com. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  7. "How Electromagnets Work". HowStuffWorks. 2000-04-01. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  8. Billings, Randy (May 9, 2012). "Z Electric Vehicle Introduces New Model 5000 Scooter". EV World.com. EV World. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. The Vetter Challenge is a set course fuel economy contest, which in 2016 pitted electric versus gas powered motorcycles and scooters.
  10. "ZEV electric bikes win 14 export awards". Powersports Business. July 26, 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  11. Roth, Circuit Judge (January 23, 1995). "United states v. Darus H. Zehrbach & Alex A. Mervis". Third Circuit Court of Appeals (unpublished opinion). Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  12. "Two Businessmen Sentenced for Fraud". Charleston Daily Mail. October 19, 2002. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  13. per curiam (May 11, 2004). "United States of America vs. Darus Zehrbach & Lee Ann Demus" (PDF). Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (unpublished opinion). Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  14. Harvey, Matt. "Fed judge sends Westover, WV, businessman to prison for lying about exports to Iran". Morgantown News. Retrieved 17 June 2019.

Official website

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