There aren't a whole lot of restrictions placed on all terrain vehicles, which means their fuel economy and emissions aren't much better than those of a car. A startup called Barefoot Motors wants to change that, and believes electricity is the way to do it.
The Model One is being built from the ground up with a lithium iron phosphate battery (capable of 4-5 hour range on a full charge) and an electric motor. Make that two motors - an AC motor for the front wheels and a DC for the rear - capable of generating 55 horsepower and an impressive 105 foot-pounds of torque.
"Apart from the Tesla and on account of its one of a kind, dual motoring system, the Model One is probably the coolest all-electric vehicle out there," boasts company co-founder Melissa Brandao.
A pretty bold statement, we know, but check it out. Like the Tesla Roadster, the Model One doesn't back down from a challenge against its gas powered brethren.
Brandao founded Barefoot Motors with Jamie Hyneman of "Mythbusters" fame, and he raced a prototype (pictured) of the company's ATEV built on a Polaris chassis against a gasoline-burning Polaris 800 ATV. The Model One won, and Hyneman reached a top speed of 35mph. That may not seem like much to city-folk, but in four-wheelin' farm-speak that's pretty dang fast, especially for a vehicle that weighs 850 pounds.
Hyneman (beret and 'stache included) helped design the Model One and has played an active role in its development. Asked where they got the idea for an electric ATV, Brandao responded, "I lived in Sebastapol, California, where Barefoot Motors was and a lot of vineyards are located. So, we came up with the idea for the Model One thinking a greener, more sustainable agricultural vehicle would be useful. Golf carts don't cut it here, and gas powered ATVs are too noisy"
The company has since relocated to Ashland,
Oregon and is still developing the Model One with hopes to have a production model ready by February for the World Agricultural Expo in California. With the California Air Resources Board cracking down on farm vehicles, we may see more ATEVs. Who knows? Maybe Gov. Schwarzenegger will buy one to park next to his Tesla.
POST UPDATED 2:30 p.m. PST.
Pictures by Barefoot Motors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXAdE6bCrGA
