Breaking Down the Biggest Concern with Electric ATVs

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World Electric Vehicle Day is September 9; this is a day that celebrates sustainable mobility and changes coming to the electric vehicle industries. Despite the special occasion, there is some hesitancy and skepticism with electric ATVs and UTVs.

We recently conducted a survey on our social media channels asking what the number one concern was with electric ATVs or UTVs.

Not surprisingly, participants answered that range, followed closely by lack of charging stations, were the leading worries when it came to these types of all-terrain vehicles. When we asked What do you think is the biggest issue with electric off-road vehicles? These are responses that our followers shared:

“Range and providing charging stations!”

“The lack of off-road charging stations.”

“Charging locations and charging time.”

Electric ATVs and UTVs have many benefits, not the least of which is the immense torque available everywhere in the rev range. Their silent operation allows for fuel-free operation that don’t require the same levels of maintenance.

However, in comparison to other electric vehicles on the market, there isn’t as much infrastructure to support electric off-roading vehicles. Since off-roaders or side-by-sides are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, they need to be recharged regularly. ATV and UTV owners can conveniently do this from a home garage, but it’s more of a challenge if you’re traveling long distances to remote locations over a period of time. Even the highest performing lithium-ion batteries for these vehicles can only reach up to 100 miles on a single charge, and it may take 5–8 hours to recharge.

Another concern with electric off-road vehicles is the limitation of these vehicles when the battery is exposed to extreme weather conditions. Off-roaders will take their vehicles through rough riding conditions during the winter and summer with extreme differences in heat and cold, which can cause a battery to malfunction. It’s worth noting this isn’t an issue unique to electric ATVs and UTVs—fuel-powered quads and side-by-sides can encounter the same problems in severe weather conditions. Riders should follow tips for using and maintaining an electric ATV and take precautions with their batteries to limit their exposure to these extreme temperatures.

The Can-Am Outlander Electric and Electric Max became the world’s first mass produced electric ATV. The global electric ATV/UTV market is expected to grow from $707.6 million in 2021 to over $3.8 billion by 2030. As the world makes the transition to electric, you can expect a larger selection of electric vehicles available on the market, with a greater power range on a single battery charge.

The market is looking to expand with the development of electric ATVs and UTVs and right now there are less of these vehicles available in comparison to their fuel-powered counterparts; but, as companies receive more incentive to expand into the electric vehicle market, the range and battery technology of these vehicles will improve. Infrastructure is slow to adapt, but it is improving. The cost of instaling a charging system at your home or place of business is decreasing, providing even more incentive.

To address these worries, we’re breaking down this main concern with electric ATVs and UTVs while providing insight on what improvements are being made. And for more information about electric vehicles, visit our EV Resource Page.