As early as 2018, Taiga Motors, based in Quebec, Canada, announced a pure electric snowmobile called the TS2 that accelerates in just 3 seconds from 100 kilometers, according to New Atlas. The company adjusted the design in 2019 and will launch three models. Now, the first vehicles available to consumers have rolled off the production line.
"Today, with the first snowmobiles rolling off the production line, the shared dream and vision that represents our entire organization is about to come true. I'm proud of the competence and perseverance our employees have demonstrated as they have overcome challenges together as we navigate unprecedented supply chain fluctuations," said Sam Bruneau, CEO of Taiga. "With the snowmobiles about to be ready, we are delighted that our customers will be able to ride on these cutting-edge machines that embody winter adventures without compromise."
After receiving final approval from government agencies, Taiga expects to begin delivering products to pre-order customers in early 2022. The model lineup includes the Ekko mountain snowmobile, Atlas buggy and Nomad tour/utility vehicle.
Taiga said riders can expect instant torque, zero throttle lag, and also include a thermal management system to keep the battery in tip-top condition even if the temperature plummets below freezing below zero and supports fast DC charging. The setup also supports custom adjustments to drive parameters, and the accompanying mobile app caters to route planning and tracking.
Like all models in the series, the Ekko is available in both standard and performance versions. The former has an acceleration time of 4.1 seconds from 100 km/h, and its 120 hp electric drivetrain consists of a composite belt and a 165 x 15 x 2.5 inches (419 x 38 x 6.35 cm) track pushed from behind. The estimated range per charge is 98 km (about 60 miles).
The car benefits from a double fork suspension with 220 mm of travel at the front and a multi-link suspension with 270 mm of stroke, with the stopping force coming from Hayes disc brakes, which can also feed back some charge to the battery pack when decelerating. An HD display allows GPS maps and custom topographic maps.
The Performance Edition is essentially the same snowmobile, but has a 180-horsepower drive with a 3.3-second acceleration time from 100 km/h and a range of 131 km (81 mph) per charge.
The standard Atlas model is powered by 120 hp, accelerates 3.7 seconds per 100 km/h, has smaller and thinner tracks than the Ekko, at 137 x 15 x 1.6 inches (348 x 38 x 4 cm), and it also has the same double-fork suspension at the front, but the rear suspension offers 300 mm of travel.
The high-performance Atlas is equipped with a 180-horsepower powertrain with 2.9 seconds of acceleration from 100 km/h and an estimated range of 140 km (87 mph) per charge.
If the user wants to drag some cargo for work or leisure, the Nomad standard model is reportedly capable of dragging 350 kilograms of cargo. It has a 90-horsepower electric drive with 154 x 16 x 1.6 inches (391 x 40 x 4 cm) nail tracks, and Taiga estimates a range of 100 kilometers per charge. Its front double-fork suspension has a range of up to 224 mm, while the multi-link suspension is the same as the Atlas model. The model is also equipped with two seats and provides back support for passengers.
The Nomad Performance Edition has a 120-horsepower drive that can drag 510 kilograms of cargo and promises a range of up to 134 kilometers (83 miles) per charge.
All three models are currently accepting pre-order, with prices starting at $15,000. As mentioned earlier, Taiga is currently working to secure regulatory approvals to get approvals before the customer shipping window in early 2022.
The company also recently began installing the first charging stations on a trail in Quebec's forested area, each with Level 2 and Level 3 DC fast chargers.