Snowmobiles are an effective means of moving across the snow and ice, but for many tasks they're … well, they're more of a vehicle than you need. The Snowdog is a simpler alternative, and it's now available in an electric model known as the SnowdogX.
In a nutshell, the Snowdog is a motorized set of rubber snowmobile-like tracks with handlebars in the back. The operator is located directly behind it, wearing a pair of skis, or standing on a towed sliding platform such as a sled.
As compared to a snowmobile, a Snowdog is smaller, lighter, and more fuel efficient. It's also less scary, as it has a considerably lower (and many people would say more reasonable) top speed.
That said, the standard internal-combustion-engine version of the Snowdog is old news, as it's been in production for the past 10 years. It's also not ideal for ecologically-sensitive areas, as its engine isn't exactly whisper-quiet or emissions-free. That brings us to the SnowdogX.
It's driven by a 4-kW electric motor (maximum power: 9 kW) that delivers 170 Nm (125 lb ft) of torque, taking it up to a top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h). That motor is powered by a 58-Ah lithium-ion battery. According to Canadian Snowdog dealership Recreation Revolution, one 2.5-hour charge should be good for approximately an hour of runtime. However …
The SnowdogX also comes standard with an onboard 2.8-kW gas-powered generator. It can be used to charge the battery while simultaneously running the motor, bringing the vehicle's total combined gas/electric runtime up to three hours. Additionally, popping in an optional second battery doubles the all-electric runtime.
The whole rig is claimed to tip the scales at 350.5 lb (159 kg), as compared to about 500 or 600 lb (227 or 272 kg) for a snowmobile. It's available now via the Snowdog website, priced at US$7,499. Although some entry-level snowmobiles can be had for approximately that amount, most mid-range models come in more around $14,000.
We recently had the chance to see (and hear) the SnowdogX for ourselves, as one is currently being used by the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance as part of a fatbike-trail-grooming pilot project. Check it out in the following video.
Source: Snowdog
