Work UTV ... narrow down some choices please

[Industrial Toys]

The biggest thing I hate about traditional gas machines is messing about with the choke! Diesel stays good much easier in bulk storage. Plus no ethanol gumming up your carb, issues.

Half a foot of snow on the weekend and yet the Mule never got started. The E-Gator got used and never got stuck! Amazing.

Cheap initial price and fancy features will only cost you big time later down the road in my opinion. The less things that have disk brakes, exposed to the elements, the better, as far as I am concerned. I would actually pay extra, not to have them on my p/u! But the lemmings are told, that's what's best for them!

 

[aczlan]

The biggest thing I hate about traditional gas machines is messing about with the choke! Diesel stays good much easier in bulk storage. Plus no ethanol gumming up your carb, issues.

That's one reason we got an RTV500. It has EFI, so no carb to deal with.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's kind of what I figured. But haven't been around any late model gassers lately. I am actually surprised Kubota makes a Gas UTV. Who knew?

 

[Xfaxman]

Yep, the 2200 series was made by Club Car.

Our first one was gasoline powered.


Traded it in on the diesel version.

Guess I should tell "The Rest Of The Story".

Wife didn't like the noisy diesel, so traded it in on the Polaris EV two years ago.

Eight 12 volt deep cycle batteries and a Sevcon 650 amp motor controller under the seat.

30 horsepower three phase AC motor, over the rear axle.

 

[aczlan]

That's kind of what I figured. But haven't been around any late model gassers lately. I am actually surprised Kubota makes a Gas UTV. Who knew?

They actually make 2, the RTV400 and the RTV500. The RTV400 is an air-cooled, single cylinder carbureted belt driven machine while the RTV500 is a water cooled, EFI HST machine.

Aaron Z

 

[jcummins]

Guess I should tell "The Rest Of The Story".

Wife didn't like the noisy diesel, so traded it in on the Polaris EV two years ago.

View attachment 448144


Eight 12 volt deep cycle batteries and a Sevcon 650 amp motor controller under the seat.

View attachment 448146


30 horsepower three phase AC motor, over the rear axle.

View attachment 448147

How long does a charge last? How long does a charge take?

top speed? How much grunt compared to diesel?

Honestly...electric vehicles are starting to come of age. Torque same a 1 rpm or many rpm...but the charge lasting.

 

[ovrszd]

People tend to get all wrapped up about Diesel. Oh my God, what if the fuel gels?? Oh my God, aren't they hard to start in cold weather?? Oh my God, where will I buy fuel?? Oh my God, how will I keep my fuel clean enough to run without problems??

Try running dirty gas...

If the Crude Oil people hadn't lobbied Congress to put strict restrictions against Diesel this country would be running on it. Like our not running primarily Diesel engines is going to save the Planet?? China will dump more emissions into the atmosphere this week than we will this year.....

EFI has brought gas engines into the 21st Century. Bout time. Diesel has always been controlled injection, mechanical or electronic. A Carb is sooooo 20th Century....

 

[PRCWI]

Guess I should tell "The Rest Of The Story".

Wife didn't like the noisy diesel, so traded it in on the Polaris EV two years ago.

View attachment 448144


Eight 12 volt deep cycle batteries and a Sevcon 650 amp motor controller under the seat.

View attachment 448146


30 horsepower three phase AC motor, over the rear axle.

View attachment 448147

Xfaxman, how is the EV when running in muddy/wet/snow conditions? I read somewhere that the electrical components weren't well sealed and that person had concerns about corrosion and said to be prepared to only run the EV Ranger in dry conditions that snow/mud/rain would not be a good idea.

We have lots of rain, mud and snow at different times of the year. I'm really intrigued by the EV for the simplicity of operation for the wife and kids but no mistake about it if we buy one it will get used daily for feeding hay, hauling a water trailer etc...etc...around the farm and it would have to be able to operate reliably in all conditions of wet or dry.

Can you offer any feedback on your experiences or anything you may have heard from others running the Polaris EV?

 

[Industrial Toys]

The nicest thing I like about a (healthy) diesel is that if it is warm, meaning you used it in the last four or so hours, you almost can't operate that starter switch fast enough for it to start.

My friend used the E-Gator on the weekend, driving through a few inches of snow to gather pine bows and dog wood. I guess, she never travelled in the same place twice. Today with sun shining, things quickly turned to ice on travelled portions and the 2WD E-Gator was clearly out of it's element.

If I had to have only one UTV, I would consider that Polaris Electric. As it is, I kind of need two, so will leave things as they are for the time being.

 

[Xfaxman]

How long does a charge last? It depends on speed and terrain. The Max Range position is 15 mph and supposed to give 25 miles.

How long does a charge take? 12 hours with the factory charge algorithm, longer if changed to one that doesn't boil the batteries as much.

top speed? 25 mph.

How much grunt compared to diesel? Much more, due to max torque off the line. :thumbsup:

Honestly...electric vehicles are starting to come of age. Torque same at 1 rpm or many rpm...but the charge lasting.

Yep, I will probably go to lithium ion batteries next.

Xfaxman, how is the EV when running in muddy/wet/snow conditions? I read somewhere that the electrical components weren't well sealed and that person had concerns about corrosion and said to be prepared to only run the EV Ranger in dry conditions that snow/mud/rain would not be a good idea. ​There are a lot of videos on YouTube showing the EV in mud. The connector corrosion is on the battery cables. There where some undersized wiring connectors on the early models, that has been corrected.

We have lots of rain, mud and snow at different times of the year. I'm really intrigued by the EV for the simplicity of operation for the wife and kids but no mistake about it if we buy one it will get used daily for feeding hay, hauling a water trailer etc...etc...around the farm and it would have to be able to operate reliably in all conditions of wet or dry.

Can you offer any feedback on your experiences or anything you may have heard from others running the Polaris EV?

Don't get much snow here and I can stay out of mud and water.

Lots of experiences here: Polaris Ranger EV - RangerForums.net - Polaris Ranger Forum

 

[DIXIEDOG]

People tend to get all wrapped up about Diesel. Oh my God, what if the fuel gels?? Oh my God, aren't they hard to start in cold weather?? Oh my God, where will I buy fuel?? Oh my God, how will I keep my fuel clean enough to run without problems??

Try running dirty gas...

If the Crude Oil people hadn't lobbied Congress to put strict restrictions against Diesel this country would be running on it. Like our not running primarily Diesel engines is going to save the Planet?? China will dump more emissions into the atmosphere this week than we will this year.....

EFI has brought gas engines into the 21st Century. Bout time. Diesel has always been controlled injection, mechanical or electronic. A Carb is sooooo 20th Century....

With good reason, I've been let down more than once by a Kubota BX diesel due to fuel problems...I change the fuel filters late in the fall....make sure I have fresh "winter grade" diesel in there but still it seems like there's at least once a year I'm crawling around on the ground swapping filters because of fuel problems on a -10 day each winter. My Gator 825i starts regardless of temp with no issues, the only real concern with it is having a charged battery otherwise it starts no problem.

 

[MF283]

I was surprised when i went to start the 550 the other day, 24 degrees & didn't have to use the choke. I've never had a problem starting my diesel tractors in the winter & never owned one with glow plugs. Of course, we're only talking temps as low as mid 20's, if it's colder than that, i'm not using it, hopefully.

Ronnie

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I NEVER have diesel fuel problems either and we do get some zero weather... In the fall I start buying premium diesel fuel from a fuel station that sells quite a bit of fuel, and never give it another thought...

I mostly only run two different tractors and my diesel powered sno blower in the winter, and they start/run just fine!

When I lived in Alaska, same thing, it's all about having the proper fuel, nothing more...

SR

 

[ovrszd]

With good reason, I've been let down more than once by a Kubota BX diesel due to fuel problems...I change the fuel filters late in the fall....make sure I have fresh "winter grade" diesel in there but still it seems like there's at least once a year I'm crawling around on the ground swapping filters because of fuel problems on a -10 day each winter. My Gator 825i starts regardless of temp with no issues, the only real concern with it is having a charged battery otherwise it starts no problem.

Hmmmmm.. Is your fuel gelling or are you having moisture problems???

I use Power Service (white bottle) beginning in the Fall when the weather starts cooling off and quitting in the Spring when it stays warm. I never have Gel problems. I change my filters once a year on the tractors and twice a year on my truck and fuel transfer tank. I use quit a bit of fuel so never am running old fuel. Also never have it in storage long enough for moisture to collect. I've never had moisture that caused a failure. It's been 25 years since I had Gel problems and that was my fault.

 

[ovrszd]

it's all about having the proper fuel, nothing more...

SR

I agree.

 

[timswi]

I've had diesels for a very long time and never had a cold weather issue and it gets mighty cold here. I run only on-road diesel from a high volume dealer...I rarely need to replace filters...I end up doing it as a preventative thing mostly.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Anybody know how bad replacement part prices for the Polaris Electric are? I bought the E-Gator at auction for under 2G CDN. The axle (without motor) is about 6G to buy and the main circuit board is around 3G! If I recall, the charging plug is over $300.00!. This is beyond insane! At least parts for the mule are just insane.

 

[ovrszd]

I rarely need to replace filters...I end up doing it as a preventative thing mostly.

Yeah me too. I can't remember the last time I replaced a filter because I had to.

 

[Xfaxman]

Anybody know how bad replacement part prices for the Polaris Electric are? ------------------------

Nope, don't know about prices. but parts lookup is good: Browse


And an independent dealer: FixMyToys.com - Powersports & Lawn Mower Parts Superstore

 

[PRCWI]

Thanks for the info Xfaxman, the LI kits look pricey but it looks like voltronix may event have a "sealed" box designed for the batteries that can be insulated and "self heating" (I'm assuming that means that the battery supplies the power for that) and that would eliminate the issue with cold temps here in the norther climates.

I sent an email to Voltronix to inquire and see if I can get more information.