Urban Transport

Electric ATV makes for stealthy search and rescue operations

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The Stealth electric ATV has been developed for search and rescue personnel
DRR USA
The Stealth electric ATV has been developed for search and rescue personnel
DRR USA
The Stealth electric ATV rides on AT25x8-12 front tires and AT25x10-12 rear tires, and has 12 inches of ground clearance with fully enclosed footwells
DRR USA
The Stealth E-ATV's digital dash shows remaining battery life, plus an odometer and speedo
DRR USA
The Stealth E-ATV's adjustable dual a-arm suspension helps smooth out the bumps
DRR USA
The Stealth E-ATV's front racks can carry up to 125 lb of gear, while the racks at the back can haul up to 240 lb
DRR USA
Range per charge for the Stealth E-ATV is reported to be 35 miles, but riders can carry an optional second battery to extend that
DRR USA
The Stealth E-ATV's 4 kW motor can get the E-ATV up to a top speed of 35 mph
DRR USA
DRR USA is raising Stealth E-ATV production funds on Kickstarter
DRR USA
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DRR USA out of Brunswick, Ohio, has been making gas-powered all-terrain vehicles for almost two decades, and is now moving into a new clean and quiet production zone with the launch of the Stealth Electric ATV.

DRR says that a standard ATV can release more than 20 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere from a single tank of gas, while registering up to 80 on a decibel meter. The Stealth E-ATV quadbike is eco-friendly and lives up to its Stealth moniker. It's been developed for search and rescue personnel, ecologists and environmentalists, but is designed so that any rider can quietly enjoy all-terrain adventures.

"I was watching a news clip about the search for a lost child;the vehicles were so loud," said DRR's Kim DeCuzzi. "With UTVs and ATVs and trucks – I thought – can anyone even hear a cry for help? There has to be a better way to do this."

The Stealth electric ATV rides on AT25x8-12 front tires and AT25x10-12 rear tires, and has 12 inches of ground clearance with fully enclosed footwells
DRR USA

Currently at the prototype stage, the Stealth E-ATV can travel up to 35 miles (56 km) at full tilt before its swap-out battery pack needs some juice, but the company reckons that riders could get a full 8 hour working day on a single charge if the vehicle is used intermittently.

That per charge range may fall well short of some others in the electric ATV space, such as Canada's Daymak, but riders can carry along additional (optional) battery packs to extend the range.

The Stealth's 4 kW motor can get the E-ATV up to a top speed of 35 mph (56 km/h), and its 72 volt, 4 kWh Li-ion battery unit takes 6 hours to recharge when plugged into any three-prong outlet.

The Stealth E-ATV's 4 kW motor can get the E-ATV up to a top speed of 35 mph
DRR USA

Adjustable dual a-arm suspension helps smooth out the bumps, the Stealth rides on AT25x8-12 front tires and AT25x10-12 rear tires, and has 12 inches of ground clearance with fully enclosed footwells. Four disc brakes provide stopping power.

A digital dashboard shows remaining battery life, plus an odometer and speedo, daytime running lights complement the four front light setup, and turn indicators are in development. Front racks can carry up to 125 lb (57 kg) of gear, while the racks at the back can haul up to 240 lb (109 kg).

DRR USA has launched on Kickstarter to fund production, where pledges start at US$7,500, including off-road helmet and goggles. If all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to start in July. The video below has more.

Sources: DRR USA, Kickstarter

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4 comments
Wolf0579
I suggest that you don't want your SAR vehicles to be silent. If an incapacitated victim can hear the vehicle they have a fighting chance to be heard by the occupants of the vehicle. Quieter, but not silent, would get my vote.
zr2s10
Seems like a decent range, but without 4x4, it's not going to sell very well. I believe Polaris offers (or did at one point) and electric ATV or UTV.
Username
I find it odd that the speed and the range are an exact match. One of the two numbers is probably an error.
guzmanchinky
Nah, you want silent vehicles. You can always honk a horn every 10 feet to get the person's attention.