Electric ATV/Utility vehicle?

John_Mc · Oct 9, 2002

I'm looking for a rechargable electric ATV or Utility Vehicle. I want something quiter than the gas powered models I've seen all over the place these days. Don't need a lot of speed (20 MPH would be plenty). I do need enough power to get up and down some decent hills while pulling a small cart (or with the back end full, if it had a built in bed). Mostly will be running in open fields and on trails through a wood lot. Trails can be rough in spots, but I'm not talking about any serious "stump jumping".

Any thoughts on where to look?

John Mc

frank_f15 · Oct 9, 2002

john: i'm no expert on the subject of atv's but don't beleive i ever heard of or seen an electric atv. have u done a search for them?

JimMc · Oct 10, 2002

Some of the Sporting Clays shooters use souped up golf carts, with lifted suspensions, bigger electric motors and stiffened chassis to get around. Most have trailer hitches. You might try one of those forums.

JATO_RaT · Oct 10, 2002

Check out ClubCar

clubcar.com

Not only do they make electric utility vehicles, but some very nice gas vehicles as well.

billfires · Oct 10, 2002

John Mc, I believe John Deere has an electric Gator. I have no idea of cost or specs though. Hope this helps.

Bill C

Soundguy · Oct 10, 2002

Not sure about an atv, but I have worked for a company that was researching electric utility vehicles.

The utility vehicles had a roughly golf cart look to them, but with a stretched rear end for payload... perhaps 8-10 foot vehicle length. In the rear, alont the sides of the bed, were the battery compartments, and they doubled as a row of seats.. more or less.

Frame was square aluminum tubing, with aluminum panels, and expanded metal in places.

Had a 3 speed electric motor. My friend and I worked on the prototype unit, and built the motor speed controller. ( basically a 3 position switch, with a pulse width modulated ( mosfets ) output to the drivetrain.

Had rudimentart shocks / springs.

Would do about 30mpw highway, and had a decent range.

Tires were small though.. I would opt for larger tires for rougher terain.. helps overcome the stall factor.

Unfortunately, the business didn't find a market here, and folded.

Soundguy

cowboydoc · Oct 10, 2002

John Deere makes the e-gator. It has all the same specs of the gas Gator but it's electric. I drove one and really liked it. It wasn't short on power and was super quiet.

John_Mc · Oct 10, 2002

Cowboydoc -

Do you recall what those e-gators went for, ballpark? If it comes down to choosing between an electric utility vehicle and a back hoe, it's going to be a tough choice...

John Mc

John_Mc · Oct 10, 2002

Thanks for the Club Car link, Rat. Some of them look interesting. I may look at some of their used/reconditioned "Lift Kit Cars" if I can find a dealer around here.

John Mc

bmac · Oct 10, 2002

John_Mc, Below is a link for the e-Gator. MSRP $7699. Hope this helps.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://products.deere.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prnbr=1993W&prmenbr=8416&PrevCatRef=46199&PrevCatcgnbr=GATORHO&path=HO&pcat=109849>http://products.deere.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prnbr=1993W&prmenbr=8416&PrevCatRef=46199&PrevCatcgnbr=GATORHO&path=HO&pcat=109849</A>

cowboydoc · Oct 11, 2002

John,
I could have bought one for around $6300 last year. I bought the 6x4 for $7400 loaded.

JeffRey30747 · Oct 11, 2002

There is one on page 423 of JCPenney Fall/Winter 2002 catalog. It is imported from China and is supposed to be able to reach speeds of 30mph. For $3999.00, I think I would prefer a gas powered model.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 12, 2002

toro.com makes them, as does ezgo.com

JATO_RaT · Oct 12, 2002

I have only looked at the "Pioneer" version that Club Car builds. It is a gas version, is very, very well built. Up close it had beautiful welds on the entire machine. Full independent suspension, receivers on the front and back for hitches, a bunch of accessories, very comfortable bucket seats on the Pioneer 1200. They are relatievly light weight as well since they use a lot of aluminum. The aluminum is very sturdy and thick. The drive unit is exceptionally smooth. The price was a bit steep though. They also build the utility vehicles for BobCat. I think Ingersol Rand owns the whole enchilada.

Carl_NH · Oct 12, 2002

John Mc,

I saw the GEM car Div of Daimler Chrysler at a recent fair with an aluminum cargo box about 4'W x 6' L. Pricing was about $8K for this setup. Here is a link to their web site.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gemcar.com>http://www.gemcar.com</A>

Carl

fishman · Oct 16, 2002

Don't know if this is much help, but I received a catalog from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.macksprairiewings.com/>http://www.macksprairiewings.com/</A> that had a neat-looking utility vehicle for sale. It came in both electric and gas with a base price of $5k.

tractorlet · Oct 16, 2002

Thanks John for raising the subject. The responses are great and have piqued my interest.

RocketJSquirrel · Oct 16, 2002

I have a 1993 electric Club Car golf cart. It is 36 volt, and the newer models are 48 volt. You can get a real nice 48 volt used model with recent batteries for under $2000. They go a decent speed, but not quite 20 MPH. It has a garden tractor type hitch and can carry or pull a heavy load. You can get lift kits, atv tires, faster motors, and cargo boxes. I don't know what one kitted out like that costs, but I am thinking more than 3K less than 4K. The Club Car is a very very well built buggy, as someone else posted. Check out these sites for golf cart parts: evparts.com and lincolngolf.com. I should also say that an electric cart is great. A kitted one would be greater and a Gator one would be really greater.

Branch · Oct 17, 2002

I have had a Club Car for several years and it has been excellent. There are two things however that you should be aware of, at least on the golf cart version.

No front brakes. I have steep property and at times I skid to a stop. I take it easy towing my trailer.

No locking differential. At times that has been a problem but I've gotten by. This is an issue with any vehicle. My friends Gator has a locking differential but I don't know what other vehicles might.

General Motors is giving away a bunch of Club Cars for 1 year of use if you qualify. Anyone interested might want to go to http://www.pathway-research.com/

Electric vehicles around the property are great. No chokes, gas, starting problems, and they have plenty of power. The only limitations are those that I pointed out earlier. The absolute quite while driving them is great. I go out to get my newspapers around 5 AM and the only noise I hear is the sound of tires rolling along. I've surprised several coyotes it's so quiet.

Branch