This company that we’re hearing more and more about was founded in 2015 by three McGill students who became engineers. They focused on the development of electrically powered recreational vehicles.
TAIGA is now listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is worth several million right now. The company has a building in Montreal and will complete the construction of another one in Shawinigan in 2022. The first one will be dedicated to research and development and the other to production.
It is important for them to stay in Quebec. They told me “We have a huge support from the Canadian market, especially from Quebec! They plan to produce around 60,000 electric off-road vehicles and 20,000 powertrains annually by 2025, for an estimated annual revenue of $1.3 billion. TAIGA, which custom designs over 2000 components, has filed several patent applications and has completed over 100,000 hours of testing.
In five years, these engineers were able to increase the range of their snowmobile from 50 km to about 140 km and double the power to 180 hp, which is comparable and even better than some gasoline snowmobiles on the market. They worked on the aspect of battery operation in cold weather and found ways to insulate them to limit the loss of power. According to the manufacturer’s website, these snowmobiles offer instant torque and power, regardless of altitude, temperature or riding style.
Since they have no pulleys or oil, they require little or no maintenance. In addition, they are equipped with a remote update and diagnostic system, which can eliminate the need to go to a service shop since problems can also be corrected remotely.
BATTERY RECHARGE
On a normal plug (120V or Level 1) the recharge of the battery would take 14h and around 4h with the chargers we know for cars (240v or level 2). Moreover, they are compatible with J1772/CCS1 charging systems (this is the standard plug for all electric vehicles except Tesla). In 30 minutes, 80% of the battery would be recharged. The regenerative braking system also regenerates energy.
CHARGING POINTS
TAIGA recently announced that it aims to electrify 75,000 kilometers (off-road) with 1,100 charge points by 2025. As such, they have begun installing chargers and have targeted thousands of new charging locations. This answers the questions that some people had about autonomy during long rides.
By the way, here are the addresses of the new charging sites:
1) Saint-Paulin
3550 Chem. des Trembles, Saint-Paulin, QC J0K 3G0
Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature
2 Level 2 charging stations
2 Level 3 charging stations
2) Saint-Alexis-des-Monts
1000 Chem. du Dom. Pellerin, Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, QC J0K 1V0
So without further ado, I present to you what TAIGA offers in terms of electric snowmobiles:
ATLAS 137 inches model
With a 137″ x 15″ x 1.6″ track, it is a trail snowmobile weighing 634 lbs with a 42.3″ ski gauge and adjustable shocks. It is offered in two versions:
Performance version:
-Engine up to 180 hp;
-0-100 km/h in 2.9 *sec;
-Maximum range of 140 km
Standard version :
-120 hp engine;
-0-100 km/h in 3.7 *sec. ;
-Maximum range of 103 km
*Under ideal conditions
ATLAS
EKKO 154 and 165 inch model
With a track of 154in. X 15in. X 2.5in. or 165in. X 15in. X 2.5in. it is a mountain and off-trail snowmobile weighing 597 lbs with a 37.4 inch ski gauge including a deep snow option in its features. It is offered in two versions:
Performance version:
-Engine up to 180 hp;
-0-100 km/h in 3.3 * sec;
-Maximum range of 131 km
Standard version:
-Engine up to 120 hp;
-0-100 km/h in 4.1 *sec;
-Maximum range of 98 km
*Under ideal conditions
EKKO
NOMAD 154 inch model
With a 154inch studded track. X 16in. X 1.6in. it is a versatile 2-seater snowmobile weighing 607 lbs, capable of pulling between 770 lbs and 1125 lbs, with a ski gauge of 42.3 inches and including active stability management in its features. It is offered in two versions:
Performance version:
-120 hp engine;
– Payload: up to 57.4 kg (126 lbs)
-Towing capacity up to 1125 lbs;
-Maximum range of 134 km
Standard version:
-90 hp engine;
– Payload: up to 57.4 kg (126 lbs)
-Towing capacity up to 770 lbs;
-Maximum range of 100 km.
NOMAD
All three models include an HD display with GPS mapping. In addition, we can adjust our driving parameters, from maximum torque to throttle sensitivity. We can also customize driving modes for different conditions and save them.
The powertrain has a peak power of up to 135 kW (180 hp), 170 Nm of torque from zero to 7,000 rpm and a top speed of 130 km/h at 9,000 rpm. for the Ekko and Atlas. For the Nomad, this is slightly reduced by the utility configuration.
TAIGA announced on December 23 that the first deliveries to its pre-order customers will begin in early 2022. The company is currently working with various regulatory agencies to obtain final approvals. Prices, subject to change, would start at $15,000 USD.
To give you an idea of the power of these snowmobiles, I invite you to watch the videos on the company’s Facebook page and also this link as a Tesla Model S races against the TAIGA ATLAS.
I hope this article has enlightened many of you and answered some questions. Until I get my hands on a TAIGA test machine (I hope so) and can evaluate it, I wish you a good season and a good ride.
Pascal Fortin
Pascal has lived in the beautiful Saguenay-Lac St-Jean region since he was young. He has always loved winter and being outside to enjoy it. He has been a snowmobile enthusiast for over 20 years. He loves to ride and devour many kilometres on the marked trails. His seasonal job in the construction industry allows him to fully enjoy his passion. He loves to admire what Mother Nature has to offer. He is a very sociable team player and loves to talk about snowmobiling. He has already been involved as a volunteer patroller for one of the clubs in his area for a few years. His friends will tell you that he is a real cranky guy who is always ready to go snowmobiling.
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