We know what you’re thinking: I don’t drive a Prius. So why would I ride an electric ATV?
Well, we aren’t here to tell you what to do, but there are a few reasons you might want one — and a few you might not. Let’s consider the pros and cons of an electric ATV so that you can decide if one is right for you.
But first, what exactly is an electric ATV? When did they become a thing? Who even makes them?
What is an electric ATV?
They’re what they sound like: all-terrain vehicles that are powered by electricity instead of gas. Batteries, not gas tanks.
Electric ATVs first appeared in the mid-2000s, just as the electric car industry was going from novelty to reality. Barefoot Motors and T-Zone Electric Vehicles were some of the first to roll out products, although most ATV enthusiasts have been skeptical and slow to adopt.
While electric ATVs have been around for a while now, they received extra attention when Tesla unveiled its Cyberquad in November of 2019. While the Cyberquad is not available to the public yet, they did release an electric ATV for kids in 2021 called — you guessed it — the Cyberquad for Kids. (It has since been recalled.)
Today, chances of finding an electric ATV you trust are higher, with Polaris releasing new models every year, plus other best-in-class options like Tracker EV ATVs and Lithium Prestige ATVs.
Pros of an electric ATV
A lot of people are going to fixate on the environmental benefits of owning an electric vehicle, whether it’s a car, truck, golf cart or ATV. Here’s the deal: you already know there are environmental benefits. We all do.
Let’s consider a few other reasons it might be a good idea to buy an electric ATV.
Electric ATVs make less noise
This is going to depend on what you’re using it for, but let’s be realistic here: in most cases, it’s going to be better to have a quieter ATV.
Imagine being less noisy in the following contexts:
- Riding on the street: Whether your ATV is street-legal or not, it’s not going to hurt if it makes less of a commotion when you ride it around.
- Hunting: Do we need to spell out how a quiet ATV could be a major advantage when hunting?
- Non-hunting nature time: It’s like going for a walk, except you don’t have to do the walking part.
Then there’s that whole other reason people consider electric ATVs: long-term costs.
Electric ATVs require less maintenance over time.
Think about it this way: when you invest in your ATV, do you want it to be because you’re doing regular maintenance or because you’re buying cool stuff for it?
Imagine not buying gas at all. Not changing the oil. Heck, not even checking the oil. This thing might pay for itself.
Cons of an electric ATV
The biggest con of driving an electric ATV doesn’t apply to everyone.
You need to ask yourself: does distance matter? Am I going to be riding in a place where the battery life just won’t get the job done? Or, if you have some serious hauling to do and you’re gonna need a lot of power, you might have to stick with your traditional gas option — especially because towing a load will drain that battery quickly, which is not an issue with gas power.
The future of electric ATVs
Electric ATVs are still in their early days, but don’t expect them to go anywhere. We will likely see more and more electric ATVs being offered by every OEM — and we’re going to see them get higher quality and more affordable.
No matter what the future holds, High Lifter has the parts and accessories you need to keep your electric ATV on the trails. Once you get that new (or used) electric ATV, it’s time to soup it up with a lift kit and some new wheels.