Zero Motorcycles Sets Guinness EV Range Record With 271-Mile Zero DS Run
Zero DS covered 271.23 miles on one charge in France, setting a Guinness electric motorcycle range record.
The motorcycle used a 19.2 kWh battery setup. That total included Zero's high-density integrated battery and the factory-available Power Tank, which adds a 3.6 kWh battery in the space normally occupied by a fuel tank. The bike ran standard tires and tire pressure, with no modifications beyond the Power Tank, according to TechRadar. It also used a passively cooled interior permanent magnet motor and regenerative deceleration technology.
The GPS-measured distance was 271.23 miles. Guinness World Records independently verified the figure, TechRadar reported. The result was 40% further than the existing record, which was set by Verge Motorcycles' TS Pro around London in 2025. TechRadar put the previous record at 193 miles.
The route used mainly quieter A and B roads in France and avoided highways. It began high in the French Alps and descended toward the Mediterranean coast, allowing the riders to take advantage of regenerative braking. The final stretch was met with pouring rain. Three riders took part, and the riders spent long periods in the saddle, TechRadar reported. The Zero SRS and DSR/X also attempted the challenge and managed 217 miles and 239 miles respectively.
Jarno Middelbosch, senior director of global marketing at Zero Motorcycles, said range anxiety remains a hurdle for prospective riders. 'By proving a real-world range of over 270 miles on a single charge, we're showing what's possible to welcome the next generation of riders to Zero Motorcycles,' he said, according to TechRadar.
TechRadar noted that elevation and regenerative braking likely played a large part in the record attempt. It said the riders deliberately set out at night, when there would be less traffic, and targeted a speed of around 32 mph for maximum efficiency. The article said those conditions may not represent most people's daily commutes, but that the run showed what is possible with forward planning and sensible riding. It added that improvements in battery and motor efficiency, and the promise of more power-dense solid-state batteries, could mean the record does not stand for long.