THE LATEST innovation from ATV manufacturer, Polaris, is its Ranger XP Kinetic – featuring an entirely new electric powertrain.

This was born from Polaris’ partnership with Zero Motorcycles, and boasts industry-leading horsepower and torque, plus the electric powertrain’s instantaneous action delivers precise control when pulling, or towing heavy loads.

This new model is available as a three-seat model and will feature a Premium and Ultimate trim. The Premium trim contains a single 14.9 kWh lithium-ion battery that offers an estimated range of 45 miles (70km), while the Ultimate trims delivers 29.8 kWh of battery capacity and offers an estimated range of 80 miles (130km). Power from this produces an industry-leading 110bhp and 14 lb/ft torque.

This gives the electric Ranger the ability to tow up to 1134kg and have on board an industry-best 567kg payload. For rough ground, it also has a class-leading 35.5cm of ground clearance and is equipped with 74cm, eight-ply Pro Armor X-Terrain tyres.

The electric powertrain has fewer moving parts than conventional machines, meaning less maintenance and Polaris has torture-tested the Ranger extreme conditions and treacherous terrain. It will be backed by a one-year factory-installed warranty, three-year electric powertrain coverage and five-year battery coverage.

There's no need for oil changes, filter replacements, spark plugs or clutch maintenance and scheduled maintenance costs are expected to be 70% less than average maintenance costs for similar fuel-powered vehicles.

The XP Kinetic also features a full-coverage front bumper and full-body skid plate for added vehicle protection while riding on tough terrain.

Other selling points include a 12V cargo box outlet for powering accessories, while a new shifter design includes high, low, neutral and park, but with a new, integrated switch for forward and reverse so customers change directions with the flip of a switch.

In addition to high and low gear, it also has three drive modes – Eco+ for optimum torque and top speed for maximum range and light duty jobs; Standard which optimises throttle response for everyday driving; and Sport which ups the throttle response for spirited driving and tougher jobs.

The Ultimate trim also offers a 18cm infotainment screen powered by Ride Command technology. This allows operators to see estimated remaining range and the battery state of charge directly on the screen. You can drop a waypoint on your charging location and see how far away you are from your next charge at any given time.

Charging options include plugging into a standard wall outlet, as the XP Kinetic comes with a combined EV charge cord that allows you to charge from 120V, or 240V outlets.

Factory-installed on-board charging rate is 3kW for the Premium trim and 6kW for the Ultimate trim. Both can reach full charge from 0% in about five hours.

An accessory onboard charging system can boost rates by 50% and a 240V power supply is recommended for fastest charging and can deliver over 4x faster charging than a standard 120V outlet.

This EV is compatible with 95% of Ranger XP 1000 accessories, including the Pro Shield cab systems, plus Pro HD winches for added pulling power and Lock and Ride Storage to keep tools and gear secure.

New accessories specific to the XP Kinetic include a fast-acting electric heater kit as well as an upgraded 3kW on-board charger for maximum fast charging.

The Ranger XP Kinetic will arrive in dealerships in summer, 2022.