Polaris electric ATV

radman1 · Aug 9, 2009

Discovered Polaris is launching an electric ATV this fall. What is your opionion? Knee jerk reaction to high fuel prices last year? I give it less than 1 year production.

2010 Polaris Ranger Lineup Preview

Scooby074 · Aug 9, 2009

I think itll last more than a year.

Golf courses will likely look at them. Farms too i suppose. They could also be useful for hunters as theyll be alot quieter (asuming your not blasting thru the woods breaking branches).

Tig · Aug 9, 2009

I think it could find a niche market. Like Scoob said, golf courses and farms. If your camp has power then hunting too. Acceptance will depend on price.
Easy enough to plug in at night and you're good to go the next day. No need to haul fuel.

whistlepig · Aug 9, 2009

A pretty wimpy review. I have a Polaris 800 EFI Sportsman and it is a beast. It will pull 1,200# like a sack of potatoes. And the eight 12 volt batteries are probably about $100.00 each. While I am warming my feet by the fire in the cold of January these batteries would dying. Charger or not. My gasoline motor doesn't degrade if it's not running. Electric is OK for golf carts. But for things that really do work electric is not so good. This was tried with electric lawn tractors years ago and failed. I think Polaris will bomb out on this one.

radman1 · Aug 9, 2009

A guesstimated range of 35-45 miles is probably under the best of conditions. Nothing I would like better is being out hunting (or anywhere) and out of electricity, with no way to get it back to an 8 hour recharge. At least if I run out of gas, I can easily get more fuel. Also 1700 lbs is a lot of weight for a smaller side by side. I think it will be a popular as the all electric car. The concept of all electric vehicles dates back to the 70's during the fuel crisis. IMHO, the time for them is not yet here - especially with current lower fuel prices. Talked a Polaris salesman and he also thought it would be a bust.

Robert_in_NY · Aug 10, 2009

I am going to assume that Polaris is trying to compete with The Badboy Buggy which is advertised on most of the hunting shows. It isn't for everywhere but a lot of places don't get the battery killing winters like we do up north. That is why they have different models and options so everyone can buy what they want.

Scooby074 · Aug 10, 2009

Gotta remember this is going to be a niche vehicle. Would i buy one to replace my Honda, nope, but if i ran a farm or a golf course id definitely consider it.

Skyco · Aug 10, 2009

First thing it is not an ATV it is a UTV or SxS. I think it would be perfect for some uses.
Polaris is out there sometimes you gotta hand them that. I remember when they tried the diesel ATV.
A local woman won one in a contest and it promptly appeared in the local trader paper.
It was funny, about every few months it would show back up as whoever bought it last put it back up for sale

forester2 · Aug 10, 2009

I felt like a lot of you guys until 4 years ago when I bought a used golf cart, put on a lift kit, off road tires etc. Wouldn't go everywhere my Polaris did but went most places. So much so that the Polaris sat in the barn 9 months out of the year. Was great for hunting because of the silence. We eventually sold the Polaris in favor of a second tractor. This cart is used on our home property so charging is not an issue. If we go 3 miles it would be a lot. When snow comes it's useless. Friends laughed at me at first but then 2 bought carts, one a Husquvarna electric and 2 Bad Boys. All that being said, if I was going to spend big money on a new vehicle, I would have a hard time doing it on an electric one. Limitations, resale and battery replacement cost would be a big issue.

MMagis · Aug 10, 2009

forester2 said:
I felt like a lot of you guys until 4 years ago when I bought a used golf cart, put on a lift kit, off road tires etc. Wouldn't go everywhere my Polaris did but went most places. So much so that the Polaris sat in the barn 9 months out of the year. Was great for hunting because of the silence. We eventually sold the Polaris in favor of a second tractor. This cart is used on our home property so charging is not an issue. If we go 3 miles it would be a lot. When snow comes it's useless. Friends laughed at me at first but then 2 bought carts, one a Husquvarna electric and 2 Bad Boys. All that being said, if I was going to spend big money on a new vehicle, I would have a hard time doing it on an electric one. Limitations, resale and battery replacement cost would be a big issue.

I would agree for the most part, except mine does fine in snow, though not great in deep snow. Most of the concerns listed here aren't even concerns. No problems in cold weather, mine stays outside and it gets plenty cold here. Never ran out of juice, though I just use it around the farm. A little common sense would tell most people if electric would work for them or not. It's not for everyone, that's for sure. I would rate electric UTVs as primarily hunting vehicles, though mine gets 90% of it's use as a farm vehicle. Anyone who knows how the populatriy of electric hunting vehicles has increased the last few years knows that Polaris should at least do decent if they build a good machine. Just their vast existing dealer support will be a leg up of many brands out there.