The snowmobile world has completely changed during the last years. The setting up of environmental standards on noise level, on air quality, on wildlife protection, etc… had the effect to bring on the market some snowmobiles with greener technologies that leave fewer ecological footprint.
The manufacturers have equipped the sleds with much cleaner engines that consumes less fuel, less noisy and rides more discreetly in our countryside and forests. The evolution towards an even greener snowmobile is a trend embraced by all the manufacturers and in the next years, the old noisy and smoky machines will completely disappear from our winter landscapes.
The environmental standards EAP 2012 (Environmental Protection Agency) imposed by the American’s, encourage the manufacturers to market cleaner snowmobiles in terms of consumption and gas emissions in the air. Already some manufacturers offer snowmobiles that are cleaner than these standards known since 2008 and effective in 2012.
The introduction of 4-stroke engines and new technologies applied to 2-stroke engines made it possible to redesign snowmobiles that are compatible with the goals of a sustainable environment, the respect of people and wildlife. The direct fuel injection systems that replaced the carburators are features that help to reach these standards. In some cases, the new technologies increased the price but the results on air quality and fuel consumption are worth it. The manufacturer manual gives the follow-up and maintenance required to optimize the cleanliness of these new generations of engine. Some snowmobiles, already on the market, have lower fuel consumption than the most economical small car on the market. So, concerning the emissions in the air, thanks to these technologies, we can say that some snowmobiles are even greener.
Concerning the noise level, the greener snowmobile goes by as discreet as a small car. The manufacturers have greatly improved the snowmobile noise level. There again, things are in fast evolution. This is a major element that constitutes the object of most of the complaints expressed by the trail neighbours and the wildlife watchers.
The new range of products also allows the consumer to be able to get high-tech snowmobiles that are more reliable, ergonomic, and safer that will not only give them pleasure on the trails but also will help them discover remote and unknown sites of our beautiful province. To be able to ride with complete confidence to reach your log cabin without disturbing the neighbourhood or the wildlife habitats is an evolution towards a greener mode of transportation. It is also a way to get around and leave a minimum ecological footprint; this is harmony or fusion with nature.
The undeniable cleaner machines will make us forget the time when snowmobile gear stinked the gas and oil fumes coming from incomplete fuel burning, without forgetting also what the lungs were exposed to. This unquestionable cleanliness and the remarkable decrease of the noise level are positive elements for everybody. There are fewer arguments in the hands of those who are pleased to denigrate, sometimes unjustly or exorbitantly, the snowmobile.
We can only wish for the setting up of an incentive program to help the definite withdrawal of the old machines that do not meet these standards. An increased self-discipline by the users in order to eliminate the behaviours that can be harmful to people, to animals and to properties, those goals should guide the next public service campaigns. There will always be delinquent people, but they will be ever more on the margins of society and not tolerated by their peers who adopt ever more acceptable and responsible eco-friendly behaviours.
The extreme «ecofreaks» will have nothing else to say and will have to find another cause; the harmony with land owners and wildlife will be back for good!
