Off-roading goes electric
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A rural county in the far western reaches of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is now home to a first-of-its-kind off-road trail charging network.
Why it matters: Cars and pickups aren't the only vehicles moving away from gasoline. Snowmobilers and ATV enthusiasts are going electric too, and they'll also need a place to plug in.
- If you've ever worried about finding a charging station along a rural highway, imagine the range anxiety when you're riding an electric ATV in the middle of the forest.
Driving the news: With help from a $700,000 grant from the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, Polaris Industries just opened four charging stations in the woods of Ontonagon County.
- The network is intended to support 100 miles of scenic, state-designated off-road trails in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
- The four free-to-use chargers are in Ontonagon, White Pine, Bergland and Greenland.
Zoom in: Polaris partnered with Texas-based Yotta Energy, a leader in renewable energy storage, to provide the charging hardware.
- Yotta's REV charging station features solar panels and can store up to 120 kWh of energy onsite.
- It can connect to the grid or operate completely off-grid, which is why it's suitable for remote areas — though it can also be used in urban locations.
The intrigue: To promote the shift to electric powersports — and encourage people to try the new charging network — one Polaris Adventures outfitter is even offering electric off-road rentals.
- Hamilton's North Coast Adventures, near Ontonagon, is the first to offer a rental fleet of Polaris' new electric Ranger XP Kinetic vehicles.
- "Polaris Adventures was started with the goal of helping more people experience powersports and discover new ways to enjoy the outdoors, and this launch of our first electric off-road vehicle rental experience in the country will continue to do just that," Gray Rentz, vice president of Polaris Experience, said in a press release.
The big picture: The Ranger XP Kinetic, introduced in 2023, was Polaris' first electric model.
- It's an off-road utility vehicle typically used for farm or ranch work.
- The company says it's testing electric prototypes across its product platforms, and will commercialize "purposefully" where electrification improves the customer experience.
What they're saying: "Our approach to electrification remains centered around understanding where we can best incorporate EV technology to enhance the riding experience and provide an incredible offering to customers," Andrew Chasse, Polaris vice president of strategy and partnerships, said in the release.
- Data and insights from users of the new trail charging network will help refine its approach more broadly, he added.
Thought bubble: I've never understood the desire to "enjoy nature" on a noisy machine that spews carbon emissions.
- Electrifying ATVs and snowmobiles makes a ton of sense, especially if there's a place to recharge them with renewable energy.
