Yamaha has new sleds coming

[rtx moose]

They just released 3 new patents on electric snowmobile...go look for yourself

 

[rtx moose]

They just released 3 new patents on electric snowmobile...go look for yourself

United States Patent Application​	20220063764​
Kind Code​	A1​
MATSUSHITA; Yasushi​	March 3, 2022​

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ELECTRIC SNOWMOBILE

Abstract
An electric snowmobile that prevents temperature rise of a control unit is provided. An electric snowmobile includes a body frame extending in a front-rear direction, a driver's seat supported by the body frame, an electric motor supported by the body frame, a ski supported by the body frame, a track mechanism including a track belt, supported by the body frame below the driver's seat, a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor, and an inverter including an electronic component controlling a rotation of the electric motor and a housing for housing the electronic component. An opening is formed in the body frame so that a portion of the inverter is exposed from the opening to face the track belt.

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Inventors:​

MATSUSHITA; Yasushi; (Shizuoka, JP)​

Applicant:​	Name​ City​ State​ Country​ Type​ Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha Shizuoka ​ JP​
Assignee:​	Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha ​
Family ID:​	1000005824601​
Appl. No.:​	17/395479​
Filed:​	August 6, 2021​

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Current U.S. Class:​	1/1​
Current CPC Class:​	B60L 58/26 20190201; B62M 27/02 20130101; B62M 2027/028 20130101; B60L 50/66 20190201​
International Class:​	B62M 27/02 20060101 B62M027/02; B60L 58/26 20060101 B60L058/26; B60L 50/60 20060101 B60L050/60​

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Foreign Application Data

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Date​	Code​	Application Number​
Aug 26, 2020​	JP​	2020-142378​

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Claims

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1. An electric snowmobile, comprising: a body frame extending in a front-rear direction; a driver's seat supported by the body frame; an electric motor supported by the body frame; a ski supported by the body frame; a track mechanism, which includes a track belt, and which is supported by the body frame below the driver's seat; a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor; and a control unit including an electronic component and a housing for housing the electronic component, the electronic component controlling a rotation of the electric motor or driving of the battery, wherein an opening is formed in the body frame so that a portion of the control unit is exposed from the opening to face the track belt.

2. The electric snowmobile according to claim 1, wherein a heat dissipating structure is provided in the housing, and the opening exposes the heat dissipating structure so as to face the track belt.

3. The electric snowmobile according to claim 2, wherein the heat dissipating structure includes a plurality of radiator fins protruding to an outside of the body frame.

4. The electric snowmobile according to claim 3,

 

[rtx moose]

Wow no comments

 

[number1kyster]

I'm not interested in an electric snowmobile until it can go 300 miles on a charge.

 

[earthling]

The Taiga weighs 534lbs @ 98km range and 586lbs @131km range. The only difference is the battery so 586-534=52 lbs for an additional 131-98=33kms. That's 52/33=1.57lbs per km or 2.5lbs per extra mile. Using the current battery they have a long ways to go in energy density before they reach optimum range you are looking for.

I suspect that they don't need to get anywhere near that range in order to be successful, they do need some more range and they just need to keep improving charge rate. There are many situations (resorts, guided tours, trapping, farm, off grid, etc) where predictable range is enough. The fact that someone could generate their own 'fuel' (solar/wind/micro-hydro/etc) means that an electric snowmobile with a 120 mile range and 15-20 minute fast charge could work quite well in the right environments. If their extended pack could get them to 190(ish) kms they would do well.

 

[allyammies]

I sure hope not.

 

[earthling]

@rtx moose not sure there is anything to comment on. Yamaha files hundreds of patents a year, some they will use, some they will not. Everyone is going to build an electric snowmobile, obvious 'innovation' is what gets investors excited. What it will force Yamaha (or Cat) to do is look at an all new chassis platform. Electric is proven and state of the art is advancing at a slow burn. I suspect that yamaha is focused on how to extend battery life and charge efficiency in an environment that is very unfriendly to batteries. Between extreme cold and ditch banging at one end of the spectrum to repeated charge/discharges per day in a resort setting at the other there is a lot of R&D to get through to make electric work in all the situations we take for granted with todays sleds.

 

[20/80]

Yep once they get the range sorted out to about 180 miles and a quick 5 min to a full recharge this may work, you will need lots of charging stations at fuel stops though, while electric is a nice concept but if 25% of the people switched to electric snowmobiles and cars right now our electric grid could not handle it.

 

[hibshman25]

Gas is minimal in the PA mountains where we ride....having to deal with electric sounds like a real pain. I can see the application on ski resorts/close course trail loops, but real world trail riding is not realistic for electric snowmobiles.

 

[sideshowBob]

Just did a 300 mile trip yesterday, pure wilderness riding, -17C, 90 miles between any fuel stops or towns, we are a LONG way from electric sleds in our area.

 

[bjowett]

Does anyone remember what saves the day in the original Jurassic Park Movie? A gasoline Jeep. Grandpa John specifically requests a gasoline Jeep be taken to rescue the grand kids (seriously, go watch it). Petrol also saves the day on several other occasions when electric fails. In the books they use Toyota Land Cruisers, because, we know, Japanese reliability. When the sh*t hits the fan, burning hydrocarbons on site is the only way.

 

[earthling]

Does anyone remember what saves the day in the original Jurassic Park Movie? A gasoline Jeep. Grandpa John specifically requests a gasoline Jeep be taken to rescue the grand kids (seriously, go watch it). Petrol also saves the day on several other occasions when electric fails. In the books they use Toyota Land Cruisers, because, we know, Japanese reliability. When the sh*t hits the fan, burning hydrocarbons on site is the only way.

For as long as the fuel supply chain lasts, then you have nothing.

Its hard to even talk about energy without the thread going sideways, but in its most basic form.. electricity is a very easy to make, easy to distribute, and easy to use energy source. Far more simple than anything based on hydrocarbons. Once the battery problems are solved (or the charging rates are improved) the whole discussion becomes a non-issue as electric motors are far easier to make than ICE engines are and economics will rule the day. Until then (which is a ways out) we should all enjoy our powersports as they exist today but be open minded about the future. It wasn't that long ago that the idea of putting forced induction in mass produced consumer snowmobiles was crazy talk.. or that having more power in a snowmobile than my wife does in her SUV was not only possible, it was desirable and yet, here we are.

 

[earthling]

@rtx moose the other comment about the patents is that many companies spam file patents (the real problem with the patent system) and many of the patents, variations, and parallel filings will go unprosecuted (not finished) due to issues of prior art, obviousness of the invention, examiner push back, etc.. The concept (and I did not read the full patent) above seems quite obvious in execution, I mean if you asked any number of people here on this forum how to cool the batteries and motor on an electric snowmobile they would give you some combination of answers that would look like the claims. Not sure if Yamaha actually thinks it will get granted or they are just spamming the system or just being aggressive with filing. Yamaha may have a strategic patent filing process to parallel file in Japan where it is more likely to be granted and using that success to help justify the prosecution in the US. At the end of the day, patents are just trading cards for leverage between competitors or between selling companies and buying companies. While it is likely that Yamaha is working on electric everything, it remains unknown whether that applies to a real intent to produce real world product however likely or obvious that may be from our perspective.

 

[SumpBuster]

I'm not interested in an electric snowmobile until it can go 300 miles on a charge.

At full wack too..not cruising speed.

 

[SumpBuster]

The Taiga weighs 534lbs @ 98km range and 586lbs @131km range. The only difference is the battery so 586-534=52 lbs for an additional 131-98=33kms. That's 52/33=1.57lbs per km or 2.5lbs per extra mile. Using the current battery they have a long ways to go in energy density before they reach optimum range you are looking for.

I suspect that they don't need to get anywhere near that range in order to be successful, they do need some more range and they just need to keep improving charge rate. There are many situations (resorts, guided tours, trapping, farm, off grid, etc) where predictable range is enough. The fact that someone could generate their own 'fuel' (solar/wind/micro-hydro/etc) means that an electric snowmobile with a 120 mile range and 15-20 minute fast charge could work quite well in the right environments. If their extended pack could get them to 190(ish) kms they would do well.

Batteries dont like -20. Heard yesterday it takes 20,000 acres of solar panels to power 4 tesla chargers. But not at night! lol
Reality escapes so many.