Going green where the rubber meets the road... literally!!!

Sergeant Rufus Devane, Miami Police (Photo: Natalie French)

These days there is nothing cool about the weather in Miami.  But there is something really cool hitting the road: new Zero emission motorcycles. Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and members of the Miami Police Traffic Patrol took a first look at the eco-friendly motorcycles on display at Miami City Hall.

The 100% electrical ZERO came to Miami via Santa Cruz, California. Bill Hamlin, their representative in South Florida, believes they have a great application for law enforcement. “Whether they are used for crowd control or beach patrol, they are definitely more efficient than a Segway,” says Hamlin. “With the Zero bikes you have a better chance of catching someone.”

Reaching a high-speed of 67 miles an hour and selling for under $9,000 a piece, the Zero could become an added support for the Miami Police patrol. However, any decision of acquiring the motorcycles will have to wait until after budget meetings. The device can be charged at a regular AC/DC outlet. It generates no noise, has no shifting, and at the equivalent of 400 miles per gallon it can be very appealing during times where everyone is thinking of alternative sources of energy.

“Obviously, the BP oil disaster in the Gulf is a sad reminder that our Country drastically needs to reduce our dependence on oil. Zero Motorcycles are gaining popularity in Europe and could become a common sight on the streets of South Florida,” Sarnoff said. Zero motorcycles have the most powerful battery pack of an electric vehicle in the world. They were designed by a former NASA engineer and operate at a cost of 1 cent per mile.

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For more information and a look at motorcycle fan Jay Leno riding the Zero visit:

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

or

http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/district2/pages/