The joys — and perils — of off-roading in an electric vehicle

I had a strange experience. I was driving through the woods in a 7,000-pound SUV that could sprint to 60 mph in three seconds. For the record, that is over a second quicker than a Ford mustang GT500.

The monster offered 15 inches of ground clearance and was making short work of the obstacles thrown at him. The squinty headlights of the roided-up Wrangler couldn't have done better.

I felt at peace with nature even though the situation was too much. The birds were making noise with the windows down. The serenity was ruined by the squirrels, but they would have chirped just as loudly if I had been walking.

I felt at peace with nature even though the situation was overwhelming.

I couldn't shake the idea that this whole thing felt more like hiking than a rampage through the woods.

I had run an EV through the mud before, but the Rivian R1S was the most profound. I have always appreciated the practical benefits of battery-powered off-roading, but this was the first time I appreciated the more arcane side. EV off-roading was simply a better experience than the performance would have you believe.

The Zero Motorcycles DSR/X is a dual-sport motorcycle with a strong focus on off-road performance. I was cruising through the forest, silently scrabbling up a rocky and dusty trail, when a side-by-side ATV blasted by with only a token exhaust pipe between my ears. It was a long time before the echoes of that damned thing faded.

The cultural divide was striking to me. Nature lovers, hikers, and campers enjoy the peace and quiet of hiking and camping. Your average off-roader also wants to get out there, but they want to make a lot of noise along the way.

Image: Zero Motorcycles

I think there is a chance to bridge the gap with EV off-roading. Lilly Macaruso told me that birds chirp, leaves rustle, and the sound of tires engage with the ground when taking a Rivian vehicle off-road. She is a senior project engineer at Rivian and one of the teams that the company entered into this year's Rebelle Rally. The inhabitants of the area will get a less intrusive experience.

There is an opportunity to bridge the gap with EV off-roading.

Human inhabitants are worth considering as urban sprawl creeps closer to the trails. I spoke with Matt Caldwell, executive director at Tread Lightly, an organization dedicated to minimizing the impact of off-roading, and he said that he thought electric vehicles had the potential to address some challenges related to noise impacts.

This is part of Zero's off-road bike. Zero founder Neil Saiki wanted to ride without his neighbors calling the cops, according to Dan Quick.

The benefits don't end there. "Especially in fire-prone states like our home in California, there are spark controls that can be a bit burdensome on ICE riders that electric riding never has to worry about" There are many places around the world where spark arrestors are required. Forest fires can be prevented by capturing flame or spark. Vehicles that aren't compliant can be fined thousands of dollars. EV are spark-free if they have had the right recalls.

Image: Rivian

There are some positives to EV off-roading. Did you head out into the wilderness? How far out there? You can put a fuel can on the back of your Jeep. You might be surprised how far out they can go in the bush.

The DSR/X is capable of 13 hours of trail riding before it depletes its battery. It's almost impossible for a bike rated at 115 miles of combined, on-road riding, but since off-roading is generally done at lower speeds, the aerodynamic penalty is reduced. The range has been greatly increased.

Thirteen hours is enough for me, but others will want more and that leads to a discussion about EV infrastructure. Matt said that he had seen solar charging stations placed by Jeep. Rivian's Adventure Network aims to cover 600 adventure ready sites, but only six are actually online as of now.

The infrastructure is coming, the practical benefits are there, and other startup are emerging. The Adventure 1 is a tiny electric 4x4 that can be used for overlanding on trails previously not accessible by larger off-road vehicles. The E2 CRF is an electric dirt bike for kids that will make sure the next generation of riders doesn't have any hang-ups.

There are other startup that are emerging.

I worry about the older generations. Will today's most dedicated off-roaders swap their internal engine for a silent one? I think there is a long, bitter fight ahead that will require legislation. It is not hard to imagine the Vehicular Recreation Areas of California going emissions-free.

Backpackers and off-roaders may be able to get out there without ruining each other's fun with a little goodwill.

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