Electric Polaris Ranger

[Xfaxman]

The long ball mount (to clear the handles) for my dump cart.


It pivots on the pin for off road use.


About thirty years ago I modified the tongue to make removable by pulling on the rod at the coupler and lifting the tongue up off of the axle.


Now you use it like a wheelbarrow.

 

[5030]

For the money, I'd have bought an EZ-GO Golf Cart, but bigger tires on it and called it good. You won't find one at my farm (Polaris). To quirky.

 

[Xfaxman]

For the money, I'd have bought an EZ-GO Golf Cart, but bigger tires on it and called it good. You won't find one at my farm (Polaris). To quirky.

I considered that because I didn't like starting our diesel UTV to go the mile round trip to the mailbox or open the gate.

There is no way a 2WD lifted golf cart will go and do where I go and do with the 30 horsepower 4WD Ranger EV. And no hard start and warm up time in cold weather, just turn the switch and go! :thumbsup:

The only downside is the battery maintenance. :thumbdown:

 

[t320pilot]

Xfaxman, How many hrs do you have on your EV? I bought a new one 4 years ago and have 650 hrs so far with the original batteries. Only thing is, the range is nowhere near what Polaris claims. I wish it would go the 50 miles they claimed it would. Ten miles is pushing it on a good day in 1 wheel drive. I do like the QUIET though.

 

[Xfaxman]

Xfaxman, How many hrs do you have on your EV? I bought a new one 4 years ago and have 650 hrs so far with the original batteries. Only thing is, the range is nowhere near what Polaris claims. I wish it would go the 50 miles they claimed it would. Ten miles is pushing it on a good day in 1 wheel drive. I do like the QUIET though.

99 hours, in a year and three months. Yep the range is not even close to 50 miles, but it is good enough for what we use it for. With no odometer it is hard to tell how far it is driven doing work around our 80 acres.

Sometimes it gets to ride to the worksite so I can drive it back to the shed and get the dumper.


Some guys say to leave it plugged in when not using it, but I haven't done that yet. I might try plugging it in every night, now that the batteries have been cycled for over a year.

 

[davrow]

I just have trouble believing a 36v system can provide enough electric power. Does it really have enough torque to climb even moderate hills? I wish they'd made it a 72v system.

 

[davrow]

Sorry to make it too posts - I tried to edit my previous post (meant "can provide" not "cannot provide") but editing isn't working for me. There is no 'save' option any more.

Is editing still working for others?

 

[aczlan]

Sorry to make it too posts - I tried to edit my previous post (meant "can provide" not "cannot provide") but editing isn't working for me. There is no 'save' option any more.
Is editing still working for others?

Its working for me (I fixed it for you). You should be able to edit your posts for 24 hours after you post them.

Aaron Z

 

[Xfaxman]

I just have trouble believing a 36v system can provide enough electric power. Does it really have enough torque to climb even moderate hills? I wish they'd made it a 72v system.

If you are talking about the Ranger EV, it is a 48V system with a 30 horsepower three phase AC induction motor.

It has more than enough torque from the 650 Amp Sevcon Gen IV controller to spin all 4 tires if chained to a tree!

P.S. Edit worked earlier today for me in another thread.

 

[davrow]

... it is a 48V system with a 30 horsepower three phase AC induction motor. P.S. Edit worked earlier today for me in another thread.

48V is better, don't know where I got the 36. No memory left, sigh.

I think the edit issue is with my computer, Win8.1 and IE. Still not working here.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Does this unit use one large battery or is it using 4 separate deep cycle 12v batteries wired in series?

 

[Xfaxman]

Does this unit use one large battery or is it using 4 separate deep cycle 12v batteries wired in series?

It has 8, under the seat, wired with 4 in series, in parallel with the other 4 in series. The 650 Amp Sevcon controller is between the two banks of 4 batteries.

The 30 hp Three Phase AC motor is above the axle.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Wow I'm surprised 8 batteries can't get you further than that, the quietness and lack of smell would be awesome. It will be interesting to see how the technology progresses.

 

[Xfaxman]

Wow I'm surprised 8 batteries can't get you further than that, the quietness and lack of smell would be awesome. It will be interesting to see how the technology progresses.

Yep, range depends on the terrain and how fast you go. It has a three position switch, Low is max torque and 10 MPH, Max is best battery life and 15 MPH, High is 100% power and 25 MPH.

Battery life has never been an issue for the way we use it.

Here is a company doing a conversion to Lithium-Ion batteries: Green Power Lithium Ion Batteries | Batteries for EVs | Photovoltaic Power | BMS | Electric Buses | Solar Power for Industry

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is another conversion company.

Voltronix USA offers a Lithium Ion battery replacement kit for the Polaris Ranger EV. Call today for details! 866-777-2329
voltronixusa.com

 

[Xfaxman]

Dump trailer full of small pieces of dead wood.

Left the tailgate in, pulled the dump latch, backed up.

Backed up some more, max dump angle!

Pulled forward some, gravity is working on the load.

Pulled forward, straight up.

Pulled forward some more, it is empty. :thumbsup:

Latched down, ready for another load.

 

[sawtooth]

I just have trouble believing a 36v system can provide enough electric power. Does it really have enough torque to climb even moderate hills? I wish they'd made it a 72v system.

Not sure the voltage but I can tell you it has 8 12 volt batteries and in the "Low" setting which equates to the high torque setting you will not stop the tires. I have yet to have them stop. Will only run 12-14 mph but its a tank in the high torque setting. We just went up a very steep bank two days ago that would blow your mind. This machine is a beast. We did switch to a more aggressive tire though which greatly improved the performance.

 

[sawtooth]

You sure do have some toys :shocked:


Congrats. Cool machine.

Hello Xfaxman,

You probably have done this already as I've seen you on the forums alot but did you change the charger algorithm to 11? If so does the charger still get very hot? I just changed both of our units but haven't looked into this yet?

 

[Xfaxman]

Hello Xfaxman,

You probably have done this already as I've seen you on the forums alot but did you change the charger algorithm to 11? If so does the charger still get very hot? I just changed both of our units but haven't looked into this yet?

Yep, changed to 11, but it still boiled the water out, but not as bad, so recently changed to 71, since not in a hurry to recharge. The batteries are dry on top now after charging.

Due to the cold weather I didn't even think about checking for a hot charger. Last summer I would sometimes forget to open the hood when charging, so I removed the cord from the dashboard connector. Now I have to open the hood to plug in the charger.

I will have to check to see if it gets hot on 71.

 

[Xfaxman]

Just realized I never posted the side slope ability of the EV here in this thread, it has been posted many times elsewhere, so for those that haven't seen it, here it is.

This is what 30 degrees of body lean looks like on the back of the dam, a 26.6 degree slope, 50% slope or 2:1 slope.

The hanging tow rope shows true straight up vertical.