It's almost here. The electric snowmobile.

[jpmez69]

I do believe that these E sleds are the future. A few guys on this site will laugh at that idea. Just like the steam locomotive engineers scoffed at the diesel trains replacing them. They really thought the diesels would never beat them. Maybe the nature nazis won't come down as hard on these machines as they do on the current sleds with the tomato can exhaust stingers.

 

[Mach1]

Well I would never buy, it will be time to find new sport aguess.

 

[Shadam]

Clearly it's the future for most vehicles.

I'm just not sure how to turbo it or rejet the Carby for higher elevations ...

 

[rightsideup]

still away to go as far as the range and weight

 

[MarkCos]

Wtf .... there’s NO braaaap at all on that fat junk

it’s like going to the mall and ridding the escalator
but it costs money Lol

 

[pipes]

Still has a belt. I don't know why they didn't move the motor down into the tunnel. Direct drive. lower center of gravity.

 

[jhurkot]

Still has a belt. I don't know why they didn't move the motor down into the tunnel. Direct drive. lower center of gravity.

It pretty well is direct drive... the motor is linked to the drive axle with a belt/tensioner. It has eliminated the primary clutch, secondary clutch, clutch belt, and jack shaft. For the motor to be inside the track it would have to act as the drive shaft with no gearing options. But now that the fuel tank and single pipe are gone, the sled can be completely different as batteries can be any shape and put in more than one spot.

 

[52weekbreak]

Agree on range but weight? Any sled fully fueled will be more than 500 pounds. This will be like all other electric stuff for the foreseeable future: good for shorter local rides rather than cross country transit. Battery technology has to change...

still away to go as far as the range and weight

 

[gunner3006]

Cool technology. Lots left on the table for naturally aspirated engines tho.

 

[tejay]

I can just see the parade of them being towed off Boulder when they run out of juice

 

[lilduke]

Maybe they could have a spare battery, say the size of a jerry can, that could be strapped to the tunnel to get yourself down.

 

[Lund]

Efficiency will depend if they went with DC or AC motor. AC is far more powerful and efficient. Like comparing a 2stroke and 4stroke. But AC is more expensive in general to build. But really nothing wears on AC motors, other then bearing's as there are no com. brushes in AC motors.

 

[Couch]

All good. 500 lbs ready to ride is better than many sleds already on the snow. Much more flexibility re design with removal of much of the conventional drive components. Less operating weight too without a cooler to make ice in the tunnel.
Battery range & weight will be the big hurdle though for sure.
More / full torque at all speeds will be a big difference on the snow!

 

[barefooter]

If nothing else I want an electric snowbike (motocrosser) - just for noise reduction. That is the issue we have with neighbors, etc.

The Redshift is making big strides, KTM is coming out with one next year. I will be buying one in the next two years I am sure for my backyard track.

My worry is battery and range. From what I read - we are nearing the limits of current technology and that there is no 'magic bullet" on the horizon. Tesla's big rig is ample evidence of that. Once they are priced withing reason of the gas ones, I think we will see growth in the sport because the urban MX track will become a reality again. There range is not going to matter on a 20 minute moto, where I have the ability to swap batteries.

Change is good!

 

[minnow10]

That's funny, He hits the kill switch on the bars at the end.

 

[Summitric]

If nothing else I want an electric snowbike (motocrosser) - just for noise reduction. That is the issue we have with neighbors, etc.

The Redshift is making big strides, KTM is coming out with one next year. I will be buying one in the next two years I am sure for my backyard track.

My worry is battery and range. From what I read - we are nearing the limits of current technology and that there is no 'magic bullet" on the horizon. Tesla's big rig is ample evidence of that. Once they are priced withing reason of the gas ones, I think we will see growth in the sport because the urban MX track will become a reality again. There range is not going to matter on a 20 minute moto, where I have the ability to swap batteries.

Change is good!

time to seriously invest in battery companies and Lithium producers/mining companies

 

[niner]

Would be nice to see a company just sell the batteries and the motor. I could squeeze that in my pro chassis when my motor blows again.

 

[Steve D]

Would be nice to see a company just sell the batteries and the motor. I could squeeze that in my pro chassis when my motor blows again.

I kind of think that'd be the smarter way to go about it. Rather than re-inventing the wheel and trying to get around patents and stuff, why not take what works fine (chassis) and make kits? The front suspension is yet another linkage front end with yet another mono-shock linkage thing in the back.


Realistically, the best case scenario for a company like this is they get noticed and bought up by the bigger companies, like Polaris did with that electric motorcycle company, which is probably their goal anyway.

 

[gunner3006]

Couple booster packs for fuel caddys and your set

 

[KatMan]

I do believe that these E sleds are the future. A few guys on this site will laugh at that idea. Just like the steam locomotive engineers scoffed at the diesel trains replacing them. They really thought the diesels would never beat them. Maybe the nature nazis won't come down as hard on these machines as they do on the current sleds with the tomato can exhaust stingers.

You nailed it. Diesel sleds are the future.