Zero Motorcycles Explains Its Patent Pending Z-Force IPM Motor + Video
For the 2016 model year, Zero has increased performance of its model range once again. Many factors contribute to the performance gain, but the biggest breakthrough comes from the patent pending Z-Force Internal Permanent Magnet motor. Zero claims the IPM is able to tolerate higher temps and produce less heat than its predecessor, a surface mount permanent magnet motor. Heat is the enemy of performance, and the IPM allows the 2016 Zeros to increase the continuous top speed.
In the Zero webcast below, Zero’s Director of Powertrain Engineering, Ryan Biffard, explains the general principles of electric motors, then dives into the specifics of the IPM and its benefits. The entire webcast is an hour long, but skip to the 15-minute mark for details on the IPM. I’ll be riding the 2016 lineup of Zero motorcycles early next month, and I’ll be sure to put the IPM to the test.
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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