I happen to own a ZEV Electric scooter, the ZEV LRC. It may well be the best bike I ever owned. I have had it now for several years and commute to work on it.
I drove the Zero bikes, S and SR before buying the ZEV LRC. Those motorcycles are really small, the size of a 250 cc at best. They really are not good to carry a passenger on unless she is very young, small, and skinny nor good for a large rider. Cycle World hit the Zero for having a bad rider seat. The ZEV seat is quite comfortable with a butt pocket, and a rear seat big, wide, and my wife loves it. The ZERO is a lot smaller than the ZEV and did not feel as stable at speed because of the shorter wheelbase and higher CG. The reverse gear is very nice when backing into parking spaces with the wife on the back. Charging time is half the Zero
For storage, the ZEV has five storage compartments, and all but two are really large. The under seat box holds 62 liter, which is about 3 ½ feet long, and 1 ½ ft wide, by about 10 inches deep. You can mount the rear storage box on the rear rack if you want also. I have hauled grocery and takeout several times under the seat.
ZERO has no fairing. I can set on the ZEV and hold the throttle open at 80 mph on I-81 without getting beat by the wind, cold, or rain. The ZERO is just more of a nice weather machine in comparison and just is not as comfortable. Do not discount the wind beating when considering and how the temperature might change during a days ride.
For price, the ZEV are a lot less money than the ZERO. The LRC I bought cost $13,900 which is the most expensive one, but about $4,000 less than the ZERO with the large battery pack that gets less range than the ZEV. So, no, you cannot get a ZERO with that performance for the same price. $4,000 was a lot to me and I got more performance for the money.
The ZEV has bigger brakes than the ZERO and you can haul down on them without upsetting the handling. I like the large tires for braking The Zero’s motor makes a lot more noise. From what I can find from the NHTSA/DOT listings, the company is the oldest in the business, over 10 years old, but Zero is close behind.
You are right about the range and efficiency of the ZEV. ZEV just beat all of the ZERO and the ZERO streamliners even in the Vetter Challenge with their old Yeller #1 prototype LRC. It scored better than everyone in efficiency except for one custom built streamliner that won by only 2or 3%. From a ZEV customer letter a couple of weeks ago:
http://www.schultzengineering.us/events/v-chall-16/v-chall-16.htm http://www.schultzengineering.us/events/v-chall-16/v-chall-2016.pdf
The idea that the oil bath inside the motor is more complex or anything negative is incorrect. The motor just has oil inside for heat transfer and to stop corrosion. Its not a pumped system. This is not a small motor. It’s much larger than the ZERO in diameter and surface area, and not buried in the chassis like the ZERO where its fins are turned cross to the on coming wind. It’s out in the breeze and cools really well. I have been out with the wife here in the NC mountains, and I have checked the motor and controller many times to see if they got hot. They do not. But while I read about ZERO shutting down from heat, I never see that about the ZEV. The ZEV motor, since it is a hub motor, also has the magnets on the outside of the motor. The windings do not move nor does the shaft so its just speculation that any vibration bothers it.
Contrary to the trash talk that gets passed off as fact in the forums, there is no evidence anywhere of any legal action involving the company or any of its managers. I investigated that. Guys on the forums try to make a case of a man with a similar name, but not the same name, having past legal issues. They claim the company founder was the guy that got in trouble (not the current managers) but even then, articles by magazine writers say the founder died the first year. Even Rafaelo here says it was the founder with the issues. Then the issue was I recall 25 years ago, 15 before the company started. So if there was ever a connection, its very vague and not relevant in my mind. I can find no one that claims they have been even slightly injured.
Last time I stopped by the factory on the way north, they had a new 110 mph, 170 mile range highway speed version of the LRC in testing. My brother in Jersey wants mine, so I plan on moving up if they get that on the market. But I have to see about a white S first.