Zero DS Covers 436.5 km on a Single Charge: How the World Record Was Set

• 436.5 kilometres on a single charge, the previous record stood at 310.689 kilometres
• Production DS with optional Power Tank and 19.2 kWh battery capacity
• All three Zero motorcycles in the group went further than the previous record holder

Zero Motorcycles has taken the Guinness World Record for the longest journey on an electric motorcycle on a single battery charge. Belgian rider Jelle Verstaen covered 436.5 kilometres on a Zero DS. That is 125.8 kilometres more than the previous record, an increase of over 40 percent. The route was recorded via GPS and, according to the manufacturer, independently checked and confirmed by Guinness World Records. For Zero, the record comes in a special year: the company, founded in 2006, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026.

How far does the Zero DS go on a single charge?

Officially, Zero quotes a range of up to 249 kilometres in city riding for the DS. On the record run, the bike covered 436.5 kilometres with an additional Power Tank.

From the factory, the DS has a battery with 15.6 kWh maximum capacity, 13.6 kWh nominal. The Power Tank is a regularly available accessory and adds another 3.6 kWh. Together that makes 19.2 kWh. For mixed city and motorway riding, Zero quotes much lower figures: 185 kilometres at 89 km/h and 161 kilometres at 113 km/h. The record distance is therefore far above all official figures. According to the manufacturer, it shows how much range can be extracted from the existing battery with an anticipatory riding style.

Zero DS technical specifications

The Z-Force 75-7 motor is a passively air-cooled AC motor with interior permanent magnets. It delivers a maximum of 61 hp (45 kW) at 3,650 rpm, with continuous output of 15 hp (11 kW). Zero quotes torque at 132 Nm (97 lb-ft) and top speed at 139 km/h. Power goes directly to the rear wheel via a Gates toothed belt, without clutch or gearbox.

The DS weighs 239 kg (527 lbs) unladen. It rolls on cast wheels measuring 19 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear, fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres as standard. A fully adjustable 47 mm Showa fork works at the front and a Showa shock at the rear, each with 190 millimetres of travel. The integrated charger delivers 3.3 kW. According to the manufacturer, charging from 20 to 80 percent therefore takes 2.5 hours.

What role did the Power Tank play in the record?

The Power Tank was the only deviation from the base model and is offered by Zero as an accessory. Beyond that, the motorcycle remained completely stock according to the manufacturer.

There were no additional batteries or technical modifications. Tyres and tyre pressure also matched the production specification. Even switching to tyres with lower rolling resistance was ruled out under the Guinness requirements, as the motorcycle had to be regularly available and unmodified. Zero attributes the distance to the high energy density of the Z-Force battery, low losses in the drivetrain and regeneration. This refers to recovering energy when braking and coasting, which feeds electricity back into the battery.

Why Zero chose the DS for the record

According to Zero, the choice of model came down to efficiency and comfort. The cast wheels of the DS are said to offer aerodynamic advantages over the spoked wheels of the more powerful DSR/X. The less powerful motor also keeps the weight down. The fully faired SR/S would have been lighter and more aerodynamic. For a ride expected to last more than eight hours, however, the upright seating position of the DS was the deciding factor.

Where did the record ride take place?

The ride led from Les Claux near Vars in the French Alps to the Mediterranean coast. The start was around 7 pm, and the group rode through the night.

The route followed minor roads and French departmental roads with one lane in each direction. Motorways were off limits. Along the way, the riders crossed mountain passes, passed through towns and villages and rode on open country roads. One stop took the group to Arles. During the night, the riders also made short stops for snacks and toilet breaks. They were accompanied by a vehicle for video recording and two vans that were to collect the motorcycles once their batteries were empty.

It stayed dry and mild until the Camargue. Then a heavy storm moved in and lasted until the finish. The group rode the last 100 kilometres in pouring rain, with gusty crosswinds added in the final 25 minutes or so.

What riding style allowed the Zero DS to go so far?

According to the team, the decisive factor was not a single measure but the combination of route choice, speed and technology. The aim was the smoothest possible flow without constant accelerating and braking.

That is why the ride took place at night, when there is less traffic. The route was planned so that stops at traffic lights and junctions were kept to a minimum. Where road conditions and speed limits allowed, the group averaged around 52 km/h. The reason is aerodynamic drag: it rises with speed, and consumption rises significantly with it.

On the downhill sections in the Alps, Verstaen made targeted use of regeneration. Custom riding modes allowed power delivery and regenerative braking to be adapted to the conditions, while cruise control helped maintain a steady pace. On selected sections, the team even considered switching off the motor via the kill switch to reduce drag in the drivetrain. Tyre pressure also played a role, though within the production specification.

How was the world record verified?

The ride was recorded with two professionally certified GPS trackers and then checked by an adjudicator from Guinness World Records. The aim was to leave as little room for doubt as possible.

Before the start, the DS was fully charged and the charging port sealed with tape. Any recharging along the way would therefore have been noticed immediately. A logbook recorded times, breaks, location photos and witness statements. A witness rode along in the support vehicle. At the finish, Anouk de Timary, who was on site for Guinness World Records, checked the evidence for more than an hour, recorded the final figures and took statements.

Three Zero motorcycles beat the old record

Verstaen was not riding alone. Three riders set off together on three production Zero motorcycles, and all three went beyond the old mark of 310.689 kilometres.

Frenchman Louis Renaud is a Zero customer and was originally only meant to take part as an independent witness. He then decided to ride along on his own stock SR/S. At 350 kilometres, he ended his ride with 4 percent charge remaining, just as the rain got heavier. Jenny Brookes, Senior Global Brand Manager at Zero, covered 384 kilometres on a production DSR/X until the battery was empty. For part of the route, she rode through the rain with the videographer as a pillion. After the display already showed 0 percent, she covered another 15 kilometres. Verstaen went the furthest on the DS: only at 436.5 kilometres was the battery empty and the GPS came to a stop.

Zero CEO Pierre-Martin Bos sees exactly this as the core of the project: “A record only means something if riders can relate to it. These were three production motorcycles, exactly as they leave our dealers, ridden on public roads — one of them by a Zero Motorcycles customer. All three surpassed the previous record. That is no one-off; it demonstrates what our technology can deliver today, and we intend to keep raising the bar.”

Who held the previous record?

The previous record of 310.689 kilometres was held by Verge Motorcycles from Finland. British riders Sam Clarke and Sara Sloman set it on 22 March 2025 on an unmodified Verge TS Pro around London.

That ride led through suburbs inside London’s M25 motorway ring and took just over 16 hours. The two riders took turns at regular intervals, and traffic was typical of a major city. Here too, the charging port was sealed and the route recorded by tracker. According to Verge, the battery still had around 7 percent charge after the record. On average, the Verge travelled at around 12 mph, or about 19 km/h. At around 52 km/h, the Zero group was considerably quicker.

What does Zero want to show with the record?

With the ride, Zero above all wants to dispel range anxiety. Marketing chief Jarno Middelbosch describes this concern as a hurdle for many potential buyers of electric motorcycles.

Middelbosch points out that Zero has been working on electric motorcycle technology for 20 years and that the brand’s customers have now covered millions of kilometres. With a range of more than 400 kilometres under real-world conditions, the company wants, in his words, to show what is possible and win over a new generation of riders for the brand. He stresses that the tools for greater range, from regeneration to the efficient drivetrain, are part of the standard equipment. What matters is using them deliberately.

How much does the Zero DS cost and who can ride it?

According to the manufacturer, the Zero DS costs 17,660 euros in Germany (approx. 19,760 US dollars). The Power Tank used on the record ride costs an additional 4,009 euros (approx. 4,485 US dollars).

The DS is a dual-sport motorcycle, a blend of road bike and light adventure tourer. Within the model range, it is the lighter sibling of the DSR/X. It can be ridden with an A1 class licence, and in Germany also with a car licence carrying the B196 code. Zero offers a five-year warranty on both the motorcycle and the battery, with no mileage limit on the battery.

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