The Upper Peninsula of Michigan will soon have access to an electric off-road vehicle charging network due to a partnership between Polaris and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Roughly 100 miles of beautiful off-road routes will be powered by the charging network, enabling explorers and adventurers to ride and drive across the terrain with confidence.
At Ontonagon County, White Pine, Bergland, and Greenland, state-designated ORV routes now have four charging stations.
The vice president of strategy and partnerships at Polaris, Andrew Chasse, described how the charging network elevates outdoor enjoyment.
“It is an honour to mark the opening of this unique off-road electric charging network developed in partnership with the State of Michigan and the local communities along this trail system. Polaris and Michigan are connected in our efforts to bring exciting innovation and the latest technology to outdoor recreation,” he said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Justine Johnson, the Chief Mobility officer of the State of Michigan said, “Working in tandem with Polaris to launch an electric off-road vehicle charging network in the Upper Peninsula, exemplifies how working through public-private partnerships brings ideation to fruition in every corner of Michigan. We applaud Polaris’s effort to support the growth of a reliable EV charging infrastructure in one of Michigan’s favourite ORV riding destinations.”
To encourage more people to make the electric shift, Polaris will rent out the Ranger XP Kinetic through Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures. This way, customers will be able to get up close and personal with Polaris’ all-electric UTV, while at the same time experiencing Michigan’s extensive trail network with peace of mind. Talk about the ultimate test drive experience.
Now, a dedicated off-road EV charging network may seem ahead of its time. And that’s because it is. It’s exciting to see places like Michigan putting huge importance toward the development of off-road-focused infrastructure as it sets the stage for more development in the powersports industry, and in turn, for more folks to get in on the fun.
Recent years have seen a lot of off-road facilities under fire due to excessive noise and the risk of fires. And so, the emergence of electric off-road vehicles could serve as the key to the future of off-roading.
And indeed, this is one of Polaris’s sights set on for the near future. Polaris says that it aims to integrate EV technology across all of its product platforms, and it intends to do this through data and consumer feedback to ensure that it’s giving its customers exactly what they want.
