Key Takeaways

• The Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic is a unique electric off-road vehicle that offers all the fun of gas-powered models but without the noise and the need to fuel up.
• With 110 hp, seating for three, and a range of between 45 and 80 miles, the Ranger XP Kinetic is an ideal adventure companion.
• A unique Polaris charging network in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula allows for easy charging during your adventure.
• The Ranger XP Kinetic is available for rental at North Coast Adventures, so anyone can give EV off-roading a try.

When someone says “off-road adventure”, most of us default to thinking about the trails you can tackle in a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. But apart from the type of fun you have with on- and off-road capable cars, there’s a whole different league of off-road thrills catered to by companies like Polaris. Polaris Industries was established in the 50s, initially specializing in building snowmobiles, but in 2007, debuted the Ranger RZR side-by-side trail-capable adventure vehicle. By 2017, the company had built a million Rangers – and here we are today, with a lineup of off-road, snow, on-road, marine, and commercial vehicles that are quite different to the usual vehicles we get to drive.

And, since technology keeps advancing and electrification has taken root in even this segment of the market, the company flew us to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, known as the UP, for a chance to experience their unique electric off-road recreational vehicle (ORV). The Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic EV mitigates the negatives of standard ORVs – namely engine noise and using fossil fuels – providing a much purer adventure experience. Polaris has also installed a special EV charging network – and what better way to test it than to spend time in one of the most popular ORV areas in the state.

Whether you’re a casual adventurer who wants to have a little fun with friends on the weekend, plan to tackle more extreme terrain, or need an easy way to get around the farm to get work done, there’s a Polaris ORV that fits the bill. The company lists activities like desert/dune riding, hunting, mudding, ranching, and trail riding alongisde ‘adventure’ as the main reason for purchasing one of these. Here’s what we experienced with Polaris.

Electrify Your Off-Road Adventure

The Ranger XP Kinetic is the electric version of the existing Ranger – and the Ranger is available in a variety of configurations from three-seater editions to six-seater models, mid-size to full-size, and even ‘extreme duty’ Rangers. The XP Kinetic seats three and can be had in two trims:

The little adventurer comes with 14 inches of ground clearance and skid plates, with other noteworthy features including:

• 29-inch Pro Armor X-Terrain Tires and 14-inch wheels
• LED headlights and charge indicating center accent light
• Integrated winch and plow mounts
• 12V cargo box power port with dash switch
• 1,250 lbs box capacity
• 2,500 lbw towing capacity

A four-inch LCD information display is standard on the base trim. One step up to the Ultimate trim comes with a price increase of $7,500, adding 35 miles of range. Additionally, buyers get a seven-inch infotainment display. Both have a charging kit, so you can plug-in when you’re on the go.

We took to the trails in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where Polaris has launched a first of its kind charging network in conjunction with Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The project used a $700,000 grant from the Michigan Office of Future Mobility & Electrification. This wasn’t a small undertaking, so it took the combined efforts of multiple organizations to make it happen. The network now supports 100 miles of trails with free public charging at Polaris branded chargers in Ontonagon, White Pine, Bergland, and Greenland.

Driving the Ranger XP Kinetic is totally different to driving a gas Ranger for a couple of reasons. Most noticeable is the silence. Instead of an engine, the soundtrack was the wind in the trees, the birds, the leaves crunching under the tires and even a little waterfall along our route. There’s also none of the exhaust smell, so you more fully experience the world around you by choosing an EV.

Easy Charging

You aren’t generally going on a multi-day road trip in an ORV, so the range anxiety you might have in a street-legal car is gone. These are the kinds of vehicles you drive over much shorter distances on a day’s adventure. Halfway through our drive, we pulled up to one of the public chargers that’s a part of the new Polaris network. We didn’t need to charge, but we were stopping for some food at a local diner, so it was a great opportunity to top off.

The base trim includes 3 kW on-board charging that takes 10 hours, if you plug in at a standard 120-volt outlet or about 5 hours at a 240-volt. The Premium gets 6 kW on-board charging that takes 20 hours or 5 hours respectively. There’s also an available 3 kW accessory upgrade that shaves up to two hours off the 240-volt charging time.

These charging stations are free, so anyone can plug in and juice up. They use solar power and can store that power until needed, making it adaptable to on-grid or off-grid usage depending on the location. This area of the UP isn’t a busy place and there’s not a lot of traffic. It’s not going to be a huge moneymaker for any company looking to make EV charging a profitable business. Instead, this whole project serves as something of an experiment – a way of finding out how to integrate EVs into the off-road lifestyle in the future.

Give It A Try

Along with the charging network, Polaris is offering a unique opportunity to rent these vehicles at Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures, which is an official Polaris Adventures Outfitter. Anyone can head to the UP, rent a Ranger Kinetic XP and explore the trails.

There’s nothing new to learn before you can drive, so you can simply get in and go. The only real noticeable difference from a driving perspective is the regenerative braking, which is mild, but a new experience if you’ve never driven an EV of any kind. If you can drive a gas ORV, then you’ll have no problem making the move to electric. The Ranger XP Kinetic lets ORV enthusiasts explore the outdoors like never before. Say goodbye to the noise and the smell of a gas engine. Say hello to the quiet and beauty of the outdoors in a whole new way.