Electric scooters aren’t exactly the kind of machines that make your heart race. They’re not loud, not fast, and not the kind of thing you hang a poster of in your garage. But here’s the truth: they’re quietly taking over city streets. Across Europe and Asia, light electric mobility (scooters, mopeds, and small e-bikes) is booming. What used to be seen as disposable little runabouts are now the backbone of how millions get around.
In places like Paris or Milan, regulations are squeezing out combustion scooters, and riders are switching to plug-in models by the thousands. Over in India, cities like Bengaluru and Delhi are packed with electric two-wheelers zipping between tuk-tuks and traffic jams. China has taken it even further, with tens of millions of electric scooters already in use and local brands building faster, more capable models every year.
That’s probably why Zero Motorcycles, one of the pioneers of high-performance electric motorcycles, has decided to join the action. Known for models like the SR/F and DSR/X that pack sportbike-level power, Zero has built its name around performance and premium tech. But its latest machine, the LS1 electric scooter, unveiled at EICMA 2025 in Milan, marks a fresh start.
The LS1 is small, simple, and built for daily life. It’s part of Zero’s “All-Access” initiative, a push to make electric riding available to more people. Instead of focusing on top-end performance, this scooter is about practicality and ease of use. It’s powered by a mid-mounted motor and two swappable floorboard-mounted batteries, giving a range of up to 71 miles in standard trim. Riders can opt for a third under-seat battery that stretches the total to about 106 miles, which is honestly not bad for something that fits neatly into city life.
Top speed is rated at 62 miles per hour, and the LS1 comes with ABS, traction control, and a low seat height to make it beginner-friendly and comfortable in stop-and-go traffic. Charging is simple, too. The included 800-watt charger fills the batteries from zero to ninety-five percent in about four and a half hours, while an optional 1,500-watt fast charger cuts that time nearly in half. And since the batteries are removable, you can plug them in indoors, making apartment living no issue.
There’s also under-seat storage big enough for a helmet or a bag of groceries, and the scooter’s narrow dimensions make it ideal for filtering through congested city streets. It’s the kind of vehicle that might not excite riders on paper, but could easily become one of the most convenient tools in urban mobility.
The LS1 was developed under Zero’s expanded partnership with Chinese manufacturer Zongshen, which also produced two new trail-oriented electric motorcycles under the same collaboration. It’s a smart move: by leveraging Zongshen’s production capability, Zero can keep prices reasonable while focusing on design and engineering. The LS1 is expected to start around 5,200 euros, roughly $5,600, depending on the market.
This launch comes at a turning point for the company. Pierre-Martin Bos recently took over as CEO following a major restructuring that saw Zero move its base of operations out of the United States and trim down its workforce.
Still, the LS1 shows that Zero isn’t backing away from its mission. Instead of chasing the same niche of premium electric motorcycles, the brand is now betting on accessibility. The LS1 might not be a thrill ride, but it represents something bigger: a chance for Zero to stay relevant in a world that’s moving toward cleaner, simpler mobility.
Source: Zero Motorcycles
