Montreal-based Taiga Motors Corporation recently announced that it had produced its first consumer-ready electric snowmobile. The company sees a growing opportunity to provide ski resorts and similar recreational businesses with a more sustainable option for their logistics, safety, and medical personnel. According to a Taiga release, the company estimates that transitioning 50 snowmobiles from gas to electric power could have the equivalent air quality impact of removing 2,000 cars from the consumer fleet for one year.
In addition to the environmental benefits, Taiga touts a number of engineering advancements related to production and product development that are represented by the new sleds. This includes enhanced battery performance, an upgraded chassis design with improved power-to-weight ratios, advanced propulsion capabilities, and expanded thermal capabilities.
The company is leveraging these developments, as well as a pandemic-fueled surge in personal recreation vehicles, to ramp up production at their 130,000 square-foot facility in Montreal. Taiga has also begun installing off-road charging stations on snowmobile trails through forests in the Mauricie and Lanaudière regions of Québec.
The next steps include working with governing agencies on final regulatory approvals in order to start initial deliveries in early 2022. The company has received over 100 pre-orders for its electronic snowmobile and personal watercraft products.
