It’s National Drive Electric Week, and we’re riding in style — at least, test-riding. We recently got to test out Zero Motorcycles’ electric bikes, and while we might not have hit their max speed of 124 mph, we definitely felt the wind in our hair.

Driving electric

Raleigh ranked No. 16 on a recent study of the Best Cities to Own an Electric Vehicle due to factors like the number of charging stations + cost of electricity. In Raleigh, we have 205 total charging stations — and 113 of them are free.

Electric motorcycle

We hopped on the back of Zero’s model SR/S motorcycle — a bike with a top speed of 124 mph, peak torque of 140, and a ~160 mile range for city riding. Not bad for a 100% electric vehicle.

Unlike normal motorcycles, these bikes have no clutch and no gear shifter. Still take them seriously, though — they go from 0 to 60 in just over 3 seconds.

You can demo a bike for yourself at Team Powersports (located on Glenwood Avenue), the Zero Motorcycle dealer in the area.

EV incentives

If you purchase an electric vehicle (aka: EV) in the US, you’re eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500. Find more details about the credit here.

EV drivers can also drive in high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. These lanes are typically meant for vehicles carrying 2+ passengers, but hybrid and electric cars can use these lanes as an incentive for purchasing the vehicles.

Learning more

This week, you can attend a variety of online events to learn more about driving electric — including topics like battery technology, cost of ownership + driving experience.

Plug-in NC, a statewide program that promotes electric driving, allows interested users to calculate estimated fuel savings on their website.

Want to read more? Read our continuing coverage of electric vehicles in NC here.

Poll

/**/