EV UTV?  I have mixed emotions

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 05/31/2018 at 12:33 • Filed to: None

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I mean...its basically a car that sidesteps regulations.

Its CRAZY expensive as a toy, but its not like that stops the determined toy buyer

Its going to be stupid heavy which is going to make hauling your toy around more difficult.

Off road use? All I gotta say is that with a wheelbase longer than my Land Cruiser (by a lot, 112.2 versus 118 inch) this thing better have a STOUT belly pan, as UTV drivers all pretty much use the bottom of the vehicle as a slider. Given the weight and the battery in the pan...its a worry.

Range should be fine for most of these users, say 60 miles safe range playing hard will be fine.

main plus? QUIET! I hate that Moab is just a mass of barely muffled (or not at all) UTV noise all hours of the day and night. I welcome our new silent UTV overlords.

But...that means that when users go to charge these they are going to need to shell out big money for a 240 generator and/or run their 120 genset for many, MANY hours back at camp. So its trading the occasional buzz of a fleet of these driving by for the constant roar of a generator at the camp site. hmmm.

To say nothing of the fact that modern UTV engines are at least beholden to some environmental regulation (since 2007 all UTV’s are required to meet a fairly stringent emissions standard) versus generators which aren’t required to meet squat. So in the end what you are doing is moving the noise and pollution from one form to another, potentially worse form.

hmmm.

nermal > HammerheadFistpunch 05/31/2018 at 13:04

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The size is in line with any other 4 seat UTV. 150 mile range is ok.

I think these will sell well if they target the high end of the market, without being priced too ridiculously. <$30k.

The charging will be an issue - 8 hrs @ 240v. Theoretically you could charge at home, then go put your 100+ miles of use in, then charge again overnight. I wonder how long it will take at 120v? Either way, you’ll want to be somewhere near shore power to charge, I don’t think a gas powered generator would work very well. You’re basically moving the gas consumption and noise from where you’re driving to where you’re parked.

HammerheadFistpunch > HammerheadFistpunch 05/31/2018 at 13:12

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So if I’m doing my math even close to correct, a 30 amp 240v genset will take 5 hours to charge the smallest battery pack, which will consume about 10 gallons of gas in a completely emissions unregulated way. They say the 75 kw pack is good for 100 miles range. Figure 75 real miles range. which equates to 7.5 MPG. even if it was as good as 100 and the generator only burned 5 gallons at full load for 5 hours you are still only looking at 20 mpg.

People seem to be getting low to mid 20's MPG in gas powered UTV’s of this size. And you don’t have to buy a generator.

Unless you can plug this in....I have a hard time seeing the perks for fuel use.

HammerheadFistpunch > nermal 05/31/2018 at 13:14

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They say 18 hours on 120. That being said thats based on their big packs. On the 30A 240 service they claim 15KW/hr. Figure 5 hours at 30/240. They claim to sell a 400V genset that will do the big battery in 3, but I can’t find any details on it. Expect it to be EXPENSIVE.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > HammerheadFistpunch 05/31/2018 at 21:14

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How wired are some of the campgrounds down near Moab? I think some of the ones around here have 240v connections. It’d be enough to charge it overnight.

HammerheadFistpunch > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/31/2018 at 21:27

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their are parks that do 240 but many wont let you do high current like welders and electric cars

BaconSandwich is tasty. > HammerheadFistpunch 05/31/2018 at 22:20

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Interesting. Makes sense I suppose. If units like this, as well as electric cars gain popularity, I could picture charging stations popping up closer to (or in) parks. I’m actually surprised there aren’t charging stations in more of the national parks up here in Canada.