Polaris Inc. is looking to lead the off-road industry further into the future with the new, all-electric version of its class-leading Ranger line of UTVs (Utility Task Vehicles). The Ranger XP Kinetic features a new electric powertrain born from the company’s partnership with Zero Motorcycles announced in September 2020 for off-road vehicles and snowmobiles.

The partnership is a cornerstone component of Polaris’ long-term “rEV’d up” strategy to position the company as the leader in powersports electrification. The company aims to offer customers an EV (electric vehicle) option within each of its core product segments by 2025.

For about a decade, Polaris has been building a company and product portfolio in electrification. In 2011, the company acquired both Goupil, a French manufacturer of on-road, commercial light-duty EVs for the European market, and GEM, the street-legal passenger and utility EV maker. Four years later, the company acquired Brammo Electric Motorcycles, whose technology was leveraged in the Ranger EV—one of the first EVs in the off-road industry said to be the top-selling off-road EV in North America to date. With its broad range of commercial and industrial EVs, Taylor-Dunn was acquired by Polaris in 2016.

With the new partnership, “…we continue our relentless pursuit to create unmatched riding experiences and are partnering with Zero Motorcycles to harness the incredible capabilities of electric for our customers,” said Mike Speetzen, CEO of Polaris. “The new Ranger XP Kinetic is a powerful example of this.”

One key highlight of that riding experience is claimed industry-leading horsepower and torque, with the electric powertrain’s instantaneous torque delivering precise control when pulling or towing heavy loads. In addition, the “industry’s most advanced drivetrain” features fewer moving parts for lower maintenance costs and more uptime for increased productivity. Plus, the quiet electric powertrain means easier occupant conversation, the ability to work in the early morning without waking neighbors, quiet operation around animals, and stealthy entry and exit to hunting spots.

“Ranger XP Kinetic unlocks the benefits of electrification to enable these customers to drive efficiency and get more done,” said Steve Menneto, President of Polaris Off-Road.

“Electrifying an already class-leading product is a very complicated undertaking, but with Polaris, we had the advantage of starting with both the best UTV in the industry and a very talented and collaborative team,” said Sam Paschel, CEO of Zero Motorcycles.

Ranger XP Kinetic is available as a three-seat model and offered in Premium and Ultimate trims, with MSRPs, starting from the Premium’s $24,999 to the Ultimate’s $29,999. (By comparison, the conventional, base Ranger 500’s MSRP starts at $9999.) The UTV measures 120 x 62.5 x 78 in (3050 x 1580 x 1980 mm), with a pre-production estimated dry weight of 1730 lb (785 kg).

The Premium is equipped with a 14.9-kW·h lithium-ion battery pack for an estimated range of up to 45 mi (72 km), while the Ultimate’ 29.8 kW·h offers an estimated range of up to 80 mi (129 km). The packs feature active air and liquid cooling.

The Kinetic’s industry-leading 110 hp (82 kW) and 140 lb·ft (190 N·m) of instant torque enable the ability to tow 2500 lb (1130 kg) and haul an industry-best 1250 lb (567 kg). Other highlights are a class-leading 14 in (355 mm) of ground clearance, 29-in 8-ply Pro Armor X-Terrain tires, and 10 in (254 mm) of suspension travel.

The electric powertrain combines a permanent magnet AC motor and Gates synchronous belt and shaft drive. It features fewer moving parts, meaning less maintenance, with three-year electric powertrain warranty coverage and five-year battery coverage. It does not require oil changes, filter replacements, spark plugs, or clutch maintenance. Scheduled maintenance costs are expected to be 70% less than average maintenance costs for similar gasoline-fueled vehicles over a five-year timeframe.

In addition to high and low gear, the Kinetic has three drive modes. Eco+ optimizes torque and top speed for maximum range and light-duty jobs. Standard gives better throttle response for everyday driving and moderate-sized jobs. Sport has the sharpest throttle response for spirited driving and tough jobs.

On an available 7-in Ride Command infotainment screen, riders can see the estimated remaining range and battery state-of-charge. They can also drop a waypoint to see how far away they are from their next charge.

A new suite of connected technologies under the Ride Command+ banner provides remote phone monitoring of vehicle information. Owners can stay on top of repairs and avoid unexpected downtime with diagnostics sent directly to a phone. With access to vehicle location on their phone, hunters and hikers can easily find their way back to their vehicles. Remote vehicle monitoring lets riders plan ahead with visibility to charge time remaining, miles, and battery level.

The Kinetic comes standard with a combined Level 1/Level 2 EV cord to charge from a 120- or 240-V outlet. The factory-installed onboard charging rate is 3 kW (Premium) and 6 kW (Ultimate), with both reaching full charge from 0% in as fast as 5 h. With an available onboard charging system, rates can be boosted to 6 kW (Premium) and 9 kW (Ultimate) for up to 50% faster charge times.

A 240-V power supply can deliver over four times faster charging than a standard 120-V outlet. For the faster solution, Polaris is partnering with EV home charging company Qmerit to make installation quick and convenient through its largest nationwide network of certified electrical installers for EV charging.

“Making ownership easy extends beyond the engineering and design of our vehicles,” said Mike Donoughe, Chief Technical Officer and Head of Electrification, Polaris. “As we introduce electric offerings, starting with our new Ranger XP Kinetic, providing a solution that streamlines the installation of Level 2 home charging is an essential element of the customer experience.”

The new electric UTV is available for reservation, with the first shipments beginning in Summer 2022.