Sustainability Today

The Colorado-based former magazine publisher returns to his love of vehicles with Zaiser Motors and a fresh new look at electric motorcycles.

By Robert Yehling

When the pandemic hit, Anthony Cross faced a daunting choice: do I keep publishing Salt magazine, or venture into something equally or more beneficial for the community?

The Colorado-based publisher leaned into his lifelong love of cars and desire for a more sustainable world and hit upon an idea — a new way forward in electric motorcycle manufacturing, featuring partially interchangeable parts. Then he found a full team expert and willing to jump in and set off in the bustling Colorado Tech Zone to fulfill his new dream.

This brings us to Zaiser Motors, a testament to the power of innovation and entrepreneurship — and to Cross’ pivoting speed. In September, after introducing the Silhouette, the world’s first Electrocycle, Zaiser announced a platform redesign to produce a smaller second motorcycle, the Arrow, thanks to a WeFunder page campaign that hit its goals in just six weeks. The Arrow has a 160-mile range and 100 mph top speed, while the Silhouette has a 300-mile range and 120 mph top speed. Each Electrocycle saves up to 12,000 pounds of C02 emissions annually due to the bike’s 100% electric fueling.

The Electrocycle is expected to begin rolling off the line in 2022, with the Arrow to follow.

The technology is hot and new — as Cross pointed out. “Electric motorcycles have been sort of in the background with our push to renewable and alternate energy vehicles,” he said. “But they’ve been around. We wouldn’t even be able to think about something like our bikes were it not for Zero, which has been around (since 2008). They blazed the trail, so much so that legislation is just now starting to catch up to the things they’ve been doing. It was hard to convince legislators 10 years ago that electric motorcycles were right around the corner, but now that the technology has been proven, and we’re thinking much more about climate-saving solutions, everything’s gotten so much better. It’s more tangible; you can reach out and touch it.”

Zaiser Motors’ unique modular system allows for maximum personalization and sustainability/replaceability of parts, including the battery, to meet expectations of other rapid development cycles within the industry and further extend the lifespan of each vehicle. With this design, Cross notes, the company can quickly pivot on two things that are going to rapidly evolve as the decade continues — fuel sources; and the sustainability and recyclability of the bike components themselves.

“Our biggest expenses are the batteries and the motors, particularly the batteries,” Cross said. “We’re working with a couple of people to try to move past lithium a little bit. We’re looking for ways to recycle what’s already out there and make them the best and most efficient. All of our components have to have some level of removability/recyclability. You’re building an EV with components potentially damaging to the environment, so it’d be foolish to market yourself as a green solution without looking at the future of these batteries. We really want the whole body to be recyclable in the future.”

One of the most satisfying aspects of Cross’ whirlwind transition from publisher to electric motorcycle manufacturer and CEO, he says, is the type of community that comes with renewable energy, sustainable product manufacturing, and creating future solutions for very major current problems. Having something as hot-topic as getting around with less fuel and more efficiency doesn’t hurt, either.

“It’s a hot technology, and when you have a hot technology, you have a lot of networking and a lot of ideas that one person might not think much of, but someone else sees its use,” he said. “Right now, it’s very communal and very collaborative. You have to be involved with other businesses, have relationships with them, know a lot of people This goes for our suppliers, too, our battery suppliers. I love that. That’s how stuff gets done, as opposed to gatekeeping and being ultracompetitive.”

To that, one of Zaiser’s near-term goals is to make the assemblies of the Silhouette, Arrow, and future models partially interchangeable, so that customers don’t have to replace entire models just to get upgraded or latest versions of specific parts. “If you bought a bike in 2022, then came back in 2025, we could swap out batteries, or motors, or whatever, to keep it on the road in the future,” Cross said. “That’s key to sustainability as well, and doesn’t have as big of an economic impact as people think.”

It all plays into Cross’ life as an entrepreneur who seems to find ways to create and tinker in business settings, whether music production and recording (he’s also a musician), to magazine platforms to electric motorcycle frames and fuel sources.

“I’ve been guided by the wind in some ways,” he said. “When Salt was no longer viable… my entire goal has always been to help the community and planet while generating the funds to be able to achieve this goal. The timing for Zaiser was perfect. The team fell into place immediately. I’ve always had a technical background, worked on classic cars and motorcycles, always been a tinkerer and fixer, always liked engineering as well. I’ve always loved bikes, the design of bikes and designing things in general, so this was a light bulb moment.” ■

The Arrow

The Silhouettte

By David Wallach

In 2005, the Organic Gardener launched with a few simple goals in mind: help families, schools and restaurants grow organic vegetable gardens in the Chicago area.

Founded in 2005 by Verd and Jeanne Nolan, their business grew quickly with corporations, schools, restaurants, and non-profit organizations interested in developing a sustainable garden-to-table approach.

The company name is more than a cool slogan, it’s the Nolans’ way of life. It’s something they like to share with customers and friends.

“Our approach is rooted in the idea that anyone, anywhere, can grow their own food,” Verd said. “Whether we are working with at-risk youth, high-end chefs, or a family down the block, we work toward a common goal. Each project connects us to the larger good food movement growing within Chicagoland and throughout the nation.”

With their electric cars, work vehicles, and tools, the Organic Gardner’s were early adapters to a movement that is taking root (see what we did there) across the country as more and more cities are pushing for green initiatives in homes, industrial lawn work and gardening.

From Vermont to California, the push to move to battery-powered lawn tools is no longer an idea but remains a movement that cities are getting behind.

A new bill introduced in the Illinois General Assembly would ban the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers in Illinois retail stores and slap residents caught using them with a $500 fine.

Senate Bill 3313, filed Feb. 14, would put a statewide prohibition on gas-powered leaf blowers that contain either a two- or four-stroke engine. It appears Illinois would be the first state in the nation with a blanket ban on the devices, which would take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

In Burlington, VT, a new ordinance prohibits using gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Only electric or battery-powered blowers under 65 decibels per lot may be used. Many other cities around the country are adapting similar laws.

For Kevin Kittoe of Oswego, IL, the ban could cost him his budding lawn care business.

“This is how [people] pay their bills and feed their families,” he said. “This is it. This is all they have.”

He serves around 20 clients in his hometown, primarily middle-class residential properties and small businesses. “They don’t consider the little man trying to get by. This is going to directly affect my son and my wife.”

The basic argument that resonates is noise and pollution.

Gas-powered blowers operate at 90 decibels. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that level of noise can cause hearing damage after two hours of exposure. Gas engines also contribute to air pollution in residential neighborhoods.

Until recently, gas-powered tools meant power, while electric tools meant less noise and emissions, but lacked in performance.

As Verd points out, the technology has evolved to a point where it’s hard to tell the difference.

Ryobi, sent some of their lawnmowers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers with a simple challenge “beat the hell out of them.”

Verd (pictured above) and Jeanne Nolan founded Organic Gardener in 2005 to create a sustainable Garden-to-Table approach.(Bottom) The Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 350 CFM leaf blower.

Leaf Blowers

They sent us the 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 350 CFM Blower and the insanely powerful 40V Brushless 625 CFM Whisper Series Backpack Blower. The Ryobi backpack blower made me realize that change can be good. It is quieter, easier to assemble, equally as strong as my big gas monster (now for sale on Marketplace, BTW).

Powered by two-40V batteries, the assembly was quick and easy.

The Ryobi backpack blower passed every test that we put it through. The way it performed in helping blow away the spring goop and postwinter mess from our yard was as easy as a gas-powered blower, and I didn’t smell like gas when I was done.

The trigger controls the variable speed throttle, and the cruise control can be set to save wear and tear on ones’ finger. The Turbo Boost function is excellent and really gets those hardto-shift leaves flying. The joystick type control can be moved forwards, backward, and turned left to right to ensure a comfortable fit for any arm and hand. With a blowing force of 145 mph and 57 decibel sound output, it’s quiet, strong, and built to get the job done. At a $249 price point, it’s competitive with the higher-priced gas models in the same class. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 350 CFM Blower ($149.00) is a great, easy-to-use tool for the shop, yard, getting junk off the trampoline, and even blowing the heck out of dog hair in the car. Weighing in at 7 lbs. it’s lightweight and blows at 110 MPH, packing a punch in a little package. One battery, and it’s ready to go. The boost button adds additional power when you need it. At 62 decibels, it’s super quiet to keep the neighbors happy. It would be great if it had an additional nozzle attachment to get lower to the ground, but it’s not a deal-breaker. The Lawn Mower

Ryobi sent us their 40V 21-inch Brushless, Self-Propelled Mower Kit, to do battle with my ¾ of an acre yard, which is about what they claim their batteries should last per mow.

Now, I have an old Toro riding mower that I love. The idea of schlepping a push mower around my yard is not a good one. It feels like Ryobi did their research and have made an easyto-use mower that solves many of the traditional issues.

The 7-Position Single-Point Height Adjustment is a single lever used to adjust all four wheels at the same time, which is fantastic. Instead of having to adjust each wheel separately, the Ryobi mower makes it easy to reach and adjust the deck height.

This mower is easy to use. One-touch of a button, and it’s on. The self-propelled system

lets you control your speed while providing the power to get the job done through thick grass, up hills, and the general agony of having to push a mower. It comes with a bag, mulch option, or a traditional side discharger. My favorite option is storage. Since there is no gas or carburetor to gunk up, Ryobi has made these “foldable” so you can store them standing up or vertically, taking up much less space. Each mower is much quieter and comes with a 5-year warranty. And I know this shouldn’t matter, but it does, because you know we’re “humans.” The mowers are good-looking. If the Mandalorian didn’t always live on some sort of dusty planet, you could see him using this mower to mow his yard. A big light on front and slick design make it look cool. The battery thing may be an issue if you have a larger yard. I had to stop and replace my batteries. That being said, if you have a smaller yard or an urban yard, this is a great option. The Ryobi 40V 21” Brushless Self-Propelled Mower Kit. One touch of a button lets you control the speed while providing an impressive The Hedge Trimmer amount of power. My brother-in-law is a “Michigan Guy.” Gaspowered, fuel-injected, loud, and proud. I gave the battery-powered hedge trimmer to him to see what he thought of such an alien product. At first, he was hesitant to pick it up, but as he started to play with the angel adjustments, and 26” cutting blades, he decided to give it a whirl. Snap-in the battery, turn this sucker on, adjust the angle and start trimming and cutting. It’s really that easy. With a cut speed of 3,200 strokes per minute and a cut capacity of 1,” the bush didn’t stand a chance. Within 15 minutes, the bush was trimmed to an actual bush. He didn’t smell like gas and wasn’t exhausted. Ryobi isn’t the only brand out there making top-quality electric products for your yard work. Verd uses the Milwaukee m18 line and swears by the quality and power. With all electric technology, it comes down to battery life and power. Speed chargers and everincreasing battery power are closing the gap. A good rule of thumb if you decide to switch to electric-powered yard tools, is extra batteries at the ready to keep you from running out of power and on task. ■