Why did Polaris invite little ol’ Jo Borrás out to drive their new, 110 HP UTV? While it probably had more to do with me being the closest CleanTechnica writer available, I’m also smack-dab in the heart of the Polaris’ target market – or near enough, anyway, that our family recently picked up a new side-by-side of our own earlier this summer. What’s more, as a former sales manager at a Honda power sports store, I’ve ridden the comparable Pioneer and Talon models, and even sampled a Yamaha or two along the way.

I have also sampled Polaris’ first electric effort, the Polaris Ranger EV UTV. That vehicle – which developed prior to the Polaris/Zero motorcycle marriage – was powered by lead-acid batteries and had more in common with an E-Z-Go golf cart than a high-performance SxS. To someone who associates electric power with a gut-punch of off-the-line acceleration, it was disappointing … if not downright boring.

While the little Polaris Ranger EV UTV is capable enough to haul hay and hand tools around a small farm, I wasn’t convinced it merited its price tag, regardless of its electrified benefits. As such, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be able to come at this new Polaris with the sort of clean-slate objectivity that the company probably would have liked. To be extra, doubly sure that I gave the Kinetic a fair shake, I brought backup.

Along for the ride with me this week was Hobbes, a twenty-something college student who likes to drive stuff. It was both his first time on the perimeter trails outside Road America and his first time piloting a Polaris of any kind, and he was psyched. Somewhere between my jaded cynicism and his wide-eyed enthusiasm, maybe, is objectivity, right?

Maybe!

The Ranger XP Kinetic represents the first fruits of the “rEVolution” partnership between the manufacturing powerhouse of Polaris and the EV innovators at Zero motorcycles. As a machine, it is incredibly capable, and the 110 HP Zero-sourced electric motor is just a part of the reason why.

Let’s talk about the XP Kinetic’s battery. Or, more to the point, batteries – there are two. On the “Premium” model, you get a 15 kWh battery, while the pricier “Ultimate” version comes in with nearly double that, at 29.8 kWh. Both operate on a 100V electrical system, with a separate 12V system that powers accessories – that’s critical for both the aftermarket and existing Ranger customers, wince it means that the accessories they currently have on their ICE Ranger will almost all work perfectly with the XP Kinetic version.

The battery charges on a level 2 system, which is great, since nearly every hobby farmer or dune blaster will already have a 220/240V outlet in their barn/garage to charge from. The charging port – a standard J1772-style – means it can share a charger with other electric cars or tractors you may have, also.

Read more: Tested: 110 HP, All Electric Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic UTV

Polaris Off-Road, the leader in off-road vehicle innovation, today unleashed a thrilling content series, featuring four of the world’s toughest athletes, including four-time All-Pro wide-receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, five-time boxing champion Roy Jones Jr., two-time UFC strawweight champion “Thug” Rose Namajunas and veteran UFC fighter Chad “Money” Mendes. At the wheel, piloting a series of extreme joy rides in the Polaris RZR Pro R, is five-time Polaris UTV off-road racing champion RJ Anderson.

Showcasing in grand fashion just how thrilling off-roading can be, Sunday Strolls tests the courage of these four fearless athletes, each with little-to-no side-by-side experience, as they ride shotgun with Anderson while he pushes the limits of a near-stock RZR Pro R around the Los Angeles County Raceway Motocross (LACR) track in Southern California. With nearly a mile of track to work with, Anderson is in full “send” mode, backing his RZR Pro R into hairpin turns, flying through whoops, and grabbing tons of air* off the track’s multiple table-top jumps. With talent fully wired for audio, the Pro R outfitted with multiple GoPro cameras, and a total of nine cameras around the track, including hand-held cameras, drones, and a camera-equipped RZR XP 1000 – not a single “oh crap” moment was missed.

“Sunday Strolls is what we live for – to introduce new people to side-by-sides and demonstrate exactly why so many riders around the country eat, sleep and breathe off-roading,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President, Polaris RZR. “This was an extremely fun series to bring to life, as we connected world-class athletes from various genres who all share a passion for living life at full speed. Our four guests walked away with an entirely new perspective on the thrilling experience that a RZR, and side-by-sides in general, have to offer.”

Read more: Polaris RZR Introduces the Thrill of the RZR Pro R to Four of the World’s Toughest Athletes in New Adrenalized Content Series

He’s not only a Utility Task Vehicle rider himself, but also president of the Crooked Trails ATV Club in Crooked Lake.

“As a club we’re seeing a lot more riders up here. We’re seeing a lot of families which is really neat to see,” he said. “The growth has been large, especially in the last year or two. You’re seeing huge growth.”

For Jonet and others, there’s an appeal to heading into the woods and getting a little dusty along the way.

“It’s just the enjoyment of being out in nature,” he said. “A lot of times you’ll see deer. On occasions, you might see a bear. You’re just out in the wilderness going for a ride.”

About half an hour away in Lakewood, UTV and ATV riders make up a sizable portion of the business at Waubee Lake Lodge, said owner Russ Kralovetz.

“It’s huge. I would say UTVs alone probably accounts for somewhere between 20 and 25% of my business,” he said. “They’re here all all week. They’re here on the weekends. Rain, it doesn’t matter, it’s great. It’s a shot in the arm for sure.”

The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association said the number of vehicles in the state has grown from 192,000 in 2003 to about 495,000 in March. Another 23,000 machines come from out of state.

The association estimates the statewide economic impact of the sport at about $1.1 billion. That’s up from $295 million 19 years ago.

Read more: Off-road vehicles see increase in sales across Wisconsin

I’ve known a handful of hunters in the East and Midwest who’ve tried to upgrade used golf carts for hunting. Not because they are better at hauling treestands or navigating rough terrain than a UTV, but because they’re almost silent. And serious whitetail hunters know that ripping around on a loud ATV or UTV all season will eventually cause mature bucks to go nocturnal, or slip off the property.

Enter the electric Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic UTV. It’s more powerful than its gas-operated counterpart, it can haul three hunters in all kinds of terrain, and it’s as quiet as a golf cart. I got a chance to drive the Kinetic Ultimate while hunting turkeys on a sprawling cattle ranch in Florida this spring, and it did not disappoint.

There are two versions of the Ranger XP Kinetic. The biggest performance difference between the Premium (the base model) and the Ultimate (the pimped-out version) is the larger lithium battery in the Ultimate, which gives it allows it cover almost double the distance under optimal conditions. The Ultimate also comes with more accessories and digital features, like a 7-inch touchscreen display. You can compare the two models here.

Read more: The Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic Is the Electric UTV Deer Hunters Have Been Waiting For

The nascent electric UTV industry is set to get another interesting offering later this week when Volcon (Nasdaq: VLCN) unveils its long-awaited Stag UTV.

According to the company, “Volcon, the first all-electric, off-road powersports company, will officially launch and open the door to consumer reservations via its website for its flagship, fully electric UTV, called the Stag, on Friday, July 1, 2022, at 1 PM EST (10 AM PST).”

The Stag has been nearly two years in the making after being announced at the company’s founding in late 2020.

Since the company’s debut nearly two years ago, most of its efforts have gone into the development and production of the Volcon Grunt.

The fat tire off-road electric motorcycle began making deliveries in late 2021, less than a year after the company’s founding.

With the Grunt’s development having moved at a blistering pace, the lofty goal of producing a four-wheeled electric UTV suddenly seemed within grasp for the young company, and the announcement of the Stag’s upcoming unveiling all but confirms it.

While Volcon has said the Stag was expected to be ready at some point in 2022, the company is working on an even larger vehicle known as the Volcon Beast that likely won’t roll out until the end of 2023 at the earliest.

The burlier 160 kW motor that was originally proposed would offer twice the peak power of the early Stag figures thanks to a pair of motors.

The power figures for both the Stag and Beast are around half the numbers originally touted by Volcon shortly after its founding in 2020, but likely represent more realistic figures that the company is more confident it can meet.

After a successful development and rollout of the Volcon Grunt electric motorcycle and a significant expansion of the company’s dealership network, the young powersports manufacturer is well positioned to deliver on its promises for the all-electric Stag UTV.

Read more: US-based Volcon to unveil all-electric four-seater UTV later this week, releases teaser photo

On a clear windy night, 22 miles south of Ridgecrest, California, amidst the Spangler Hills, 55 utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) lined up to run a 25-mile-long race in the Mojave Desert. These specially designed vehicles are also known as “SXS”, or side by sides, because the driver and co-driver sit side by side to manage their crafts through the challenging terrain. There were several local teams, including Kevin Self, Dylan Tharp, Austin Griffin, Jeremy Marsh, Shawn Stephey and Keith Thompson. Others came from Bishop, Anaheim, Salinas and as far away as Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington State.

The race was coordinated by the DP4 Racing organization, joined by the new west coast crew of On Mission Motorsports, led by Ridgecrest’s own Kevin Self and Mike Schatz. DP4’s co-owner Ryan Sanders was excited about the event and partnering with the On Mission folks. “We are an organization that fosters a fun, safe, family-friendly atmosphere,” Sanders said. “On Mission shares that philosophy and we will function as a team. We keep entry fees low so that everyone can afford to participate, and we always set up as “One Central”, with spectators and pit crews safely positioned so that everyone feels part of the event.”

It was one year ago that Kevin Self met Jeff and Melanie Goldsmith of Culleoka, Tennessee. Jeff co-founded On Mission Motorsports to connect veterans with off-road racing. The group’s mission is to “put American heroes (veterans, active-duty military, and first responders) in the co-driver seat of off-road SXS race cars for an experience that makes them feel included and important. This racing experience, coupled with a weekend with us, is provided at no cost to co-drivers. This provides outlets for stress by promoting connectedness with the communities of heroes and off-road racers, a key strategy in the prevention of suicide and substance abuse.”

Self invited U.S. Marine Corps 20-year veteran Andy Mrozik to be a co-driver, and Andy’s wife Athena, a former paramedic first responder, to be Dylan Tharp’s co-driver. “I think this is a great idea,” Andy said, with a nod to his wife, “especially supporting first responders. I don’t think they get the recognition they deserve. This is awesome.”

Mike Schatz is co-leader with Self of the west coast On Mission team. Schatz serves as the pit boss/crew chief. “My father was a police officer for 20 years and a military veteran. My brother is a police officer. We all like racing, so this is why I serve on the pit crew. As a mechanic, I want to make sure everything is working well for the participants.” Schatz went on to applaud the leadership of DP-4. “Ryan Sanders makes sure that everything is fair and accommodating for everyone. These are good people in a good atmosphere. My favorite thing is being here with everyone.”

Read more: On a mission: Locals participate in 25-mile race