Did you guys see the new Cat Catalyst?

[earthling]

The infrastructure required for charging on the trail won't happen.

My point wasn't so much EV as emissions (but I will leave my original post unedited and use this one to clarify) but if it comes down to no gasoline vehicles at all, what is next? That's more the point and increasingly that will be 'alternative fuels'. It doesn't matter whether the alternative fuel is electricity, hydrogen, or double-distilled girl scout cookies, it will happen. It will take decades to sort out but it will get sorted out. F1 and MotoGP are both looking at move towards sustainable, carbon neutral fuels and that is the tip of the spear when it comes to advanced performance.

Unless Yamaha has some proprietary battery technology, non ICE sleds will not be mainstream for at least another 4 or 5 years. Power train is easy, chassis is easy, battery tech is not easy. Once solid state batteries come online, range should increase, charge times decrease. Ski Doo will probably lead the way. I think low range sleds are doable today, don't think the market will support it. Of course electric sleds could be good for hunting season where there is snow. LOL

Its easy to make a motor, its hard to make a great motor. Anyone here could drop an off the shelf knock-off engine into a sled chassis but it doesn't happen because we all want what Yamaha (or someone like them) makes. As 2S gets phased out (and it will) then companies who make great engines will have to shift their focus to ... alternative fuels, lets just call it that because batteries are just another way to store fuel (electricity in this case). Electric motors are becoming much more sophisticated while batteries are becoming much more specialized in their research.

Electric motors basically were at a standstill from a development perspective for decades due to the availability of power and preponderance of 'corded' things. Hell, ICE engines stalled for decades really. As we move to more battery powered technology it has forced electric motors to undergo a bit of a revolution, and its just starting. But again, its about alternative fuels, electricity just being one of them. At the end of the day, it will be like dino-juice is today, some smaller number of companies will produce fuel technology and there will be lots of folks making alternative engines and electric motors, most will suck, some will be good, a few will be great. Look at the advancements that have happened with electric motors over a very short amount of time. Also, its not just about the motor, its also about the drivetrain. None of the traditional sled companies has done any driveline innovation .. maybe ever or at least not in a very long time. The whole point is not about EV vs gasoline, its about alternative fuels in general. There are lots of markets for vehicles that go far - for less money and pollute less and that doesn't necessarily require oil byproducts to get there.

I know I am pissing into the wind bringing this up on a power sports forum but this is something that I guarantee the engineers at the various companies are thinking about and it will gain traction over time. And if you are one of those engineers, and you KNOW that your company does not have the research dollars available to make true R&D advancements then you need to partner with someone like yamaha who does.

 

[Doowithblue]

The day sleds go full electric will be the day i pack it in. Im 55 and been riding since i was 9. However this electric agenda really pisses me off to no end.

 

[sailor joe]

2 new kinds are heading out way...hydrogen power and there has been a breakthrough in fusion power. From what I hear fusion will take another 10 years to get off the ground to put into a commercial use. Hydrogen is anybody guess when it will be available commercially.

 

[stgdz]

Earthling one of the problems with electrics in our environment is the batteries. Yeah f1 and MotoGP are tip of the spear but they are in .much warmer environment.

 

[earthling]

The day sleds go full electric will be the day i pack it in. Im 55 and been riding since i was 9. However this electric agenda really pisses me off to no end.

You are too young to be grumpy

Earthling one of the problems with electrics in our environment is the batteries. Yeah f1 and MotoGP are tip of the spear but they are in .much warmer environment.

Oh, I get it. I regret bringing up Ev as it is a distracting subject. F1 and MotoGP are not looking at electric power, they are looking at moving to sustainable (synthetic) fuels (same engine, different fuel source). Reading between the lines it is probably 25% BS but at least its moving in the right direction.

MotoGP

FIA

Porsche

Yamaha, Yamaha, Yamaha

Again, my point is that Yamaha has resources that the other three simply do not have and that alone is worth the others sticking close to Yamaha.

 

[74Nitro]

Electric in sleds won't work except for ski hills and utility. By the time you add enough battery an RX-1 would be a featherweight in comparison.

 

[sideshowBob]

With all this winter weather across Canada and the US i would think a few EV drivers are reconsidering their purchase. The highway in our area was closed for 8 hours yesterday in -30C weather....would not be fun sitting in a EV with dead batteries!

 

[actionjack]

Common sense previously killed the electric car. Only. #engergystupidity brought them back via voter fraud. Maybe someone will start totallyelectricsnowmobiles.com and the ridiculousness of claiming to use electric vehicles futilely to lower CO2 can be debated there.

 

[GR8BBQ]

Sailor Joe best me to it, but I was going to vote for Hydrogen combustion engines... Power like we expect and fuel created from water at a powerful electric source, then returned to water as the only emissions from combustion.

 

[Stubbs]

I would have to disagree. But time will tell.

Oooof! That one stung sleddy!

 

[sailor joe]

The day sleds go full electric will be the day i pack it in. Im 55 and been riding since i was 9. However this electric agenda really pisses me off to no end.

amen brother!!

 

[sailor joe]

a buddy of mine has a Tesla, he loves it..however, when he leaves New Bedford area to go to Maine in the winter to sled he has to stop for 45 minutes to recharge his battery, its a 3.5 hour ride normally. my point is cold kills these batteries and I think he's nut to be "all in" with batteries that it adds 45 minutes to his drive.
Totally agree with Doo with Blue...

 

[bleedyamaha]

Better go buy a new helmet to charge your new sled.

 

[Pstn head]

a buddy of mine has a Tesla, he loves it..however, when he leaves New Bedford area to go to Maine in the winter to sled he has to stop for 45 minutes to recharge his battery, its a 3.5 hour ride normally. my point is cold kills these batteries and I think he's nut to be "all in" with batteries that it adds 45 minutes to his drive.
Totally agree with Doo with Blue...

Ya…that ain’t happenin, no way, no chance, I’m already a spaz on the way up sleddin, if I had to sit and wait 45min for batteries to charge there no knowing what might happen.

 

[Upstater57]

I test drove a 90K electric F150. It was stupid quick especially for a 6500lb truck. It was impressive. With that said, it could not tow my loaded trailer 100 miles on a charge. So, it may be able to power your house for a few days and act like a power utility but for towing it's not utilitarian.