ONTONAGON, Mich. (WZMQ) – Electric off road vehicles are now available for rent in the Upper Peninsula.
Made by Polaris, the X2 Kinetic ORV was developed for an untapped market. “We found that there’s a real opportunity to bring that control, the quiet, and obviously the environmental benefits of EV in powersports,” said Andrew Chasse, vice president of strategy and partnerships for Polaris.
Through a $700,000 grant from the state of Michigan, a partnership with Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures, Zero Motorcycles, and one year of organizing, Polaris is excited for people to try out their new ORV deep in a secluded area. “They work both on and off the grid with solar,” Chasse said. “You can actually get charging out to places like this and bring the electric riding experience off the beaten path, which is a little exciting.”
Two chargers were unveiled at North Coast Adventures on Thursday, and they’ll be able to keep them fueled for hours of riding. “Honestly, even a half an hour or an hour of charging is enough to get you through the day and back to the destination,” said Chasse.
The ORV’s are up to the task for getting through some tough terrain as well. They can move right through puddles, sticks, and mud just as a regular gas-powered one can. “It’s very capable and more than anybody would expect most of the time,” said Jay Mittelstaedt, co-owner of Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures. “So, you have to experience them for yourself, because it’s hard to explain how good these vehicles actually are.”
Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures is offering EV-ORV tours until November 1.
