Zero Motorcycles has claimed the Guinness record for the longest distance covered by an electric motorcycle on a single charge. Jelle Verstaen rode 271.23 miles (436.5km) on a Zero DS, travelling through the French and Italian Alps before reaching the Mediterranean coast. The run exceeded the previous mark by 78.17 miles, a 40% improvement over the 193.053-mile (310.689km) distance set in March 2025 by a Verge TS Pro around Greater London.

The motorcycle was not a prototype or a specially modified machine. Verstaen used a production DS with Zero’s optional Power Tank accessory. Zero quotes a 155-mile city range for the DS’s 15.6kWh battery; the Power Tank contributes another 3.6kWh, taking total capacity to 19.2kWh. The record distance therefore went well beyond the company’s published city-range figure. GPS tracking was used throughout, and Guinness World Records independently verified the route.

A real-road endurance test

The attempt took place entirely on public roads, with no motorway riding. The route linked mountain passes, towns and villages, exposing the bikes to the normal mix of climbs, traffic and junctions rather than a controlled laboratory cycle. It was laid out to keep the ride flowing and reduce energy-intensive stop-start sections. In the mountain stages, Verstaen made extensive use of regenerative braking, while a steady pace on more open coastal roads helped manage consumption. Most of the journey was dry, but a storm moved in over the Camargue and the final 60 miles were completed in heavy rain.

The record was also a group effort. Three riders left together on Zero motorcycles and all three beat the former record. Zero customer Louis Renaud covered 217 miles on a stock SR/S, finishing with 4% charge remaining. Jenny Brookes, Zero’s Senior Global Brand Manager, reached 239 miles on a stock DSR/X before running out of charge. Where road conditions and speed limits allowed, the group maintained an average cruising speed of about 32mph, compared with 12mph during the previous attempt.

Zero Senior Director of Global Marketing Jarno Middelbosch said the result demonstrates what electric motorcycle technology can achieve in real-world use. CEO Pierre-Martin Bos added that all three machines were production motorcycles in dealer specification, with one ridden by a Zero customer. The company was founded in 2006 and is marking its 20th anniversary, giving Zero a concrete demonstration of long-distance electric performance beyond controlled testing.