Electric Off-Road Vehicles – The Pros and Cons for Outdoorsmen
Martin Banks 05.17.23
Electrification is sweeping the automotive industry. Numerous manufacturers are switching their internal combustion engine (ICE) machines to electric vehicles (EVs). This change applies to your typical sedans and the rigs you take off-roading. EVs are relatively new, but automakers have considered off-road enthusiasts when producing their vehicles. How do they stack up to ICE machines? Here are the pros and cons of Electric Off-Road Vehicles.
What Are the Pros of Electric Off-Road Vehicles?
In 2022, EVs comprised 5.6% of auto sales and will grow in the coming years. What can you look forward to with off-road EVs? These five pros show why EV optimism is authentic.
1. Quieter
You don’t want to be the center of attention when you’re in the woods. Imagine you’re on a hunting trip. The last thing you need is scaring off the animals with your engine and muffler. In the woods, the element of surprise is invaluable when searching for bucks to hunt and fish to catch. You get the quietness with an EV. EV off-roaders are much quieter than ICE vehicles. They don’t have a traditional engine — therefore, they don’t have the same mechanical valves and gears. Stealth is much easier to achieve in the woods when driving an electric rig.
2. More Cargo Space
ICE vehicles typically have a trunk to carry your belongings. Anything else goes in the backseat or a trailer. EVs give you extra cargo space because they have no engine. Electric off-roaders have a battery underneath the vehicle, providing extra room in the cabin and trunk. EVs are often more aerodynamically efficient than ICE vehicles because they have less drag and reduced need for cooling. The aerodynamic efficiency leads to more cargo space without compromising performance.
3. Lower Environmental Impact
They call it the great outdoors for a reason. The last thing you want to do is spoil the beauty that is Mother Nature. ICE off-roaders pollute the environment by burning fossil fuels. They fill the air with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other harmful particles. Noise pollution can also disrupt many animals’ habitats.
Conversely, EVs have a significantly lower environmental impact. Your electric off-roader has no tailpipe emissions — lowering your carbon footprint. You can power your machine with renewable energy like solar panels and wind turbines. Being an outdoors enthusiast means embracing the land and taking care of it.
What Are the Cons of Electric Off-Road Vehicles?
Manufacturers are heading toward electrification because of the reduced environmental impact. However, there are some drawbacks. These three cons demonstrate why some off-road enthusiasts hesitate to switch to electric.
1. Charger Access
The U.S. has over 130,000 public chargers nationwide. However, that number falls short of the demand for charging stations. Rural areas especially have limited access. You may travel for 100 miles or more without seeing a charger. This news is unwelcome for those who like to go off-roading in the remote areas of Montana or the Dakotas.
However, there are reasons to be hopeful. Governments worldwide have pushed for charger expansion. For example, the Biden administration has pledged to build more than 500,000 charging stations by the decade’s end.
2. Cold Weather Performance
Off-roading in the snow is a challenging but fun adventure. Locations like the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming and the Black Hills of South Dakota are terrific for high-altitude camping in the winter. However, it may be less fun with an electric off-roader.
EVs have a more difficult time in frigid temperatures. Cold weather forces your off-roader’s battery to wear faster, thus reducing range. Typical EVs lose between 10% and 20% of their capacity in freezing temperatures. The loss can significantly affect your time spent on the trail. A 300-mile range on your off-roader suddenly reduces to 270 or 240 miles.
3. Price
Purchasing an off-road vehicle can be a significant financial investment for many. A new machine is costly, whether buying a truck, SUV, ATV or UTV. Electric off-roaders are more expensive due to low supply and high demand, depending on the model you’re searching for.
For example, the fully electric Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic’s MSRP is $24,999 — doubling the price of the full-size Ranger 570 at $12,499. Some EVs save money over time, but the initial costs price many buyers out of the market.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Electric Off-Road Vehicles
The automotive industry is changing in favor of EVs. General Motors (GM) and other manufacturers have announced plans to move from ICE machines to EVs. You can see electrification with Polaris, Jeep and other off-road vehicle producers. EVs have numerous benefits for you and the environment. However, their newness brings negatives. Weigh these pros and cons before buying an electric off-roader.
