Zero Motorcycles has set a new Guinness World Records title for the longest journey on an electric motorcycle on a single charge. Belgian rider Jelle Verstaen rode a production Zero DS 436.5km (about 271 miles) from the French Alps to the Mediterranean coast without plugging in once.
The previous record was 310.7km (about 193 miles), set by Verge Motorcycles on a TS Pro in Greater London in March 2025. Zero’s ride beat it by 125.8km, an improvement of more than 40%.
The ride
Verstaen left Les Claux in Vars, high in the French Alps, at about 7pm. From there he headed south on smaller roads and départementales, over mountain passes and through villages, with a short stop in Arles before the final run through the Camargue to the coast.
Motorways were deliberately avoided. Most of the ride was done at night, when there was less traffic, and the target cruising speed was about 52km/h where roads and limits allowed. Zero says the riders also used regenerative braking on the long Alpine descents, custom ride modes and cruise control to stretch the battery.
The weather was dry and pleasant for most of the night, but it turned at the end. A major storm brought heavy rain for the final 100km, and the last 25 minutes or so were ridden through torrential rain and gale-force crosswinds.
How the record was verified
The bike was fully charged before the start, and the charge port was sealed with tape so it couldn’t be topped up along the way. Two professionally verified GPS trackers logged the distance. A logbook recorded times, breaks, photos and witness statements from Manu De Soomer in the chase van and Louis Renaud, who rode alongside on his own Zero SR/S. At the finish, a Guinness World Records adjudicator spent more than an hour reviewing the evidence before confirming the record.
Zero DS specifications
Zero says the record bike was a standard production DS. The only addition was its optional Power Tank, fitted by a dealer, and it ran standard tyres at normal pressures. Zero chose the DS for the attempt because its cast wheels are more aerodynamic than the spoked wheels on the bigger DSR/X, and its lower-powered motor keeps weight down.
| Motor | Z-Force 75-7 interior permanent magnet motor, passively air-cooled |
| Peak power | 45kW (60hp) |
| Peak torque | 132Nm (97lb-ft) |
| Battery | 15.6kWh Z-Force lithium-ion |
| Power Tank (optional) | Additional 3.6kWh, for 19.2kWh in total |
| Claimed city range | About 250km (155 miles) without the Power Tank |
| Drive | Clutchless direct drive with belt final drive |
| Braking | ABS, plus adjustable regenerative braking |
| Wheels and tyres | Cast wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres |
In Europe, the DS is sold rated at 11kW continuous power, which lets it fit learner-licence (A1) rules there.
Three bikes, three record-beaters
Verstaen wasn’t riding alone. Zero’s Senior Global Brand Manager Jenny Brookes rode a stock DSR/X 384km, and customer Louis Renaud covered 350km on his own SR/S, finishing with 4% battery left. All three distances beat the old record.
Zero CEO Pierre-Martin Bos said the point was that these were standard production bikes on public roads, one of them owned and ridden by a Zero customer. Jarno Middelbosch, Zero’s Senior Director of Global Marketing, said the result shows how far efficient production bikes can go when they’re ridden with care, after 20 years of Zero developing its electric motorcycles.
What it means for NZ riders
For a sense of scale, 436km is roughly the distance from Auckland to Napier. Bear in mind that this record was set at a steady 52km/h, mostly at night, on a route that dropped from the Alps to sea level. Typical NZ riding at 100km/h on the open road, with plenty of climbing, will use far more energy. Even so, it shows that a modern electric bike with a bigger battery can cover serious distance when it’s ridden to suit.
Source: Zero Motorcycles. Additional specifications: Ultimate Motorcycling.
