Believe it or not, electric UTVs will revolutionize the off-roading industry – here’s how
Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) are popular off-roading vehicles thanks to their versatile applications in agriculture, hunting, recreation, other general off-road riding scenarios. As electric vehicle technology continues to progress, the time is coming for electric UTVs to bring significant change to the industry.
As electric UTVs combine the latest technology with quiet and powerful electric drivetrains, these innovative machines offer several advantages over their combustion engine-powered counterparts, including low maintenance, reduced noise, and higher performance.
Electric UTVs: a low-maintenance advantage
A key benefit of electric UTVs is their low maintenance requirement. Owners of traditional gasoline-powered UTVs will be keenly aware of just how much maintenance is required to keep their machines operating effectively. Combustion engines, especially in off-road vehicles that see harder everyday use, require regular maintenance. That includes everything from oil changes, air filter replacements, and spark plug servicing, among other things. Additionally, over time, many combustion engines in UTVs will experience issues with their carburetors and exhaust systems, requiring further attention and repair.
In contrast, electric UTVs have significantly fewer system components and moving parts, which means less maintenance is required. Compared to the hundreds of parts in a combustion engine, an electric motor usually has just a single set of moving parts – bearings.
Electric motors do not need oil changes or air filter replacements, and there are no spark plugs to foul or carburetors to tune. There are essentially two primary components in an EV powertrain – the electric motor and battery. Both require minimal upkeep with nearly zero maintenance to perform on those key components. This reduction in maintenance costs and time can result in significant savings for both individual owners and commercial fleet operators.
Of course this doesn’t mean that electric UTVs are completely maintenance-free. They still include transmissions (although much simpler), brakes, tires, and other vehicle components that will need occasional attention. But the major headaches for most gasoline-powered UTV owners – the engine and drivetrain parts – are replaced by nearly zero-maintenance electric alternatives.
A quiet revolution – low noise levels
Another noteworthy advantage of electric UTVs is their low noise level. Gasoline-powered UTVs are generally quite loud, which can be a nuisance in residential areas or when trying to enjoy the serenity of the great outdoors. For hunters, birdwatchers, scientists, or anyone else who interacts with wildlife in their native habitats, the loud noise of a combustion engine can make it difficult to use a UTV to reach remote areas for the purpose of wildlife interaction.
In contrast, electric UTVs produce minimal noise, making them an ideal choice for use in noise-sensitive environments. Whether that’s avoiding spooking the livestock on a farm or enjoying wildlife watching on nature trails, low noise helps keep operators immersed in the surrounding environment rather than removing them from it.
This reduction in noise pollution can also benefit wildlife just as much as the operators, as the disturbance from loud engines can stress animals and disrupt their natural habitats. Electric UTVs allow operators to enjoy outdoor recreation while minimizing their own impact on the environment.
High performance meets eco-friendly design
While the less educated among us may question the performance capabilities of electric UTVs compared to their gas-powered counterparts, the truth is that electric UTVs can deliver much more impressive performance. Electric motors offer instant torque, providing rapid acceleration and enhanced responsiveness. This means that electric UTVs can easily tackle challenging terrain and offer thrilling off-road experiences.
In fact, when Polaris revealed the specs on its 110 horsepower RANGER XP Kinetic eUTV, they announced that it wasn’t just the most powerful electric UTV they’d ever made, but also the most powerful RANGER they’d ever made, gas or electric.
The high control of an electric motor allows operators much more fine tune handling, which makes tasks such as towing much more convenient. Operators can creep up to a trailer more easily, make more precise movements on tricky terrain, and more accurately maneuver in tight spaces.
Ranges vary among different models, but companies like Volcon are already promising over 100 miles (160 km) of range from their eUTVs, which is likely more than most operators will need on their own farms or hunting trails.
Additionally, electric UTVs produce zero emissions, making them an environmentally responsible choice. As the world continues to face the consequences of climate change, the adoption of electric vehicles, including UTVs, is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable transportation.
The future of electric UTVs
As electric UTV technology continues to improve and battery costs decrease, we can expect to see a more significant shift towards electric UTV adoption. Prices currently remain high for fancier, higher performance models like those from Polaris, though lower cost eUTVs are also entering the market. New startups are also getting into the eUTV action with the launch of impressive-looking new models; even Asian companies are joining the fray with lower cost offerings that could soon be imported to the US and Europe.
This increase in development of electric off-road vehicles will result in a growing number of manufacturers developing electric models and expanding their offerings, leading to greater competition and innovation within the industry.
Make no mistake: The electric UTV revolution is here, and it is set to change the industry with its low maintenance, reduced noise levels, and higher performance. Embracing this change will not only benefit individual users and commercial operators but also contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet. You may not be interested in all of the benefits, but any one of them is enough to prove the advantage of electric UTVs.
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Elon Musk has claimed that the Democratic party organized recent protests at Tesla locations worldwide. As he usually does with his wild claims lately, he hasn’t offered any proof whatsoever.
Over the last few weeks, there have been growing protests at Tesla locations around the word.
It started small with just a few locations in the US, but it has since grown to now dozens of locations every weekend, with sometimes hundreds of people at some locations.
Protestors have different reasons for wanting to disrupt Tesla, but they are mostly centered around seeing the company as Elon Musk’s piggybank and they are upset at his involvement in the government through his financial contribution to Trump’s election and his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk took to X today to comment on the situation, and he made the claim that the protests at Tesla locations are funded by ActBlue:
An investigation has found 5 ActBlue-funded groups responsible for Tesla “protests”: Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project and Democratic Socialists of America. ActBlue funders include George Soros, Reid Hoffman, Herbert Sandler, Patricia Bauman, and Leah Hunt-Hendrix. ActBlue is currently under investigation for allowing foreign and illegal donations in criminal violation of campaign finance regulations. This week, 7 ActBlue senior officials resigned, including the associate general counsel.
ActBlue is a political action committee (PAC) used by the Democratic Party.
Musk did not elaborate on what “investigation” he was referring to nor did he provide any proof to back up his claim. In fact, he even asked for people to help provide information:
“If you know anything about this, please post in replies.”
Musk directly named Reid Hoffman, his former Paypal Mafia friend turned foe due to political differences, who was quick to deny any involvement:
Just one more of Elon’s false claims about me: I never funded anyone for Tesla protests. I don’t condone violence. But it’s clear Americans are angry at him – it’s easier to explain away their anger, than to accept that actions have consequences.
While the Democratic Party could be sympathetic to the Tesla protestors, there’s no evidence that they started the “Tesla Takedown” movement or have any significant involvement.
As we previously reported, it started as a grassroots movement with some posts on BlueSky, an X competitor, last month.
It has since gained considerable momentum, and they are now using Action Network, an open platform, to organize. As it grew, some groups have gotten involved to organize local protests, like The Disruption Project, which claims to stand “against the unjust systems of racial capitalism, the hetero-patriarchy, white supremacy and settler colonialism.”
In Seattle, The Troublemakers, a local environmentalist group, has also been helping organize.
The biggest blow to Musk’s claim is that there have also been protests outside the US, including in Canada and Europe. It’s unlikely that the US Democratic party would be involved in those.
There are currently six protests planned in Europe by the “Tesla Takedown” in the coming weeks:
Musk has also been involved in European politics, promoting far-right parties throughout Europe.
Along with the claims about the Tesla protests, Musk also retweeted someone linking several Cybertrucks burning down at a Tesla location in Seattle to “Democrat NGOs”:
Again, this claim is without evidence. In fact, the fires are still under investigation and it hasn’t yet been confirmed if it was arson.
Electrek’s Take
Could the Democratic Party be involved in some of the protests? It wouldn’t shock me, but you can claim that without proof.
I think most people involved in the protests are just mad at Elon for any of the hundreds of stupid things he has done or said in the last few months, including doing a couple of Nazi salutes at Trump’s inauguration.
He prefers to think that there’s some grand conspiracy against him because that’s easier to swallow than people hating home for being a compulsive liar, oligarch dork with the sense of humor of a maladjusted 13-year-old.
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Environment
U.S. could reach deal with Canada that avoids oil and gas tariffs, energy secretary says
HOUSTON — The U.S. could reach an agreement with Canada that avoids tariffs on imports of oil, gas and other energy resources, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday.
Wright said such a scenario is “certainly is possible” but “it’s too early to say” in response to a question from CNBC during a press conference at the CERAWeek by S&P Global. The U.S. is in “active dialogue” with Canada and Mexico, the energy secretary said.
President Donald Trump has paused until April 2 tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports that are compliant with the agreement which governs trade in North America. Trump originally imposed broad 25% tariffs on goods from both countries as well as lesser 10% tariffs on energy imports from Canada.
It’s unclear, however, how much of the oil, gas and other energy that the U.S. imports from Canada is compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Wright declined to provide specifics when CNBC asked how much of those imports are USMCA compliant.
“I’m going to avoid the details for now,” Wright said. The energy secretary said, “We can get to no tariffs or very low tariffs but it’s got to be reciprocal” in an interview with CNBC’s Brian Sullivan.
Canada’s energy minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, warned last week that energy prices will rise in the U.S. if the tariffs on energy imports go into full effect.
“We will see higher gasoline prices as a function of energy, higher electricity prices from hydroelectricity from Canada, higher home heating prices associated with natural gas that comes from Canada and higher automobile prices,” Wilkinson told CNBC’s Megan Cassella in an interview.
The U.S. has been the largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world for years. But many refiners in the U.S. are dependent on heavy crude imported from Canada. The U.S. imported 6.6 million barrels of crude oil per day on average in December, more than 60% of which came from Canada, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Wright acknowledged that the tariffs are creating uncertainty in energy markets as negotiations continue.
“We’re in the middle of negotiations for where things are going to go with tariffs, so that feels frightening and gripping right now but this time will pass,” Wright said. “Deals will be made, we’ll get certainty and we’ll have a positive economic environment for Americans going forward.”
U.S. crude oil fell more than 1% Monday to close at $66.03 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent closed at $69.28 per barrel. Crude oil futures have pulled back substantially as Trump’s trade policy creates uncertainty and OPEC+ has confirmed that it plans to gradually bring back 2.2 million barrels per day of production beginning next month.
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