I live in Alaska and I use my Ranger EV 4X4 at -40 below zero. The trick is buying an LTO type battery chemistry that also triples the range of the EV but unfortunately also triples the charging time so I had to buy an extra BIG charger which takes 2 hours to reach full power now. LTO batters also last 20 years so they are cheaper in the long run. Lead acid batteries need to be changed out every 5 years or so with the 4th and 5th year of use yielding frustrating range results
I converted my 2020 Polaris EV to lithium using the Voltronix kit. The conversion is some work and takes some time but it isn't complicated. The instructions have a couple very small omissions but is otherwise complete. Everything in the kit is clearly labelled. The batteries work great. The improvement in range is unbelievable. Also everything works as it did before. I did have a problem they had never seen before. I had installed an aftermarket directional/horn kit and since it had 2 grounds I connected one to the 12V ground terminal and one to the chassis and had no problem until I connected the lithium batteries. The connected grounds overheated and burnt. It took some time but tech support finally figured out the problem. Some water had gotten into the battery case causing a voltage leak which wouldn't have caused an issue without the two voltage system grounds connected together. They have since corrected the problem with the batteries. My point in telling this story is that tech support stuck with this problem until it was solved and repaired the batteries completely at their expense. I can't say enough good things about the company. They stand behind their product. It's expensive but to me it was worth it.
Hi Michael! Yes, I’ve already been considering converting to lithium when the lead acid batteries poop out. They are still doing surprisingly well so far, so I’ll milk for all they are worth. I think Voltronix was one of the companies I looked at when scoping out the lithium landscape. Thanks for watching and for the great advice!
I’m the proud owner of a 2011 Ranger EV. I’ve had several issues including a fried main power connector, burnt out 20A charging fuse, and excessive water usage in my batteries. All of these issues have been mitigated by changing my charger algorithm from the factory 73 to the optional 71. I have over 800 hours on this machine and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Hands down the most useful piece of equipment that I own.
Hi Joel! It’s nice to hear from a long-term Ranger EV owner! I’ve heard of others changing the algorithm from 73 to 71. I’ve had to top off the batteries only twice in over a year. Maybe the‘ve improved the chargers tendency to “cook” the batteries. Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks! I just ordered one because of your review. It's for my 89 year old dad to get up and down to his garden. This machine will be perfect for him.
Thank you, Eric! That’s awesome that you are getting one for your dad! It’s so simple to operate, yet it’s got some real power to, if needed. We are still very pleased with ours. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2010 Ranger EV. I've been pretty happy with it - only had it for 3 years but I'm thinking about getting a new one. Also considered the Hisun, but I've seen a fait amount of negative reviews. I use it to maintain about 700 acres of hunting land and to pull a 4,000lb electric nifty TM42 lift around on a golf course and in yards. It sounds like too much but it has done well! Thanks for giving such a detailed review!
4,000 lbs! Impressive! I just was an add on TH-cam that Polaris is coming out with a brand new electric UTV in December. Don't know if it will replace the Ranger EV or is in addition to it. Thanks for watching!
This video is first-rate from start to finish. I have owned Polaris gas ATVs for 25+ years, and have family who've had Rangers for most of that time, too. But I never got as much good info about the EV Ranger in one place as I did from this video. Nice work, friend! 👍
Good day Martin! An excellent, thorough review, as always. I did not even know EV ATV's were on the market yet. Thanks for all the effort and diligence in making the video. Cheers and all the best!
Thank you, Gord! I was very surprised and glad to find out that Polaris had been making them for 10 years, so I felt confident that the vehicle was mature and the bugs had been worked out. Thanks for watching and all the best to you and your family as well1
Excellent review. We have a 2009 Stealth Patriot, but working on the ranch and being a chore vehicle has taken a toll on it. We're looking at the Polaris and this video has really helped us with making a decision on a new EV. Well done and thank you!
Thank you! Glad you liked it! FYI, Polaris is coming out with an all new Ranger EV in 2022 that supposedly out performs all other Rangers, and uses Li-Ion batteries. If you are not in a hurry you may want to consider it. Thanks for watching!
Hello there Martin!!! You did a great job on this review. I thought it was very honest and forthright!!! I think with anything you buy, you have to decide on what you want based on personal preferences. Your review here certainly showed, and explained very well, what to expect from the Ranger EV and will go a long way in helping people with their decisions. Thanks for doing this and take care!!!
Thank you, Mike! Yes, the Ranger EV isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for us. We have really enjoyed quietly cruising our property and the occasional ride on the gravel roads near where we live. Thanks for watching!
after a 7 month wait, I finally have my Ranger EV. The first day I was shocked to drain my battery to below 50% on a relatively short drive mostly on high range. Then I fully charged my battery and started using mid-range. Now the same trip takes only 5% of battery - amazing the difference. I could drive all day on one charge in mid-range. I should try high range again. I am 1" shy of 6feet tall and have just enough leg room - my cab is fully enclosed with solid doors and windows. I live in a Canada and still have to see how often I cannot use it due to cold temperatures. The manual says it has regenerative breaking - pleasantly surprised. After just a couple of days, I think it is an amazing unit. First, I thought I will wait for the Kinetic, but now I think the 2022 is good enough. Hope there will be a Li-ion replacement battery when I need to replace the batteries ( I used to have an e-bike and replaced the Li-ion with LA when the Li-ion stopped working. To my surprise the LA battery worked better in cold temperatures).
Hi Wolfgang! Congrats on getting your EV! Yes, in my experience High Range sucks the batteries down fast. I use Mid Range on the open road and Low Range for the trails on our property. (We like to go slow to take in the scenery.) I’ll probably convert it to LI when the LA’s wear out. Thanks for watching!
That is amazing this machine weighs 1700lbs! That is great for towing stuff and controlling the load. This machine is just perfect for your needs. Way better than a golf cart, the suspension makes a HUGE difference. I assume they don't sell any in Canada, -10°C is too frequent in winter. Having this machine on a homestead is just perfect. Just plug the machine every night. We've been using the Can-Am quite frequently and this is a workhorse. I never thought a UTV could be as useful on the homestead! Thanks Martin!
Yes, indeed! Some commented that the weight was a negative but like you, I saw it as a positive for the reason you mentioned. Yeah, Canada gets too cold for battery powered UTV. They are amazingly useful to have. Thanks for watching!
This is the absolute BEST review of the Ranger EV on all of TH-cam. Well done sir, and thank you very much! I'd like to buy one but I'd use it in winter for plowing snow here in PA, and that 14° F battery limit worries me. I guess I can just warm the batts up if I have to before plowing. 😎
Thank you for the encouraging words! I’ve actually heard from others who do have the EV in cold climates and they say if you can keep the EV in a garage or barn, it does fine. Especially if the charger is left plugged, which is what the manual recommends. But you are right to be cautious about it. Thanks for watching!
Like all of your videos this was very informative and well presented. You have opened my eyes to the potential of a EV UTV. I presently have a JD Gator, and you’re correct it is loud and seems to consume a good deal of gas considering its size and utility. Thank you for helping me and all of us see the possibilities of an EV for use on the farm and land. Thanks & KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Thank you, bwise! Yep, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and how powerful it is and how much I can use it with minimal battery drain. I’ll often use it for several days before the charge is low enough to be worth recharging. I haven’t had it below 80% yet.
Hi Michael! I just topped off my batteries for only the third time since I had it and it is a pain. I might add the refill system to mine too simplify it. I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. Thanks for watching!
A really good review,, probably best I’ve seen! We have ordered a 2021 ev .. dealer says won’t be here until January.. We live in Ontario,Canada and the cold temps I’m sure it will affect the range.. but it will be stored in a heated shop. I plan to plow some snow in driveway ( there is a good TH-cam of a guy in Norway with ev plowing snow) I was looking at how often the batteries need watering and watching ur video has certainly helped out.. Once again good job and keep up on the review 1 yr,2 etc...
Thank you! I'm so glad to hear it! Yes, if you store it in a heated shop, it should operate just fine up there. Fortunately, the batteries don't need watering often the way I use it, which every two or three days. I expect I'll do follow-up reviews on it through the years. Good luck with yours and thanks for watching!
Good straightforward review. I own a 2014 Ranger EV and its held up very well. I replace all my batteries this year which was a major cost. The batteries are very heavy duty golf cart style and with 8 of them the cost adds up quickly. The battery holder bolts also needed replacement and that turned out to be another significant cost. That said, this is the first battery change in 6 years, so annual cost is reasonable. Would I go EV again? Absolutely, I use mine daily to haul wood, and gravel and also move a tandem axel trailer occasionally.
Thank you, Karl! Hopefully, my first battery change is several years down the road too. I've been very pleasantly surprised at how much the EV can haul and tow. Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. We have about 11 acres and a good part of that is wooded. I have been trying to decide if I should take a chance on the electric Ranger...I'm talking to my Polaris dealer tomorrow. I'm buying one! Thanks again...I hope you know how much you are helping others.
I am so glad to hear the video helped you in your decision! I still love mine and will be doing update videos on it over time. Good luck with your Ranger EV! Thanks for watching!
First - 8-months late, and I apologize. Second - VERY much appreciate your calm well-thought-out and nicely shot approach to this video. FAR more informative and watchable than the overly "excited" persona's of so many other video producers. Third - have you explored the, yes very costly, conversion from FLA batteries to the equivalent, or better AGM, or even better than that, LiFePO4 lithiums - Far less weight, and potentially more range and lifetime - BUT a LOT of $$$. Many thanks from your neighbour north, near Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Thank you for the kind words, Robert! Polaris used to offer a Li-Ion option but discontinued it about a year before I bought mine. I later found out it was because they were working on an all-new Li-Ion Ranger EV for 2022 that will outperform all gasoline models. Yes, when these batteries poop out I will consider AGM, carbon foam and LiFePO4 batteries as replacement. Definitely something more advanced than just FLA batteries. Thanks for watching!
Martin, what I really like about the EV is they're so nice and quiet. While driving my gas operated Polaris, I can't ease into areas occupied with wildlife without spooking them. Thanks for the fine video. When you said to viewers to guess what ATV/UTV/EV you were getting,, my guess was a Polaris 1000 so you definitely have a fine EV. Enjoy your weekend. Full-watch. 👍🏽🙂.
Hi Don! Yep, that’s what we love about it too. Plus, you can so super slow definitely if you want to with the EV as well as quietly. Can your Polaris gas model go really slow? Thanks for watching and have a most excellent weekend!
@@DIYMyWay Wow, very good point, Martin. Having the ability to go really slow is pretty neat when I venture into some wildlife areas on my land. Stealth. You definitely made a great selection for cruising on your land.
Ah, so I’m assuming the gas models can’t go very slow. I really didn’t know which is why I asked. The EV can’t go as fast as the gas models but it goes fast enough for us and it can go ridiculously slow if need, which we often do.
Great video, the production was amazing. Love the way you present information, it makes it very easy to digest. Thank you so much for the fantastic video!
I also have a 2020 Polaris EV and agree with all the pros and love the machine. I have learned that there are significant cons to the battery system. First is watering the batteries. Then there is the charger. Mine collapsed after a year and a half and cost over $1000 to repair. Then I find that replacement parts only have a 3 month warranty after I discovered charging issues. Then there is corrosion on the battery terminals. I was told that they should be disconnected and cleaned every 3 months. Since they weren't the overheated batteries which should to be replaced will not be covered by the battery warranty. The dealer also complained the batteries were dirty but there is no protection to keep the dirt from getting in there. By the way I have cleaned the batteries and terminals in the past. I am disappointed in the battery system in an otherwise great machine. Not happy with Polaris' response to these issues. Looking into a Lithium aftermarket upgrade. I have also learned that Polaris is not making these machines anymore. Too many battery problems. Their new model is twice the price.
Did you do the battery swap? I’ve seen several videos about it, and it looks pretty easy. Some of the kits even include a new charger. Totally agree about the new model being WAY overpriced.
I did. The conversion is some work and takes some time but it isn't complicated. The instructions have a couple very small omissions but is otherwise complete. Everything in the kit is clearly labelled. The batteries work great. The improvement in range is unbelievable. Also everything works as it did before. I did have a problem they had never seen before. I had installed an aftermarket directional/horn kit and since it had 2 grounds I connected one to the 12V ground terminal and one to the chassis and had no problem until I connected the lithium batteries. The connected grounds overheated and burnt. Tech support finally figured out the problem. Some water had gotten into the battery case causing a voltage leak which wouldn't have caused an issue without the two voltage system grounds connected together. They have since corrected the problem with the batteries. My point in telling this story is that tech support stuck with this problem until it was solved and repaired the batteries completely at their expense. I can't say enough good thing about the company. They stand behind their product. It's expensive but to me it was worth it. @@atomicsmith
Thanks, Michael. Polaris did and may still over a lithium battery option, but it wasn’t on the website at the time I did the review research. Also, I’ve seen lithium battery packs for the EV sold by third parties as well. Thanks for watching!
Our town has been using a 2021 Ranger EV in a law enforcement capacity to patrol a regional park. It's been doing very well, with just regular maintenance. In about 2200 hours of riding over trails and small hills, the only thing that went bad so far are wheel bearings. Batteries do need frequent water top ups, though. Especially in the summer when it's hot.
Wow! 2200 hours is a LOT in a year’s time no surprise the wheel bearings needed replacing. Companies like Flo-Rite make a battery top off system for the EV that makes it quick and easy to keep all the batteries topped off to the right level. I seriously considering one for my Ranger EV. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay Thanks for making this very comprehensive video and for the tip on the battery top off kit. Although I'm not the one working on the unit, I've read on forums that Polaris does not grease the wheel bearings out of the factory. If that is true, it would definitely explain the failed bearing, keeping in mind that similar bearings in automotive applications or trailers can last much, much longer. There are special wheel bearing greasing tools available on Amazon for these Polaris UTVs, in different sizes. It is said that regular greasing will prevent these bearing failures, which definitely makes sense.
Nice video. We've had our Tracker EV for just over a month now and we agree with all of the pros and cons you have shown for owning your own EV version of a UTV. I think having an EV for managing a small property like yours is ideal.
I've been driving a 2012 for about 9 years and I figured out to top off the batteries I use a 1 gallon pump weed sprayer used just for this and remove the spray tip and it works great to pull the trigger and add water very easy and controlled.
Good video. Thanks. Been thinking about an EV UTV for a couple years. Had kinda honed in on the CanAm Intimidator but your point of Polaris being the pioneer and in the field longer is a valid one. We’re in Ohio, so it gets cold, but our whole house runs on a solar battery array. I like the idea of using it for all it’s worth. Thanks again for a very clear, concise video review.
Hi Frank! Yes, Polaris has had ten years to work out the bugs of the Ranger EV. As for the cold, I’ve heard from a few folks who have them in cold weather climates and say they do fine, but the store them in shops and garages, so I might not be as big of a concern as I had thought. Good luck with you decision and thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay FYI, for you or your viewers,... I jumped on the Intimidator site and the Polaris site and did a side by side ‘Build Your Own’ on each site to see how they compared on features and pricing. Intimidator did have more accessory options. But when I did an apples to apples comparative build out on both, Polaris was 3K cheaper. For whatever it’s worth.
This interests me and your video has given me more information than the Polaris website. The low temperature performance might be a big problem for me. If I get a side by side snow is definitely something it will have to deal with.
Glad you found it helpful! There have been a few comments from folks in colder climates that say they do fine in the cold as long as your store them inside. I’ve seen some videos show up in my feed about people using them in the cold so I encourage you to look a little deeper into before you count the EV out. Thanks for watching!
Hard to go wrong with any Polaris product. They are well made. I'd like to have one to avoid the problems with my gas Gator that doesn't get driven enough to keep running well but the money feels better in my pocket.
They used to offer lithium ion batteries as an option but don’t seem to now. There are videos of others who did their own lithium conversions. I may go that route when these poop out. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWayThanks for making this video. I have a 2017 model and put 13,000 kms on it. When we first got it, the program setting on the charger was incorrect and cooked our first set of batteries. We weren't alone in experiencing this problem and wondering if you had that issue and if you know what program setting number you have running on your charger? (I presume it's a delta-q) I also swapped out the standard tyres & rims for 16" light truck radials. They are cheaper, more puncture resistant, you get an extra 6-7 km/hr speed, negligable torque loss and greater battery range (lower rolling resistance, higher pressure) I have a spot sprayer and boom, and a front mount auto electric fence system. I absolutely cane the crap out of it but the most dissapointing thing is those damn LA batteries!! All that weight hauled around for nothing.
@@graemeozzie2251 Hi Graeme! I have heard others on videos say the charger cooked the batteries during charging. Mine has the Delta-Q charger but doesn’t appear to boil them away because I seldom have to top off the batteries. I don’t know what charging profile it is set to. I guess I need to decipher the start-up blinks. Thanks for the tip on the tires! What specific brand and model of tires did you get? Thanks for watching!
Good Video. We have a 2010 BadBoy 4v4 EV for years now, I thing we got it in 2015. We live in the upper peninsula of Michigan and my wife drives it to the shop every day even at below 0 F in the snow. It has hauled a lot of firewood. I am looking to replace it. I wish there was more of them to choose from. The new BadBoys look like gulf carts now. I have never been that impressed with Polaris. By the way I think your batteries are getting over charger. I put in about a gallon a year in ours, same batters. We plug ours in once a week for the day , maybe twice if hauling wood. I never leave it plugged in over night. I don't trust trickle chargers. Some of the equipment we sell have them. Even the best of them burn down garages and cook batteries.
Thanks! Yes, I’d like to see a lot more choices on the market too. I don’t think the batteries are getting over charged. I’ve only had to add water twice - first when I got it new because and once more. They don’t look like they’ll need water again for quite a while. Like yours, a charge once a week is usually all it needs. Thanks for watching!
Looks like a nice machine Martin! I would love it for around the property here and did entertain the idea however I also like to trail ride and go wheeling with friends so the speed and range took it out of my search. Glad you are happy with it! Thanks for sharing, Will be very useful for someone in the market!
I’ve got a 2017 Polaris EV and just upgraded to new a 11.7 kw Li-ion battery pack. It has an extreme amount of power and torque and just can’t say enough about it! Electric is the way to go!! I’m currently designing, more like thinking of, an efficient heating source for winter; diesel or a secondary battery - the latter I’m leaning towards. Curious to see ‘if’ Polaris has thought of this for their newest Ranger EV coming in December.?.? So exciting!!
Hi David! Yes, I’ll probably upgrade to Li-ion when the stock batteries poop out. Did you go with a third party Li-ion upgrade package or roll your own? Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay I went with Voltronix 11.7 kW kit (2nd largest of 3 sizes). Tried to get the largest pack, just over 13 kW, but like many things today, there were issues getting them. ... A 2nd and different topic ... was curious if your AWD works? Recently found mine did not just this past winter (so unfortunately my EV is out of warranty). I never had a reason to try it out and just figured everything worked since I purchased it brand new from a dealer. I almost got stuck in 8" of snow! I didn't think too much about it then. Then, this past summer, when I went from 2-wheel (locked rear) to AWD (in a thick pile of leaves), both of my rear wheels were spinning AND the fronts never engaged. Probably had this issue (no AWD) since new, but unfortunately just realized it. Long story short after troubleshooting - I was getting 14v down to the front clutch with the drive selector switch in AWD (for AWD), however the ground (return) wire was not being grounded (B-). The return wire comes from the front clutch and has to go through the VCIM before it is then tied to B- (ground). The VCIM was preventing the return wire from going to B-, so the AWD clutch circuit was never complete. Knowing it would cost a lot, I simply connected the return wire directly to B- and then successfully tested 1-wheel, 2-wheel, and ... now AWD works too! I can't wait until I go out in the snow again!
Thanks for the info, David! Yes, my AWD and rear differential lock work. I tested them early on and have had to use then on occasion. However, I’ve been impressed by how well the one wheel drive works on most terrain and even muddy patches, especially considering how heavy the EV is.
@@DIYMyWay Yes, indeed, I would certainly agree that the 'Turf' mode, 1-wheel drive, does work quite well. I'll be curious to find how much difference there is going from the weight of 8 Pb-Acid batteries to just 2 Li-ion batteries. It really is an impressive machine! The neighbors always say they never hear me driving up to their back deck or wherever they happen to be.
Very helpful, thanks. I live in Northern Ontario, and temperatures can go 40C below zero, that is the greatest issue; I wonder if there is a model that carries lithium batteries.
Their new EV model is lithium but costs twice as much and I think they stopped making this model but there may be some inventory at dealers. Thanks for stopping by!
I am converting a 2012 Ranger EV which was given to me to Tesla Lithium. The original Lead Acids caused a lot of corrosion to the frame. The charger has a build in DC/DC converter both are dead as is the vehicle control module which I hope to replace with relays. Not sure but i think the one wheel drive mode (Turf Saver?) is RWD without difflock. Horsepower is not that important but torque is and the EV will have heaps more than the petrol ones. The controller is a Devcon from Germany and the motor is a 3 phase AC (probably from Germany too). To me the electrics are not well designed and hard to repair. None of the schematics i found on the web are matching the model I have, so i have to reverse engineer everything. Otherwise a well made unit but lead acid in 2020 really is a no-go.
As long a you have it well ventilated with open windows. That many batteries will produce a good bit of nasty gases, especially if the batteries are drained significantly when you start charging them. Thanks for watching!
Hi Ed! Well, the John Deere TE 4×2 Electric is one and the Intimidator Classic EV is another. I just found two other brands with a quick Google search: HuntVe, which has several models and the Textron Prowler EV iS . I chose to stick with a name brand with many dealers within driving distance rather than the one of the more obscure ones with fewer distribution channels. The Rangers EV's longevity and reputation, plus having multiple Polaris dealers within driving distance were big factors in my choice. Thanks for watching!
I’m with you on that, Ed. I’m surprised lithium ion isn’t the standard but it probably to keep the costs more palatable to buyers. Still, when the batteries in my Polaris poop out in 4 to 8 years, I’ll probably replace them with lithium ion.
Hi Martin, Great Video... We have be looking @ at this as a future purchase... The Greenworks also makes an 82 Volt model @ twice the price...A few suggestions, add the Orange Triangle to the rear tailgate when driving on the roadway, and another way to top off the batteries is using a turkey baster, it works pretty good fort tight spots...Stay Safe..God Bless...Chief...{NYS/ADK}
Thanks, Chief! Greenworks? Who da thunk it? Sounds to pricey. I have a caution triangle but don’t yet have a way to mount it. I’ll come up with something. A turkey baster! Great idea! I hope you and your family are well. Thanks for watching!
Hi Martin, a great video.A question if I may,I recently took delivery of one of these and noticed it is not as quiet as one would assume.aside from the whine of the electric motor mine makes a noise that I believe is coming from the front differential and sounds as if the differential is between locked and unlocked and skimming the gears like there is no gear oil in it. does yours make a similar sound while operating it ?
Thanks! Our Ranger EV is quiet, but it’s never been silent. Most of our sound is from the drivetrain - the predictable sound of gears turning and then there’s the sound of the tires on the trails. Our front differential doesn’t make any unusual noises. We almost always leave ours in single wheel drive mode because surprisingly it gets us through all the terrain on the property, so the front demand drive is only engaged on rare occasions where we need a little extra traction. You should definitely check to make sure both front and rear drivetrains have the right amount of oil in them. Good luck!
Yes, but it’s expensive. Polaris once offered a lithium battery option, but I don’t see it offered anymore. Some third party companies offer kits for lithium conversion, but they are also expensive. Thanks for watching!
We bought a well used 2010 EV a year ago. After various mechanical replacements, we put in a Lithium system. Expensive ... but well worth it! Love this little machine ... and a bargain compared to a new one PLUS Lithium!
Thanks, Kevin! It just the right height and not hard to see except for a couple of the batteries. I’m considering getting a Flo-Rite battery water system to make it much easier and faster. Typically I only have to top them off twice a year. Thanks for watching!
They still sell the Ranger EV but now that have new Kick-Ass lithium-ion powered electric Ranger that outperforms all previous Rangers, gas, diesel or electric. I think it starts at $26K. I still love my Ranger EV as is. It has all the power and performance I need. Thanks for watching!
Hi Troy. The Ranger EV only has an hour meter, no odometer or speedometer so it’s hard to give a range on it. However, I’ll be adding an odometer/speedometer to it because I’m curious about distance as well as hours. But this example may give you an idea. My wife and I rode around our 17 acre property today for about a half hour and the battery charge was down to 99%. Then we took it out on the gravel and dirt roads where we live, had it in high gear and probably travelled a little over a mile round trip. When we got back, it was at 93%. This was on a warm 75 degree day. On cold days that same route of riding our property trails then the dirt roads would take the charge down to about 80%. So the way we use it, I never have to worry about the batteries getting too low. I’ve rode around the property all day stopping to to work in various areas and it will often still be at 100% when I get back. Hope this helps.
Best video I've seen on the EV. The towed load you used as an example wasn't terribly heavy. Have you put close to the recommended limit in the bed, and in a towed trailer? If so I'm curious how it did? I am seriously considering one and would do a lot of firewood hauling out of the woods and down to where my splitter will be set up, and firewood is heavy. Thanks, and again very well done video.
Thank you John! I have not yet, but given that it has 30 HP and the low range appears to have a LOT of torque, I think it would tow a load of firewood just fine. It has the same towing ratings as the gas powered models, so I don’t think it would be a problem. Thanks for watching!
Good evening Sir 😊 I like any information about electric vehicle 🧐 You made as usual an outstanding informative video and great video editing work Sir 👍😊 You have a nice living country area Sir👌🧐 Yes in deed, we have electric tractors on airports and when the temperature are getting cold the battery power is droping fast !!! 😉 Have a great week end Sir Cheers !!!
I’d be curious to see what the service accessibility is like. Are batteries easy and cost efficient to replace? Could a mobile battery back be used to charge on the go?
Battery service accessibility was covered in the video. Replace all the batteries will not be easy or inexpensive, but they should last 4 to 8 years depending on how deeply discharged they are before recharging and how many recharge cycles they go through. Thanks for watching!
Thank you, Mike! Sorry for the delayed reply. I use a 10 foot extension cord rated for 15 amps and have had no problems with it heating up. That said, I should mention I've never let the Ranger EV get below 80% before charging it. It's quite possible that the charger would draw more power initially to charge batteries that had considerably less charge on them. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay - I would look into it as it definitely says nothing less than a 20amp cord and receptacle... when we tried with a regular one it barely charged and got very hot.
Hi Martin, Thank you for doing this review, it helped me decide to buy one. I just got mine last week, and I love it so far. I have a question. Do you get any other noise from yours besides the very mild motor whine I can hear on your video? Mine has a very soft "purring" noise when underway. I'm wondering if it's normal or something to be concerned about. Battery life has been excellent, and there don't seem to be any power problems. Just that very soft purring or whirring noise.
Hi Rain! Glad the video was helpful to you. A purring noise? I wish mine would purr! The transmission just whines. If yours is a newer model, perhaps they found a way to reduce the transmission noise, which would be great. I wouldn't be concerned. Thanks for watching!
Any ballpark figure on range (miles) or run time you can provide? I know what the literature says, I'm interested in your actual experience. Want to consider if for Texas feral hog hunting. Thanks
Hi Mark! The EV manual says 50 miles, but I'd bet in real world driving on trails it would be half of that or less. We drive either on our 17 acre property or a few miles down the dirt roads in the area and the charge is down to only 80%. If you are going to hunt on different properties and don't know how much distance you may cover you'd be better off with a gas powered UTV. Thanks for watching!
That surprised me too, but I’ve learned that compared to the power the motor draws while riding, the headlights are insignificant. Still, I wish they were LED. Thanks for watching!
Very well done video Sir. I was wondering if you have a guestimate on the range in max range mode. I would like to go to some places that would require me to ride about 15 miles round trip. Would this make that trip and still have the 20% safe battery level?
Thank you, sir! Well, they claim the max range is 50 miles, but I’ll bet that’s on flat paved roads with a good tail wind. My guess is you’d be pushing the limit. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. But it would be really nice if there was more (or better less) noise (the music) when u where riding. Its an electric vehicle and im interested how much noise it makes, but almost everytime there is music when u drive around :(
Sorry about that! At slow speeds, it is very quiet. Just the sound of the tires on the ground. At higher speeds, you'll start to hear the gear train whine. The gear train on gas powered models also whine, but you don't hear it as much because the engine noise drowns it out. If you are interested in the EV, see if a dealer in your area has one on the lot that you can test drive. Go slow and fast to hear the difference. I really like that my wife and I can talk in normal voices while riding around on our property. Thanks for watching!
I had a 2012 EV loved it had for 6 years it got a problem with it the dealership had no idea what was going on with it so they told me if it started having era codes don’t bring it back to them, So I traded it in on a Honda Pioneer 1000-3 side by side, but I’m looking to buy another EV after 4 years hop to get a good one.
Polaris is coming out with an all new designed Lithium-Ion Ranger EV for 2022. It will supposedly outperform ANY current gas-powered models so you might want to take a look at it. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing all the little nuisances of your Polaris. It's not practical where I live in the winter (N.D), but I do see the value of it. Solar panel for the roof? Just to have it topped off during down time?
Yes, N. D. gets too cold for an electric UTV to do well. With that little space on the roof, solar panels wouldn’t provide much more than a trickle charge. Often times, I’m parked in the woods where there’s not a lot of light. So far I haven’t brought it below 80% charge, and that’s after 2 or 3 days of use without recharging, so it’s not really and issue. Thanks for watching!
Good thorough review, but I would think having an electric out on the trails would be a negative. Animals wouldn't hear it coming and not be able to get out of the way. All for it around the farm or property though, but I think replacing all those batteries would be expensive.
An EV is perfect for trails. It is quiet, not silent. Animals can see and hear us coming, but they aren’t as quickly spooked so we can get closer to wild life and watch them. The batteries should last between 4 and 8 years, depending on discharge cycles. When they need replacing, I’ll consider carbon foam batteries or lithium ion batteries. Thanks for watching!
Hi Alex! L-Ion batteries can definitely increase the range, but you may have to change out the stock charger and be prepared to spend $$$ to change to L-Ion. Since I don’t need great range, I’ll wait until the stock batteries poop out, then I’ll probably go with L-Ion too. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay Great vid. I am considering buying this Ranger EV. When your stock batteries do poop out, I would highly encourage you to opt for Firefly brand carbon-foam batteries rather than Li's. Li's can't be series do to the built in micro processors. Carbon foams weigh the same as traditional lead acids, but the have a 3000 cyle life span compared with lead acids 500, they can be fully discharged without issue, they can freeze without issue, and get this: instead of trickle charging at 2 amps like lead acids, they can take a 120 amp charge! They are less than half the price of Li's. My house has been 100% solar for 10 years. It used to take me 4 days to charge my lead acid battery bank, now that I switched to carbon foams it take me 3 hrs to charge the bank.
As usual.....a top quality and thorough review. Don't think I actually have a use for one with only 6 acres to manage.....but I know my wife and grandkids would differ with me.
Now I'm on the fence! I really like it but would be using it in New York so not sure if it's to cold to sit in the barn during the winter, I'd probably have to bring to my home and garage it, or pull all the batteries which would be a PITA, but really do like it...Dam...decisions, decisions
No need to pull the batteries because the cold won’t kill them. It just makes them less efficient while they are cold. Mine don’t perform as well in the cold, but they still hold more than enough charge for the amount we us the Ranger EV in the winter. When the weather warms up, the batteries come back to full efficiency. Thanks for watching!
Your videos for the Ranger EV are great and helped push me into purchasing one 2 weeks ago. Well, after only a couple hours of drive time, I got the electrical system error light. The light under the driver seat flashes 4 times which the manual tells me it's a contactor error. I think I DID press the accelerator while the parking brake was on OR I may have turned it off in gear or something. Do you know where I can find the troubleshooting or repair for the 4 flashing error codes?
Thanks, Will! The manual states it is 50 miles but doesn’t elaborate on under what conditions. My guess would be that’s if it’s running on flat pavement in mid-range and in single wheel drive. I can cruise all around my very hilly 17 acre property in low and still be at 98% 0r 99% charge at the end of the day. On the other hand, I can take it on the mostly gravel roads around my house with it in high gear and it will be at 80% to 85% when I get back. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
Wow, EV side by sides have really come a long way. I am surprised that they still use a transfer case instead of two direct drive motors. Very interesting video. Thanks!
Hi Marty! Polaris is coming out with a new Ranger EV that I think uses Li-Ion batteries and direct drive motors, so that will be a big leap forward. Thanks for watching!
I don’t know how cold it gets where you live, but you might want to do a little more research on it. I was just going by what the manual said, but I’ve had a couple comments from folks that have an EV in cold weather and say that it’s not a problem if you can keep it stored indoors. I’ve seen a couple videos show up in my TH-cam feed about folks using EVs in cold climates, so it might be worth your time to dig a little deeper on it. Good luck and thanks for watching!
You could replace the lead acid batteries with carbon-foam batteries for freezing temps. They don't mind the cold, have a 600% longer life span, and can be charged 80x's quicker.
I have a 2014 Polaris EV and I must disagree with you on ease of steering. It has a poor turning radius and you will get a workout trying to turn the steering wheel when you are not moving. Last year I had to replace the 8 batteries so I bought 155ah Vmaxtank Deep Cycle sealed batteries since maintaining the original ones was hard to do because of poor access. The new batteries cost about $2,700 on-line but I got $480 for the old ones from a battery dealer. Swapping them was easy and all you need to do is change the charging algorithm from factory 73 to 126 which was recommended by Vmax. Its a good UTV. I put a factory top and a window on it. Being electric, there is little noise compared to the gas operated vehicles my neighbors have.
Hi Mike! Yes, it has a poor turning radius and yes it is hard to steer when it’s not moving, which is why I do the vast majority of steering while it is moving. That’s easy. 😁 Glad to hear you got about 6 years of life out of the stock batteries, which is in line with what I’ve heard. I’ll definitely go with either maintenance free deep cycle batteries or convert to Li-Ion depending the cost at the time. I love that it’s so quite while riding on our trails. On the dirt roads near our property the transmission has a pretty good whine to it at top speed, but still not as loud as a gas engine. Thanks for watching!
Yes, yes they are. I’m sure of it. Last I checked, they had discontinued the more reasonable Ranger EV and now have this ultra EV which has very impressive specs, but you could go buy a Tesla for what they want for it. I think it was a mistake to discontinue the Ranger EV. A lot more people could afford it. Thanks for watching!
I live in Alaska and I use my Ranger EV 4X4 at -40 below zero. The trick is buying an LTO type battery chemistry that also triples the range of the EV but unfortunately also triples the charging time so I had to buy an extra BIG charger which takes 2 hours to reach full power now. LTO batters also last 20 years so they are cheaper in the long run. Lead acid batteries need to be changed out every 5 years or so with the 4th and 5th year of use yielding frustrating range results
Hi John! Thanks for the great info! I’ll be sure to look into LTO batteries when it comes time to change them. Thanks for watching!
I converted my 2020 Polaris EV to lithium using the Voltronix kit. The conversion is some work and takes some time but it isn't complicated. The instructions have a couple very small omissions but is otherwise complete. Everything in the kit is clearly labelled. The batteries work great. The improvement in range is unbelievable. Also everything works as it did before. I did have a problem they had never seen before. I had installed an aftermarket directional/horn kit and since it had 2 grounds I connected one to the 12V ground terminal and one to the chassis and had no problem until I connected the lithium batteries. The connected grounds overheated and burnt. It took some time but tech support finally figured out the problem. Some water had gotten into the battery case causing a voltage leak which wouldn't have caused an issue without the two voltage system grounds connected together. They have since corrected the problem with the batteries. My point in telling this story is that tech support stuck with this problem until it was solved and repaired the batteries completely at their expense. I can't say enough good things about the company. They stand behind their product. It's expensive but to me it was worth it.
Hi Michael! Yes, I’ve already been considering converting to lithium when the lead acid batteries poop out. They are still doing surprisingly well so far, so I’ll milk for all they are worth. I think Voltronix was one of the companies I looked at when scoping out the lithium landscape. Thanks for watching and for the great advice!
This is the best video I've found for this Polaris EV. Really really appreciate you taking the time to do it.
Thank you, James! I appreciate the positive feedback! Thanks for watching!
I agree, and I've been looking.
Agreed!! Thanks so much!
I’m the proud owner of a 2011 Ranger EV. I’ve had several issues including a fried main power connector, burnt out 20A charging fuse, and excessive water usage in my batteries. All of these issues have been mitigated by changing my charger algorithm from the factory 73 to the optional 71. I have over 800 hours on this machine and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Hands down the most useful piece of equipment that I own.
Hi Joel! It’s nice to hear from a long-term Ranger EV owner! I’ve heard of others changing the algorithm from 73 to 71. I’ve had to top off the batteries only twice in over a year. Maybe the‘ve improved the chargers tendency to “cook” the batteries. Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks! I just ordered one because of your review. It's for my 89 year old dad to get up and down to his garden. This machine will be perfect for him.
Thank you, Eric! That’s awesome that you are getting one for your dad! It’s so simple to operate, yet it’s got some real power to, if needed. We are still very pleased with ours. Thanks for watching!
15k for him to go to a garden
I have a 2010 Ranger EV. I've been pretty happy with it - only had it for 3 years but I'm thinking about getting a new one. Also considered the Hisun, but I've seen a fait amount of negative reviews. I use it to maintain about 700 acres of hunting land and to pull a 4,000lb electric nifty TM42 lift around on a golf course and in yards. It sounds like too much but it has done well! Thanks for giving such a detailed review!
4,000 lbs! Impressive! I just was an add on TH-cam that Polaris is coming out with a brand new electric UTV in December. Don't know if it will replace the Ranger EV or is in addition to it. Thanks for watching!
This video is first-rate from start to finish. I have owned Polaris gas ATVs for 25+ years, and have family who've had Rangers for most of that time, too. But I never got as much good info about the EV Ranger in one place as I did from this video. Nice work, friend! 👍
Thank you very much, floobertuber! I appreciate the encouraging words and am glad it was useful to you!
Good day Martin! An excellent, thorough review, as always. I did not even know EV ATV's were on the market yet. Thanks for all the effort and diligence in making the video. Cheers and all the best!
Thank you, Gord! I was very surprised and glad to find out that Polaris had been making them for 10 years, so I felt confident that the vehicle was mature and the bugs had been worked out. Thanks for watching and all the best to you and your family as well1
Excellent review. We have a 2009 Stealth Patriot, but working on the ranch and being a chore vehicle has taken a toll on it. We're looking at the Polaris and this video has really helped us with making a decision on a new EV. Well done and thank you!
Thank you! Glad you liked it! FYI, Polaris is coming out with an all new Ranger EV in 2022 that supposedly out performs all other Rangers, and uses Li-Ion batteries. If you are not in a hurry you may want to consider it. Thanks for watching!
I love this video. It had everything I was looking for in a review for the Ranger. Thank you!
So glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Hello there Martin!!! You did a great job on this review. I thought it was very honest and forthright!!! I think with anything you buy, you have to decide on what you want based on personal preferences. Your review here certainly showed, and explained very well, what to expect from the Ranger EV and will go a long way in helping people with their decisions. Thanks for doing this and take care!!!
Thank you, Mike! Yes, the Ranger EV isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for us. We have really enjoyed quietly cruising our property and the occasional ride on the gravel roads near where we live. Thanks for watching!
after a 7 month wait, I finally have my Ranger EV.
The first day I was shocked to drain my battery to below 50% on a relatively short drive mostly on high range. Then I fully charged my battery and started using mid-range. Now the same trip takes only 5% of battery - amazing the difference. I could drive all day on one charge in mid-range. I should try high range again.
I am 1" shy of 6feet tall and have just enough leg room - my cab is fully enclosed with solid doors and windows.
I live in a Canada and still have to see how often I cannot use it due to cold temperatures.
The manual says it has regenerative breaking - pleasantly surprised.
After just a couple of days, I think it is an amazing unit. First, I thought I will wait for the Kinetic, but now I think the 2022 is good enough. Hope there will be a Li-ion replacement battery when I need to replace the batteries ( I used to have an e-bike and replaced the Li-ion with LA when the Li-ion stopped working. To my surprise the LA battery worked better in cold temperatures).
Hi Wolfgang! Congrats on getting your EV! Yes, in my experience High Range sucks the batteries down fast. I use Mid Range on the open road and Low Range for the trails on our property. (We like to go slow to take in the scenery.) I’ll probably convert it to LI when the LA’s wear out. Thanks for watching!
That is amazing this machine weighs 1700lbs! That is great for towing stuff and controlling the load. This machine is just perfect for your needs. Way better than a golf cart, the suspension makes a HUGE difference. I assume they don't sell any in Canada, -10°C is too frequent in winter. Having this machine on a homestead is just perfect. Just plug the machine every night. We've been using the Can-Am quite frequently and this is a workhorse. I never thought a UTV could be as useful on the homestead! Thanks Martin!
Yes, indeed! Some commented that the weight was a negative but like you, I saw it as a positive for the reason you mentioned. Yeah, Canada gets too cold for battery powered UTV. They are amazingly useful to have. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay Can't be that hard to put batteries in an insulated box and a small heater.
I suspect you could drop at least 400 lb off of that if you switched it to a lithium
This is the absolute BEST review of the Ranger EV on all of TH-cam. Well done sir, and thank you very much! I'd like to buy one but I'd use it in winter for plowing snow here in PA, and that 14° F battery limit worries me. I guess I can just warm the batts up if I have to before plowing. 😎
Thank you for the encouraging words! I’ve actually heard from others who do have the EV in cold climates and they say if you can keep the EV in a garage or barn, it does fine. Especially if the charger is left plugged, which is what the manual recommends. But you are right to be cautious about it. Thanks for watching!
Like all of your videos this was very informative and well presented. You have opened my eyes to the potential of a EV UTV. I presently have a JD Gator, and you’re correct it is loud and seems to consume a good deal of gas considering its size and utility. Thank you for helping me and all of us see the possibilities of an EV for use on the farm and land.
Thanks & KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Thank you, bwise! Yep, I’ve been pleasantly surprised and how powerful it is and how much I can use it with minimal battery drain. I’ll often use it for several days before the charge is low enough to be worth recharging. I haven’t had it below 80% yet.
I take delivery on mine in a few days. I paid $500 extra for the battery refill system. Great video. Thank you.
Hi Michael! I just topped off my batteries for only the third time since I had it and it is a pain. I might add the refill system to mine too simplify it. I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. Thanks for watching!
A really good review,, probably best I’ve seen!
We have ordered a 2021 ev .. dealer says won’t be here until January..
We live in Ontario,Canada and the cold temps I’m sure it will affect the range.. but it will be stored in a heated shop. I plan to plow some snow in driveway ( there is a good TH-cam of a guy in Norway with ev plowing snow)
I was looking at how often the batteries need watering and watching ur video has certainly helped out..
Once again good job and keep up on the review 1 yr,2 etc...
Thank you! I'm so glad to hear it! Yes, if you store it in a heated shop, it should operate just fine up there. Fortunately, the batteries don't need watering often the way I use it, which every two or three days. I expect I'll do follow-up reviews on it through the years. Good luck with yours and thanks for watching!
Good straightforward review. I own a 2014 Ranger EV and its held up very well. I replace all my batteries this year which was a major cost. The batteries are very heavy duty golf cart style and with 8 of them the cost adds up quickly. The battery holder bolts also needed replacement and that turned out to be another significant cost. That said, this is the first battery change in 6 years, so annual cost is reasonable. Would I go EV again? Absolutely, I use mine daily to haul wood, and gravel and also move a tandem axel trailer occasionally.
Thank you, Karl! Hopefully, my first battery change is several years down the road too. I've been very pleasantly surprised at how much the EV can haul and tow. Thanks for watching!
What a well thought out and professional video! Very helpful.
Thank you, Barry! So glad it was helpful to you!
Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. We have about 11 acres and a good part of that is wooded. I have been trying to decide if I should take a chance on the electric Ranger...I'm talking to my Polaris dealer tomorrow. I'm buying one! Thanks again...I hope you know how much you are helping others.
I am so glad to hear the video helped you in your decision! I still love mine and will be doing update videos on it over time. Good luck with your Ranger EV! Thanks for watching!
First - 8-months late, and I apologize. Second - VERY much appreciate your calm well-thought-out and nicely shot approach to this video. FAR more informative and watchable than the overly "excited" persona's of so many other video producers. Third - have you explored the, yes very costly, conversion from FLA batteries to the equivalent, or better AGM, or even better than that, LiFePO4 lithiums - Far less weight, and potentially more range and lifetime - BUT a LOT of $$$. Many thanks from your neighbour north, near Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Thank you for the kind words, Robert! Polaris used to offer a Li-Ion option but discontinued it about a year before I bought mine. I later found out it was because they were working on an all-new Li-Ion Ranger EV for 2022 that will outperform all gasoline models. Yes, when these batteries poop out I will consider AGM, carbon foam and LiFePO4 batteries as replacement. Definitely something more advanced than just FLA batteries. Thanks for watching!
Martin, what I really like about the EV is they're so nice and quiet. While driving my gas operated Polaris, I can't ease into areas occupied with wildlife without spooking them. Thanks for the fine video. When you said to viewers to guess what ATV/UTV/EV you were getting,, my guess was a Polaris 1000 so you definitely have a fine EV. Enjoy your weekend. Full-watch. 👍🏽🙂.
Hi Don! Yep, that’s what we love about it too. Plus, you can so super slow definitely if you want to with the EV as well as quietly. Can your Polaris gas model go really slow? Thanks for watching and have a most excellent weekend!
@@DIYMyWay Wow, very good point, Martin. Having the ability to go really slow is pretty neat when I venture into some wildlife areas on my land. Stealth. You definitely made a great selection for cruising on your land.
Ah, so I’m assuming the gas models can’t go very slow. I really didn’t know which is why I asked. The EV can’t go as fast as the gas models but it goes fast enough for us and it can go ridiculously slow if need, which we often do.
Great video. I've been researching EVs for years. Best video thus far
Glad it was helpful to you, Terri! Thanks for watching!
Great video, the production was amazing. Love the way you present information, it makes it very easy to digest. Thank you so much for the fantastic video!
Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, Spencer! Glad you enjoyed it!
Also, liked and subscribed. You are a very good presenter too. Hopefully your channel will grow.
Thanks, Alex!
I also have a 2020 Polaris EV and agree with all the pros and love the machine. I have learned that there are significant cons to the battery system. First is watering the batteries. Then there is the charger. Mine collapsed after a year and a half and cost over $1000 to repair. Then I find that replacement parts only have a 3 month warranty after I discovered charging issues. Then there is corrosion on the battery terminals. I was told that they should be disconnected and cleaned every 3 months. Since they weren't the overheated batteries which should to be replaced will not be covered by the battery warranty. The dealer also complained the batteries were dirty but there is no protection to keep the dirt from getting in there. By the way I have cleaned the batteries and terminals in the past. I am disappointed in the battery system in an otherwise great machine. Not happy with Polaris' response to these issues. Looking into a Lithium aftermarket upgrade. I have also learned that Polaris is not making these machines anymore. Too many battery problems. Their new model is twice the price.
Did you do the battery swap? I’ve seen several videos about it, and it looks pretty easy. Some of the kits even include a new charger. Totally agree about the new model being WAY overpriced.
I did. The conversion is some work and takes some time but it isn't complicated. The instructions have a couple very small omissions but is otherwise complete. Everything in the kit is clearly labelled. The batteries work great. The improvement in range is unbelievable. Also everything works as it did before. I did have a problem they had never seen before. I had installed an aftermarket directional/horn kit and since it had 2 grounds I connected one to the 12V ground terminal and one to the chassis and had no problem until I connected the lithium batteries. The connected grounds overheated and burnt. Tech support finally figured out the problem. Some water had gotten into the battery case causing a voltage leak which wouldn't have caused an issue without the two voltage system grounds connected together. They have since corrected the problem with the batteries. My point in telling this story is that tech support stuck with this problem until it was solved and repaired the batteries completely at their expense. I can't say enough good thing about the company. They stand behind their product. It's expensive but to me it was worth it. @@atomicsmith
Voltronics is the company I used. @@atomicsmith
@@michaelmaki6520 thanks for the reply. Who made your kit?
Great info mate.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge.
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!
Good video.
Surprised at that cost they put heavy lead acid batteries. I will consider when more brands come with Lithium based energy source.
Thanks, Michael. Polaris did and may still over a lithium battery option, but it wasn’t on the website at the time I did the review research. Also, I’ve seen lithium battery packs for the EV sold by third parties as well. Thanks for watching!
Our town has been using a 2021 Ranger EV in a law enforcement capacity to patrol a regional park. It's been doing very well, with just regular maintenance. In about 2200 hours of riding over trails and small hills, the only thing that went bad so far are wheel bearings. Batteries do need frequent water top ups, though. Especially in the summer when it's hot.
Wow! 2200 hours is a LOT in a year’s time no surprise the wheel bearings needed replacing. Companies like Flo-Rite make a battery top off system for the EV that makes it quick and easy to keep all the batteries topped off to the right level. I seriously considering one for my Ranger EV. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay Thanks for making this very comprehensive video and for the tip on the battery top off kit. Although I'm not the one working on the unit, I've read on forums that Polaris does not grease the wheel bearings out of the factory. If that is true, it would definitely explain the failed bearing, keeping in mind that similar bearings in automotive applications or trailers can last much, much longer.
There are special wheel bearing greasing tools available on Amazon for these Polaris UTVs, in different sizes. It is said that regular greasing will prevent these bearing failures, which definitely makes sense.
That,s shocking but great info to know! I’ll look into greasing mine ASAP. Thanks for the info!
They are nice and you're right, they are quite! Glad you like it and it handle your property well. Have a good week my friend!
Thanks, John! We really love it. Hope you have a great week, too!
Nice video. We've had our Tracker EV for just over a month now and we agree with all of the pros and cons you have shown for owning your own EV version of a UTV. I think having an EV for managing a small property like yours is ideal.
Thanks! Yes, EV UTVs are not for everyone, but I think they are well suited for small properties like yours and mine. Thanks for watching!
Very good review. Detailed explanations and video. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful to you, Hap! Thanks for watching!
I've been driving a 2012 for about 9 years and I figured out to top off the batteries I use a 1 gallon pump weed sprayer used just for this and remove the spray tip and it works great to pull the trigger and add water very easy and controlled.
Great video. Very well done! The effort is acknowledged. And it answered all my questions. Nice job! I'm wanting one.
Thank you, Victor! Glad it was helpful to you!
Hi Martin, really enjoyed this review. After my zero turn purchase, I may get one of these as well.
Glad to hear it, Tim! We have loved, the quiet rides around our property and it can do real work, too! Thanks for watching, my friend!
Good video. Thanks. Been thinking about an EV UTV for a couple years. Had kinda honed in on the CanAm Intimidator but your point of Polaris being the pioneer and in the field longer is a valid one. We’re in Ohio, so it gets cold, but our whole house runs on a solar battery array. I like the idea of using it for all it’s worth. Thanks again for a very clear, concise video review.
Hi Frank! Yes, Polaris has had ten years to work out the bugs of the Ranger EV. As for the cold, I’ve heard from a few folks who have them in cold weather climates and say they do fine, but the store them in shops and garages, so I might not be as big of a concern as I had thought. Good luck with you decision and thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay FYI, for you or your viewers,... I jumped on the Intimidator site and the Polaris site and did a side by side ‘Build Your Own’ on each site to see how they compared on features and pricing. Intimidator did have more accessory options. But when I did an apples to apples comparative build out on both, Polaris was 3K cheaper. For whatever it’s worth.
That’s great information, Frank! Thanks for sharing it!
Fantastic honest review!!!! Love it!
Thanks so much. Chana! I'm glad you found it helpful!
I really enjoyed this video. You did an excellent job explaining the vehicle. Thank you.
Thank you, Charles! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This interests me and your video has given me more information than the Polaris website. The low temperature performance might be a big problem for me. If I get a side by side snow is definitely something it will have to deal with.
Glad you found it helpful! There have been a few comments from folks in colder climates that say they do fine in the cold as long as your store them inside. I’ve seen some videos show up in my feed about people using them in the cold so I encourage you to look a little deeper into before you count the EV out. Thanks for watching!
Very good and fair review. I will definitely look into to one.
Thanks, David!
Thanks for a thorough presentation. It was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful, Robert! Thanks for watching!
Hard to go wrong with any Polaris product. They are well made. I'd like to have one to avoid the problems with my gas Gator that doesn't get driven enough to keep running well but the money feels better in my pocket.
I hear you, D B. The Ranger EV definitely carries a premium price, but so far it has proved worth every penny for us. Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much. Considering investing in this model and you did an excellent job describing the vehicle. Much appreciated.
Very glad you found it helpful, John! Good luck with your decision and thanks for watching!
Can and have you jumped it. If so how far and fast! Looks like it could jump far and high. Thanks 😊
No. It’s too slow and too heavy to jump anything. It’s been the perfect choice for us. Thanks for watching!
Really good video! I hope they a lithium-ion battery soon, so you’d have better range in cold weather and don’t have to top them off 👍🏼
They used to offer lithium ion batteries as an option but don’t seem to now. There are videos of others who did their own lithium conversions. I may go that route when these poop out. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWayThanks for making this video. I have a 2017 model and put 13,000 kms on it. When we first got it, the program setting on the charger was incorrect and cooked our first set of batteries. We weren't alone in experiencing this problem and wondering if you had that issue and if you know what program setting number you have running on your charger? (I presume it's a delta-q) I also swapped out the standard tyres & rims for 16" light truck radials. They are cheaper, more puncture resistant, you get an extra 6-7 km/hr speed, negligable torque loss and greater battery range (lower rolling resistance, higher pressure) I have a spot sprayer and boom, and a front mount auto electric fence system. I absolutely cane the crap out of it but the most dissapointing thing is those damn LA batteries!! All that weight hauled around for nothing.
@@DIYMyWay Here's a little bit more of a towing challenge th-cam.com/video/tAbRBr7HFN8/w-d-xo.html
@@graemeozzie2251 Hi Graeme! I have heard others on videos say the charger cooked the batteries during charging. Mine has the Delta-Q charger but doesn’t appear to boil them away because I seldom have to top off the batteries. I don’t know what charging profile it is set to. I guess I need to decipher the start-up blinks. Thanks for the tip on the tires! What specific brand and model of tires did you get? Thanks for watching!
@@graemeozzie2251 I’m impressed! That’s a challenging load indeed!
Good Video. We have a 2010 BadBoy 4v4 EV for years now, I thing we got it in 2015. We live in the upper peninsula of Michigan and my wife drives it to the shop every day even at below 0 F in the snow. It has hauled a lot of firewood. I am looking to replace it. I wish there was more of them to choose from. The new BadBoys look like gulf carts now. I have never been that impressed with Polaris.
By the way I think your batteries are getting over charger. I put in about a gallon a year in ours, same batters. We plug ours in once a week for the day , maybe twice if hauling wood. I never leave it plugged in over night. I don't trust trickle chargers. Some of the equipment we sell have them. Even the best of them burn down garages and cook batteries.
Thanks! Yes, I’d like to see a lot more choices on the market too. I don’t think the batteries are getting over charged. I’ve only had to add water twice - first when I got it new because and once more. They don’t look like they’ll need water again for quite a while. Like yours, a charge once a week is usually all it needs. Thanks for watching!
Looks like a nice machine Martin! I would love it for around the property here and did entertain the idea however I also like to trail ride and go wheeling with friends so the speed and range took it out of my search. Glad you are happy with it! Thanks for sharing, Will be very useful for someone in the market!
Hi Tyler! Yes, it seems to be and is perfect for us, but it sounds like you were wise to pass on the EV for your needs. Thanks for watching!
I’ve got a 2017 Polaris EV and just upgraded to new a 11.7 kw Li-ion battery pack. It has an extreme amount of power and torque and just can’t say enough about it! Electric is the way to go!! I’m currently designing, more like thinking of, an efficient heating source for winter; diesel or a secondary battery - the latter I’m leaning towards. Curious to see ‘if’ Polaris has thought of this for their newest Ranger EV coming in December.?.? So exciting!!
Hi David! Yes, I’ll probably upgrade to Li-ion when the stock batteries poop out. Did you go with a third party Li-ion upgrade package or roll your own? Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay I went with Voltronix 11.7 kW kit (2nd largest of 3 sizes). Tried to get the largest pack, just over 13 kW, but like many things today, there were issues getting them. ... A 2nd and different topic ... was curious if your AWD works? Recently found mine did not just this past winter (so unfortunately my EV is out of warranty). I never had a reason to try it out and just figured everything worked since I purchased it brand new from a dealer. I almost got stuck in 8" of snow! I didn't think too much about it then. Then, this past summer, when I went from 2-wheel (locked rear) to AWD (in a thick pile of leaves), both of my rear wheels were spinning AND the fronts never engaged. Probably had this issue (no AWD) since new, but unfortunately just realized it. Long story short after troubleshooting - I was getting 14v down to the front clutch with the drive selector switch in AWD (for AWD), however the ground (return) wire was not being grounded (B-). The return wire comes from the front clutch and has to go through the VCIM before it is then tied to B- (ground). The VCIM was preventing the return wire from going to B-, so the AWD clutch circuit was never complete. Knowing it would cost a lot, I simply connected the return wire directly to B- and then successfully tested 1-wheel, 2-wheel, and ... now AWD works too! I can't wait until I go out in the snow again!
Thanks for the info, David! Yes, my AWD and rear differential lock work. I tested them early on and have had to use then on occasion. However, I’ve been impressed by how well the one wheel drive works on most terrain and even muddy patches, especially considering how heavy the EV is.
@@DIYMyWay Yes, indeed, I would certainly agree that the 'Turf' mode, 1-wheel drive, does work quite well. I'll be curious to find how much difference there is going from the weight of 8 Pb-Acid batteries to just 2 Li-ion batteries. It really is an impressive machine! The neighbors always say they never hear me driving up to their back deck or wherever they happen to be.
Very helpful, thanks. I live in Northern Ontario, and temperatures can go 40C below zero, that is the greatest issue; I wonder if there is a model that carries lithium batteries.
Their new EV model is lithium but costs twice as much and I think they stopped making this model but there may be some inventory at dealers. Thanks for stopping by!
I am converting a 2012 Ranger EV which was given to me to Tesla Lithium. The original Lead Acids caused a lot of corrosion to the frame. The charger has a build in DC/DC converter both are dead as is the vehicle control module which I hope to replace with relays. Not sure but i think the one wheel drive mode (Turf Saver?) is RWD without difflock. Horsepower is not that important but torque is and the EV will have heaps more than the petrol ones. The controller is a Devcon from Germany and the motor is a 3 phase AC (probably from Germany too). To me the electrics are not well designed and hard to repair. None of the schematics i found on the web are matching the model I have, so i have to reverse engineer everything. Otherwise a well made unit but lead acid in 2020 really is a no-go.
Agreed, from a fellow Georgian, well done!
Thanks Vincent!
An excellent review and advice. Thank you
So glad you found it helpful, Job. Thanks for watching!
Hello! Would I not be able to charge in in my garage? Thanks!
As long a you have it well ventilated with open windows. That many batteries will produce a good bit of nasty gases, especially if the batteries are drained significantly when you start charging them. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay ok thank you! Amazing review by the way!
Who are the other 2 manufacturers of electric utility vehicles that you referenced?
Hi Ed! Well, the John Deere TE 4×2 Electric is one and the Intimidator Classic EV is another. I just found two other brands with a quick Google search: HuntVe, which has several models and the Textron Prowler EV iS . I chose to stick with a name brand with many dealers within driving distance rather than the one of the more obscure ones with fewer distribution channels. The Rangers EV's longevity and reputation, plus having multiple Polaris dealers within driving distance were big factors in my choice. Thanks for watching!
I’m with you on that, Ed. I’m surprised lithium ion isn’t the standard but it probably to keep the costs more palatable to buyers. Still, when the batteries in my Polaris poop out in 4 to 8 years, I’ll probably replace them with lithium ion.
Thank you for making a well informative video.
Glad you found it helpful , Tim! Thanks for watching!
Hi Martin, Great Video... We have be looking @ at this as a future purchase... The Greenworks also makes an 82 Volt model @ twice the price...A few suggestions, add the Orange Triangle to the rear tailgate when driving on the roadway, and another way to top off the batteries is using a turkey baster, it works pretty good fort tight spots...Stay Safe..God Bless...Chief...{NYS/ADK}
Thanks, Chief! Greenworks? Who da thunk it? Sounds to pricey. I have a caution triangle but don’t yet have a way to mount it. I’ll come up with something. A turkey baster! Great idea! I hope you and your family are well. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay Double Stick Tape would work good cleaning the area with Alcohol first...Chief
Hi Martin, a great video.A question if I may,I recently took delivery of one of these and noticed it is not as quiet as one would assume.aside from the whine of the electric motor mine makes a noise that I believe is coming from the front differential and sounds as if the differential is between locked and unlocked and skimming the gears like there is no gear oil in it. does yours make a similar sound while operating it ?
Thanks! Our Ranger EV is quiet, but it’s never been silent. Most of our sound is from the drivetrain - the predictable sound of gears turning and then there’s the sound of the tires on the trails. Our front differential doesn’t make any unusual noises. We almost always leave ours in single wheel drive mode because surprisingly it gets us through all the terrain on the property, so the front demand drive is only engaged on rare occasions where we need a little extra traction. You should definitely check to make sure both front and rear drivetrains have the right amount of oil in them. Good luck!
Really nice job!
Thanks, Ed!
Do you think it is possible to swap the batteries out for lithium?
Yes, but it’s expensive. Polaris once offered a lithium battery option, but I don’t see it offered anymore. Some third party companies offer kits for lithium conversion, but they are also expensive. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay do you think it would increase either the range, power, or speed.
Id imagine it would increase the range
I think you are right, Nathan. It would increase range.
We bought a well used 2010 EV a year ago. After various mechanical replacements, we put in a Lithium system. Expensive ... but well worth it! Love this little machine ... and a bargain compared to a new one PLUS Lithium!
Such a great video. I am purchasing one. How high is the water level in the batteries? It’s difficult to see. Thanks.
Thanks, Kevin! It just the right height and not hard to see except for a couple of the batteries. I’m considering getting a Flo-Rite battery water system to make it much easier and faster. Typically I only have to top them off twice a year. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video.
I wonder if Polaris will redesign this?
They still sell the Ranger EV but now that have new Kick-Ass lithium-ion powered electric Ranger that outperforms all previous Rangers, gas, diesel or electric. I think it starts at $26K. I still love my Ranger EV as is. It has all the power and performance I need. Thanks for watching!
How long do the batteries last.... in the real world application?
Hi Troy. The Ranger EV only has an hour meter, no odometer or speedometer so it’s hard to give a range on it. However, I’ll be adding an odometer/speedometer to it because I’m curious about distance as well as hours. But this example may give you an idea. My wife and I rode around our 17 acre property today for about a half hour and the battery charge was down to 99%. Then we took it out on the gravel and dirt roads where we live, had it in high gear and probably travelled a little over a mile round trip. When we got back, it was at 93%. This was on a warm 75 degree day. On cold days that same route of riding our property trails then the dirt roads would take the charge down to about 80%. So the way we use it, I never have to worry about the batteries getting too low. I’ve rode around the property all day stopping to to work in various areas and it will often still be at 100% when I get back. Hope this helps.
Best video I've seen on the EV. The towed load you used as an example wasn't terribly heavy. Have you put close to the recommended limit in the bed, and in a towed trailer? If so I'm curious how it did? I am seriously considering one and would do a lot of firewood hauling out of the woods and down to where my splitter will be set up, and firewood is heavy. Thanks, and again very well done video.
Thank you John! I have not yet, but given that it has 30 HP and the low range appears to have a LOT of torque, I think it would tow a load of firewood just fine. It has the same towing ratings as the gas powered models, so I don’t think it would be a problem. Thanks for watching!
Good evening Sir 😊 I like any information about electric vehicle 🧐 You made as usual an outstanding informative video and great video editing work Sir 👍😊 You have a nice living country area Sir👌🧐 Yes in deed, we have electric tractors on airports and when the temperature are getting cold the battery power is droping fast !!! 😉 Have a great week end Sir Cheers !!!
Hi Dave! Thank you, sir! Yep, cold weather seriously reduces the efficiency of batteries. Hope you have a great week too!
@@DIYMyWay Backhoe therapy, Logging addiction and chainsaw action is on the menu Sir for my week end !!! 😊👌👍
I’d be curious to see what the service accessibility is like. Are batteries easy and cost efficient to replace? Could a mobile battery back be used to charge on the go?
Battery service accessibility was covered in the video. Replace all the batteries will not be easy or inexpensive, but they should last 4 to 8 years depending on how deeply discharged they are before recharging and how many recharge cycles they go through. Thanks for watching!
Really nice video. Thank you very much.
EXCELLENT review
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
Great video… Mine just arrived, but was surprised to see you plug into a standard outlet when we read that it needed at least a 20 amp cord and plug?
Thank you, Mike! Sorry for the delayed reply. I use a 10 foot extension cord rated for 15 amps and have had no problems with it heating up. That said, I should mention I've never let the Ranger EV get below 80% before charging it. It's quite possible that the charger would draw more power initially to charge batteries that had considerably less charge on them. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay - I would look into it as it definitely says nothing less than a 20amp cord and receptacle... when we tried with a regular one it barely charged and got very hot.
Thanks, Mike!
Excellent review.
Thank you, Austin!
Thank you sir! excellent presentation
Thank you, Darren! Much appreciated!
Great review video.
Thank you, Michael!
Lead acid?
Yep.
Hi Martin, Thank you for doing this review, it helped me decide to buy one. I just got mine last week, and I love it so far. I have a question. Do you get any other noise from yours besides the very mild motor whine I can hear on your video? Mine has a very soft "purring" noise when underway. I'm wondering if it's normal or something to be concerned about. Battery life has been excellent, and there don't seem to be any power problems. Just that very soft purring or whirring noise.
Hi Rain! Glad the video was helpful to you. A purring noise? I wish mine would purr! The transmission just whines. If yours is a newer model, perhaps they found a way to reduce the transmission noise, which would be great. I wouldn't be concerned. Thanks for watching!
Any ballpark figure on range (miles) or run time you can provide? I know what the literature says, I'm interested in your actual experience. Want to consider if for Texas feral hog hunting. Thanks
Hi Mark! The EV manual says 50 miles, but I'd bet in real world driving on trails it would be half of that or less. We drive either on our 17 acre property or a few miles down the dirt roads in the area and the charge is down to only 80%. If you are going to hunt on different properties and don't know how much distance you may cover you'd be better off with a gas powered UTV. Thanks for watching!
exceptional video.
Thank you, Jorge!
Thanks for the information. Would be nice if you could speak up in future videos as it’s hard to hear you.
I’m surprised the lights aren’t LED halogen draws a lot of power.
That surprised me too, but I’ve learned that compared to the power the motor draws while riding, the headlights are insignificant. Still, I wish they were LED. Thanks for watching!
Great video!
Thanks, Pete!
Great review. I still use my 1981 Yamaha G1 gas golf cart.
Thanks, Bill! I’m still really pleased with it. It has amazing torque in low gear and wonderfully quiet. Sounds like you have a reliable classic.
Very well done video Sir. I was wondering if you have a guestimate on the range in max range mode. I would like to go to some places that would require me to ride about 15 miles round trip. Would this make that trip and still have the 20% safe battery level?
Thank you, sir! Well, they claim the max range is 50 miles, but I’ll bet that’s on flat paved roads with a good tail wind. My guess is you’d be pushing the limit. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. But it would be really nice if there was more (or better less) noise (the music) when u where riding. Its an electric vehicle and im interested how much noise it makes, but almost everytime there is music when u drive around :(
Sorry about that! At slow speeds, it is very quiet. Just the sound of the tires on the ground. At higher speeds, you'll start to hear the gear train whine. The gear train on gas powered models also whine, but you don't hear it as much because the engine noise drowns it out. If you are interested in the EV, see if a dealer in your area has one on the lot that you can test drive. Go slow and fast to hear the difference. I really like that my wife and I can talk in normal voices while riding around on our property. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay thanks for the quick awnser! :D
I had a 2012 EV loved it had for 6 years it got a problem with it the dealership had no idea what was going on with it so they told me if it started having era codes don’t bring it back to them, So I traded it in on a Honda Pioneer 1000-3 side by side, but I’m looking to buy another EV after 4 years hop to get a good one.
Polaris is coming out with an all new designed Lithium-Ion Ranger EV for 2022. It will supposedly outperform ANY current gas-powered models so you might want to take a look at it. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing all the little nuisances of your Polaris. It's not practical where I live in the winter (N.D), but I do see the value of it. Solar panel for the roof? Just to have it topped off during down time?
Yes, N. D. gets too cold for an electric UTV to do well. With that little space on the roof, solar panels wouldn’t provide much more than a trickle charge. Often times, I’m parked in the woods where there’s not a lot of light. So far I haven’t brought it below 80% charge, and that’s after 2 or 3 days of use without recharging, so it’s not really and issue. Thanks for watching!
Good thorough review, but I would think having an electric out on the trails would be a negative. Animals wouldn't hear it coming and not be able to get out of the way. All for it around the farm or property though, but I think replacing all those batteries would be expensive.
An EV is perfect for trails. It is quiet, not silent. Animals can see and hear us coming, but they aren’t as quickly spooked so we can get closer to wild life and watch them. The batteries should last between 4 and 8 years, depending on discharge cycles. When they need replacing, I’ll consider carbon foam batteries or lithium ion batteries. Thanks for watching!
I feel like after the warranty is up, an upgrade to smaller, lighter and higher capacity LIon batteries could be a range improver.
Hi Alex! L-Ion batteries can definitely increase the range, but you may have to change out the stock charger and be prepared to spend $$$ to change to L-Ion. Since I don’t need great range, I’ll wait until the stock batteries poop out, then I’ll probably go with L-Ion too. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay Great vid. I am considering buying this Ranger EV. When your stock batteries do poop out, I would highly encourage you to opt for Firefly brand carbon-foam batteries rather than Li's. Li's can't be series do to the built in micro processors. Carbon foams weigh the same as traditional lead acids, but the have a 3000 cyle life span compared with lead acids 500, they can be fully discharged without issue, they can freeze without issue, and get this: instead of trickle charging at 2 amps like lead acids, they can take a 120 amp charge! They are less than half the price of Li's. My house has been 100% solar for 10 years. It used to take me 4 days to charge my lead acid battery bank, now that I switched to carbon foams it take me 3 hrs to charge the bank.
That’s great info! Thanks for sharing it!
As usual.....a top quality and thorough review. Don't think I actually have a use for one with only 6 acres to manage.....but I know my wife and grandkids would differ with me.
Thanks, Dwayne! Perhaps a new or used 4 seater golf cart would be better inn your case. Thanks for watching!
Now I'm on the fence! I really like it but would be using it in New York so not sure if it's to cold to sit in the barn during the winter, I'd probably have to bring to my home and garage it, or pull all the batteries which would be a PITA, but really do like it...Dam...decisions, decisions
No need to pull the batteries because the cold won’t kill them. It just makes them less efficient while they are cold. Mine don’t perform as well in the cold, but they still hold more than enough charge for the amount we us the Ranger EV in the winter. When the weather warms up, the batteries come back to full efficiency. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay I just like all my batteries on a tender when not in use, but that's me.. Thanks for the Great video !
If you have power at the barn, just leave it on the charger, which goes into trickle/maintenance mode once the batteries are charged.
Thank you
You are welcome!
Your videos for the Ranger EV are great and helped push me into purchasing one 2 weeks ago.
Well, after only a couple hours of drive time, I got the electrical system error light. The light under the driver seat flashes 4 times which the manual tells me it's a contactor error. I think I DID press the accelerator while the parking brake was on OR I may have turned it off in gear or something.
Do you know where I can find the troubleshooting or repair for the 4 flashing error codes?
I'd buy one if I had the money
Hmm, that's the problem with great reviews, I've just ordered one! You should get a commission.
Well being a Quiet ride is good.
Interesting 👍
Bro what is the price of this ranger
That is covered early in the video.
Great video! My one question is what is the range? If you had to put a time on how long the battery would last in each mode that would help me
Thanks, Will! The manual states it is 50 miles but doesn’t elaborate on under what conditions. My guess would be that’s if it’s running on flat pavement in mid-range and in single wheel drive. I can cruise all around my very hilly 17 acre property in low and still be at 98% 0r 99% charge at the end of the day. On the other hand, I can take it on the mostly gravel roads around my house with it in high gear and it will be at 80% to 85% when I get back. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay wow! I’m considering waiting for the 2022 one to come out.
Wow, EV side by sides have really come a long way. I am surprised that they still use a transfer case instead of two direct drive motors. Very interesting video. Thanks!
Hi Marty! Polaris is coming out with a new Ranger EV that I think uses Li-Ion batteries and direct drive motors, so that will be a big leap forward. Thanks for watching!
I was debating between the EV or 570. It gets really cold here and EV seems like a no-go for me. Bummer.
I don’t know how cold it gets where you live, but you might want to do a little more research on it. I was just going by what the manual said, but I’ve had a couple comments from folks that have an EV in cold weather and say that it’s not a problem if you can keep it stored indoors. I’ve seen a couple videos show up in my TH-cam feed about folks using EVs in cold climates, so it might be worth your time to dig a little deeper on it. Good luck and thanks for watching!
@@DIYMyWay k. Thanks. It can get as low as -30F but mild winters like this anywhere from 0F-30F is the average. I'd be plowing snow and hauling wood.
I believe there is a video on an EV snowplowing so it might be worth looking into. Good luck with your decision!
You could replace the lead acid batteries with carbon-foam batteries for freezing temps. They don't mind the cold, have a 600% longer life span, and can be charged 80x's quicker.
I have a 2014 Polaris EV and I must disagree with you on ease of steering. It has a poor turning radius and you will get a workout trying to turn the steering wheel when you are not moving. Last year I had to replace the 8 batteries so I bought 155ah Vmaxtank Deep Cycle sealed batteries since maintaining the original ones was hard to do because of poor access. The new batteries cost about $2,700 on-line but I got $480 for the old ones from a battery dealer. Swapping them was easy and all you need to do is change the charging algorithm from factory 73 to 126 which was recommended by Vmax. Its a good UTV. I put a factory top and a window on it. Being electric, there is little noise compared to the gas operated vehicles my neighbors have.
Hi Mike! Yes, it has a poor turning radius and yes it is hard to steer when it’s not moving, which is why I do the vast majority of steering while it is moving. That’s easy. 😁 Glad to hear you got about 6 years of life out of the stock batteries, which is in line with what I’ve heard. I’ll definitely go with either maintenance free deep cycle batteries or convert to Li-Ion depending the cost at the time. I love that it’s so quite while riding on our trails. On the dirt roads near our property the transmission has a pretty good whine to it at top speed, but still not as loud as a gas engine. Thanks for watching!
4:23 "Now accepting new subscribers for free!" Just for that I had to Subscribe. Great Video!
Thank you! So glad to hear you liked the video and thanks for subscribing!
Piqued my curiosity so I went to the Polaris web site. $50,000 for the top of the line model! Are they smoking crack!????
Yes, yes they are. I’m sure of it. Last I checked, they had discontinued the more reasonable Ranger EV and now have this ultra EV which has very impressive specs, but you could go buy a Tesla for what they want for it. I think it was a mistake to discontinue the Ranger EV. A lot more people could afford it. Thanks for watching!