founder darus h. zehrbach jr. headquarters morgantown west virginia us area served us europe asia australia products electric scooters website zelectricvehicle.com z electric vehicle corporation zev is an american owned and operated electric scooter manufacturer and distributor based in morgantown west virginia with test facilities in waynesboro pennsylvania . 1 its vehicles are assembled in both the us and china with assembly shops in the usa australia and vietnam . zev says its electric scooters are the world s most powerful fastest and have the longest range . 2 3 4 contents 1 history 2 scooters and motorcycles 3 markets 4 convictions of zev s darus zehrbach 5 see also 6 references 7 external links history edit zev began as a garage project for darus zehrbach jr. in his home garage in 2006 . he saw the potential for a global market while traveling the world as a mechanical engineer . in 2009 operations moved to an airport hangar in waynesburg pa before moving back to morgantown wv in 2013 where the company is currently located . zehrbach s son darus zehrbach iii joined the family business at age 24 after earning an mba from west virginia university . 5 scooters and motorcycles edit zev t series zev has 19 electric scooter models 6 the scooters range from the zev 3600 with a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour 37 mph and a range of 32 miles 51 km to the 10 kw 13 hp 10 lrc with a range at 65 % power of 140 miles 230 km and a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour 81 mph . 3 zev also makes a line of electric motorcycles full fairing sports bikes referred to as their m s line . 6 zev hub motor zev uses a gearless electromagnet 7 powered hub style motor and powers its scooters with lithium batteries as well as less costly lead sodium silicate batteries . 8 zev s large diameter multiphase motors are cooled using an oil bath arrangement which lets zev run a large motor at high speeds without the power sapping and motor destroying effects of excess heat . 1 2 zev claims that its motors are among the world s most efficient in that they have more range than other competing bikes with up to 30 % more battery capacity . zev competed in the 2016 vetter challenge an ohio efficiency rally though zev s scooters were disqualified for failing to finish . 9 what we try to do is offer higher speeds and performance than the competition generally at 25 percent less price . we re the only company that uses hub motors built in the back wheel . there s no chain there s no belt drive and no air being forced through the motor so you ll find our bikes are significantly quieter than anybody else s electric bike said zehrbach . 1 markets edit in addition to sales in the us as of 2013 zev was exporting scooters to 24 countries worldwide and has won awards for exports and marketing . with 19 models of scooter and a motorcycle zev is reported to have the widest range of models of any electric motorcycle and scooter manufacturing company in the world . 5 10 convictions of zev s darus zehrbach edit in 1994 a third circuit federal appellate court upheld the conviction of darus zehrbach and an associate on charges of bankruptcy fraud . 11 mr. zehrbach was accused of rigging an auction of the assets of a bankrupt aircraft manufacturing company by paying off others to refrain from bidding . mr. zehrbach was sentenced to imprisonment for 21 months followed by three years of supervised release . 11 in 2004 a fourth circuit federal appellate court confirmed another conviction of mr. zehrbach and an associate of conspiracy to defraud buyers of aircraft kit engines . 12 13 zehrbach was found to have promised to deliver aircraft engine kits that did not yet exist . while negotiating the deals mr. zehrbach was out on bond during the appeal of the previous bankruptcy fraud conviction . he did not tell prospective buyers that he and a co conspirator had previous convictions for crimes involving financial dishonesty nor that he would be incarcerated during the period he had promised delivery . the court concluded the engines did not exist he had no intention of delivering them and simply took the buyers money and never repaid it . the court affirmed his sentence of 54 months imprisonment and required restitution of 224 148.10 . 13 see also edit video of mr. zehrbach describing the zev lcr during the vetter challenge . electric motorcycles and scooters zev 10 lrc references edit a b c chris peters may 21 2012 . zev electric scooters born of sport bike passion . powersports business . retrieved 2014 01 11 . a b loz blain april 19 2010 . zev comes out swinging lays claim to world s fastest electric scooter . gizmag . retrieved 2014 01 11 . a b zev claims 140 mile range for new electric scooter . dealernews.com . april 10 2013 . retrieved 2014 01 11 . eric schaal june 20 2014 . 5 electric motorcycles with over 130 miles of range . wall street cheat sheet . retrieved 2014 06 12 . a b it s electric zev ships gas free scooters motorcycles around the world . the dominion post . august 30 2015 . retrieved 2016 08 03 . a b jp september 3 2015 . zev from scooters to motorcycles . cleanrider.com . retrieved 2016 08 03 . how electromagnets work . howstuffworks . 2000 04 01 . retrieved 2016 04 29 . billings randy may 9 2012 . z electric vehicle introduces new model 5000 scooter . ev world.com . ev world . retrieved 11 january 2014 . the vetter challenge is a set course fuel economy contest which in 2016 pitted electric versus gas powered motorcyles and scooters . zev electric bikes win 14 export awards . powersports business . july 26 2013 . retrieved 2014 01 12 . a b roth circuit judge january 23 1995 . united states v. darus h. zehrbach & alex a. mervis . third circuit court of appeals unpublished opinion . retrieved august 30 2015 . two businessmen sentenced for fraud . charleston daily mail . october 19 2002 . retrieved 2016 08 03 . a b per curiam may 11 2004 . united states of america vs. darus zehrbach & lee ann demus pdf . fourth circuit court of appeals unpublished opinion . retrieved august 30 2015 . external links edit official website v t e motorcycle marques of the united states current alligator atk birmingham motus boss hoss brammo cleveland cyclewerks confederate electric moto fischer harley davidson highland indian marine turbine technologies motoczysz rokon victory z electric vehicle zero motorcycles defunct ace american ironhorse bi autogo big dog buell california cleveland 1915 1929 crocker cushman cyclone excelsior excelsior henderson flying merkel henderson hodaka iver johnson mustang penton pierce arrow ridley roehr sears simplex thor vectrix wagner motorcycle company yankee retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title z electric vehicle & oldid 734227623 categories motor scooterselectric scootersgreen vehiclesmotorcycle manufacturers of the united states navigation menu personal tools not logged intalkcontributionscreate accountlog in namespaces article talk variants views read edit view 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