Introduction To Electric Off-Road Vehicles
Electric off-road vehicles are exactly what they sound like—off-road vehicles powered with electric motors instead of traditional internal combustion engines (ICE). Gas and ORVs have long gone hand-in-hand, and if you’re hesitating to make the transition, we totally get it—how could an electric vehicle provide the power, speed, and thrill of a traditional ICE ORV?
Keep reading—we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Performance And Capability Of Electric Off-Road Vehicles
Performance is at the top of everyone’s mind when it comes to ORVs. It’s not just about speed, either—you’ll need high torque to get out of tricky spots on a trail.
Torque
Torque is the first surprising thing about electric ORVs. Electric vehicles produce what you might call “instant torque”—they reach maximum torque at 0 RPM. Electric motors produce a magnetic field that automatically generates power (and torque) in your vehicle’s wheels.
ICE vehicles, on the other hand, need to produce torque through a whole slew of different mechanisms—combustion, piston movement, transmission, power strokes, and more. Power (and torque) take time to develop, and your maximum torque will be at high RPMs.
The advanced motor controllers available in most electric ORVs, coupled with the instant torque, allow you to tune torque to your needs—without any lag in delivering power to your wheels.
Speed
Speed is where electric ORVs still tend to lag a bit behind ICE ORVs—but they still go blisteringly fast. There are electric ATVs that can run at a top speed of about 70 mph; electric motocross bikes like the Stark VARG have reached speeds above 80 mph.
These are incredible speeds, and while they might not beat out the fastest stock ICE ATVs (we’ve seen rumors that the Renegade X XC can hit speeds past 85 mph), their top speeds are still much faster than most people will ever need.
Range
Range anxiety is a pretty big concern for a lot of people—though it tends to be less of a concern when you’re off-roading than when you’re taking a road trip. Westward’s own electric ORV, the MAX-EV, maxes out at an incredible 115-125 mile range with the 20KW Lithium-Ion battery option—more than enough range for most of the tasks you’d want to accomplish in an ORV. Westward will soon offer an even longer range battery pack; expect to see a 32KW version launched in 2025.
Environmental Benefits Of Electric Vehicles
We probably don’t need to go into depth about the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, but it would feel wrong to talk about going electric without talking about reducing your carbon footprint. ICE vehicles use gas—electric ORVs don’t. By using an electric motor, you generate zero tailpipe emissions, dramatically reducing your carbon footprint.
Practical Benefits Of Electric Off-Road Vehicles
We’ve already discussed the practical benefits of instant, adjustable torque on electric off-road vehicles; there are a few other big benefits to consider, too.
- Lower Maintenance. Electric motors have far fewer parts than combustion engines; that means you’ll have fewer things to repair—and you won’t have to worry about oil changes. The vehicles we sell here at Westward are known for their incredible lifespans.
- Starts Cold. Our company was founded in one of the coldest cities on the planet—Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, a great place to test vehicles in cold weather. Only a few years back it was recommended to charge indoors in sub-freezing weather and only operate the vehicle in up to -20 degrees Celsius.
Times change fast, and Westward now offers batteries with integrated heating. These heating pads work seamlessly, as they are connected to our onboard battery management system EV’s also produce almost immediate heat from electric elements. ICE engines do not have such sophisticated technology and need to be plugged in when it’s -30°C.
- Quiet Operation. When you’re out hunting, trapping, or just enjoying nature, a loud ICE vehicle can cause wildlife to run for the hills. With an electric ORV, that’s no problem at all; electric vehicles are incredibly quiet.
Economic Considerations
Fewer repairs and oil changes mean you’ll have to spend less maintaining an electric ORV, and some vehicles can be fully charged for less than $1, depending on electricity prices in your area.
That’s a lot of savings! Check out our online fuel savings calculator to see how much you can save.
Electric ORVs do tend to be a little more expensive than their ICE counterparts, but the cost of an electric vehicle is getting lower and lower. You may need to install an electric charger—but with the amount you’ll be saving on maintenance and gas, the price can be well worth it.
Specialized Applications And Versatility
Here at Westward Vehicles, we build electric ORVs that are designed to handle a whole host of specialized tasks. Our ORVs can come equipped with snow plows, dump beds, tow hitches, ladder racks, and much more. They’re designed for work; you can use them on the farm, at parks, and in tons of other locations requiring off-road vehicles that can tow, haul, plow, and more.
Conclusion
Electric motors are doing so much more than replacing conventional vehicles, and we truly believe their benefits are even more applicable to off-roading. They’ll help you tackle challenging terrain without the sudden power drop you might experience with traditional gasoline engines, and with all of the range and speed you’ll need.
Interested in an off-road electric UTV? We’re exceptionally proud of that 4-wheel drive off-road edition of the MAX-EV; check it out!
