Explainer · Not first-hand reporting
The Current State: Off-Road Clean Energy Vehicle Recreation
By Scott Bradford · February 16, 2023
The off-road vehicle recreation industry is HUGE! I would venture a guess that more than any other type of vehicle recreation, this is how most people play with vehicles, driving on the dirt, crawling on the rocks, sloshing through the mud, and dashing through the dunes.
So what is the current state of clean energy vehicle recreation regarding off-road vehicles? Called by many different names in different parts of the world OHVs (Off-Highway Vehicles), ORVs (Off-Road Vehicles), or ROVs (Recreation Off-road Vehicles) depending on how you split it up there are about four main categories.
Motorcycles, ATVs aka Quad Bikes, UTVs aka SidexSides, and Dune Buggies.
This week we're mentioning a few very compelling vehicles in the motorcycle category.
Motorcycles are perhaps the farthest along in having clean energy options to choose from. Being small vehicles with rather tall tires, motorcycles are well suited to getting the most from battery power by the way of the last rolling resistance. While several small electric motorcycles sit somewhere between a mountain bike and a motorbike, one very compelling option is the KTM Freeride . With enough power and suspension to challenge all but seasoned pros, this is a serious off-road machine. One very compelling feature of off-road motorcycles is the ease with which you can convert them for street use. With the addition of a turn signal kit and street-legal tires, most bikes can be registered and driven on the street. Of course, smog and noise constraints aren't a concern with a clean energy vehicle like the KTM Freeride!
A hugely popular and much more affordable clean energy off-road two-wheeler bike/motorcycle are the bikes made by Sur Ron. These quiet and smaller frame bikes allow riders to go places they wouldn't otherwise be permitted. There's a very big following online for these bikes all over youtube. Check out Sur Ronster for a great assortment of videos about these fun machines!
The big name in electric motorcycles, of course is ZERO Motorcycles Zero has an assortment of motorcycle models and a few in the 'Dual Sport' category but to my knowledge, nothing off-road only. That's fine, though! These are very advanced machines and perhaps more than any other company further along in the development and production of electric motorcycles o any type.
Several other options are now or soon to be available that are very promising. The Clean Energy Vehicle Recreation in the off-road segment, especially in motorcycles, is advancing rapidly.
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Here are some links to a few other brands with products in the Off-road Electric motorcycle market segment:
And, not to reinvent the wheel, here are a few best-off Electric off-road motorcycle lists: