Heavy Duty Electric ATV

2010 - Volume #34, Issue #2, Page #26

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You don't need to sacrifice power to drive a quitet, pollution-free vehicle, says Barefoot Motors, Ashland, Ore. Their new electric-powered ATV was on display at the recent World Ago Expo in Tulare, Calif.
  It pulls loads with power equal to a 700 cc gas-powered ATV, according to the company, powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries that are said to last as much as four times longer than ordinary lead acid batteries. The rig's maximum speed is 25 mph and range is up to 40 miles, depending on conditions. A dash-mounted display shows how much time is left before the ATV needs to be recharged.
  The electric-powered ATV has a payload capacity of 300 lbs. combined front and rear racks, plus rider. Towing capacity is 1,000 lbs.
  "It's not a play machine," says Richard Deckelman. "It produces power the moment you hit the throttle. It produces 65 ft.-lbs. of torque at 1 rpm, whereas tractors and gas ATV''s only get that kind of torque at upwards of 3,000 rpm's.
  "It costs more than a gas-powered ATV of comparable power, but the extra cost is more than offset by the savings in gas and maintenance costs. A gas-powered ATV costs 50 to 60 cents per mile to operate, so you can easily spend $1,000 a year or more on gas and maintenance costs. The electric ATV requires no gas, no oil, filters, tune-ups, etc., which really adds up. It costs only 3 to 8 cents per mile to operate, depending on the local cost of electricity. A typical user will save more than $3,000 over four years."
  The lithium iron phosphate batteries last a minimum of four years with daily use, which is "the longest battery life commercially available today," says Deckelman. Charge time is 7 hours for a full charge.   The current M-1 model is 2-WD and sells for $11,900. The company plans to offer the M-2 4-WD model this April.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Barefoot Motors, LLC, 3151 E. Main St., Ashland, Ore. 97520 (ph 541 482-0181; rdeckelman@barefootmotors.com; www.barefootmotors.com).

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Heavy Duty Electric ATV ATV'S ATV'S 34-2-26 You don't need to sacrifice power to drive a quitet, pollution-free vehicle, says Barefoot Motors, Ashland, Ore. Their new electric-powered ATV was on display at the recent World Ago Expo in Tulare, Calif. It pulls loads with power equal to a 700 cc gas-powered ATV, according to the company, powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries that are said to last as much as four times longer than ordinary lead acid batteries. The rig's maximum speed is 25 mph and range is up to 40 miles, depending on conditions. A dash-mounted display shows how much time is left before the ATV needs to be recharged. The electric-powered ATV has a payload capacity of 300 lbs. combined front and rear racks, plus rider. Towing capacity is 1,000 lbs. "It's not a play machine," says Richard Deckelman. "It produces power the moment you hit the throttle. It produces 65 ft.-lbs. of torque at 1 rpm, whereas tractors and gas ATV''s only get that kind of torque at upwards of 3,000 rpm's. "It costs more than a gas-powered ATV of comparable power, but the extra cost is more than offset by the savings in gas and maintenance costs. A gas-powered ATV costs 50 to 60 cents per mile to operate, so you can easily spend $1,000 a year or more on gas and maintenance costs. The electric ATV requires no gas, no oil, filters, tune-ups, etc., which really adds up. It costs only 3 to 8 cents per mile to operate, depending on the local cost of electricity. A typical user will save more than $3,000 over four years." The lithium iron phosphate batteries last a minimum of four years with daily use, which is "the longest battery life commercially available today," says Deckelman. Charge time is 7 hours for a full charge. The current M-1 model is 2-WD and sells for $11,900. The company plans to offer the M-2 4-WD model this April. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Barefoot Motors, LLC, 3151 E. Main St., Ashland, Ore. 97520 (ph 541 482-0181; rdeckelman@barefootmotors.com; www.barefootmotors.com).

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