REVIEW
bright SPARKS Often big change begins with something small. When it comes to the electrification of farm vehicles, the new Polaris Ranger EV provides a thoroughly useful, but reassuringly proven, glimpse into the future, says Farm Trader NZ’s Cameron Officer Photos by Cameron Officer and Justin Bennett
W
hile the notion of an electric farm vehicle might still be the stuff of science fiction for some, for Polaris, it’s almost old hat. Well, okay, not quite. The vehicle on these pages, after all, still signifies a rather revolutionary moment for your humble farmfocused side by side. “Polaris has been building electric ORV or side by side vehicles since 2010, and I think it’s fair to say the company’s concentrated efforts around product development over the last decade are paying dividends now,” says Polaris national sales manager Nathan Moore. “It’s everything our customers have come to expect in a side by side from Polaris. But at the same time, it represents something entirely different. We’re really looking forward to demonstrating it to the rural sectors around New Zealand.”
SAME-SAME BUT DIFFERENT Polaris has become a byword for terrain-tackling side by sides of various shapes and sizes.
At first glance, and aside from a couple of subtle decals along its flanks, the Ranger EV does indeed look like other models in the Ranger two-seater line-up. There is little to tell the EV model from the models that use fossil fuel. The unit is a lead acid battery equipped vehicle. But then you start it up. And… nothing. No noise whatsoever. It’s actually quite startling the first time you experience it. Electric vehicles are, by their very notion, quiet. But this is quiet even for an electric vehicle.
That super silent demeanour doesn’t mean it’s a slug in the performance stakes either. The multi-battery set-up under the split-tilt seats in the cab power the machine’s single 48V high-efficiency AC Induction motor, mounted at the rear axle, to deliver the side by side drive. The Ranger EV achieves a top speed of 40km/h in High range. And I do mean comfortably: with Macpherson struts up front and dual A-arm independent rear suspension at the back both delivering 22.9cm of travel, the vehicle feels sure-footed yet pliant over a variety of surfaces. Test runs revealed a consistent ride quality across both paddocks and a race strewn with reasonable sized rock. Retracing our steps on a traditional quad bike would be an entirely different experience – one that would no doubt be much more keenly felt in the muscles and joints at the end of a long day.
TOTAL CONTROL Under the seat, beneath a handy removable tote-tray, sits eight batteries – four on each side. This set-up helps the side by side retain a reassuring lower centre of gravity, yet the battery packs sit high enough to ensure crossing fords and other shallow watercourses on the farm can be executed without any concern (floorboards are the transverse max depth for such activities). On the dashboard, three toggle switches essentially act as the
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