Five Reasons Electric Off-Roaders Are Superior

Electric vehicles are the future, on and off of the road 

The automotive world is transitioning to an all-electric future slowly but surely, and not just for the benefits in fuel economy. High-performance brands are developing some of the best electric cars purposed for outright capability and enjoyment by virtue of what an electric motor can offer. More mainstream automakers have jumped on the bandwagon too, covering just about every performance and size classification. Manufacturers are now working on applying the advantages of electron power to off-road-purposed sport-utility vehicles. While an electric drivetrain and off-road prowess don’t seem like they go hand in hand, you’ll be surprised by just how much more capable electric vehicles are at just about everything.

Design Simplicity

The drivetrains in electric vehicles are definitely complex and newfangled, but they still have a lot less components than even just the engine in regular cars. EVs and some crossover cars like the Audi e-tron SUV come equipped with an electric motor on both the front and rear axles so they don’t have to be coupled together. Thanks to the advantage of instant torque at the wheels, there is no need for a low range gearbox, and, with a single-speed automatic transmission being the typically used transmission, the driver doesn’t have to worry about gear ratios. With fewer components than a regular 4X4 vehicle, electric 4X4s and  are far less prone to breaking as there are fewer moving parts and less wear and tear. 

Advanced Capability

Because electric vehicles are so advanced by nature, they come installed with a bunch of sweet features and functionalities, as seen in examples of electric cars from Audi. Some advanced software allows drivers the ability to manage the drivetrain in particular ways and lets them play around with each of the wheels separately.  For example, if the driver wanted, he/she could forward 100% of the drivetrain’s power or traction to a single wheel, something that could be really handy in a sticky situation. Another benefit of an electric drivetrain is that it doesn’t suffer from altitude sickness – as a car with an internal combustion engine gets to a higher altitude, the engine will, over time, become more sluggish and inefficient because of the decrease in oxygen at the elevated height. 

Improved Safety

Electric powertrains are really heavy and the battery packs in the larger-size EVs are typically located beneath the front and rear seats in a balanced spread. This means that EVs benefit from a lower center of gravity in comparison to regular gasoline-run cars, which makes them far less susceptible to rolling over. This is a major confidence booster for those concerned with safety, on and off of the road. 

Improved Reliability

Because of all the electrical components within the drivetrain of electric vehicles, they have to be extremely well insulated from all the elements. This, along with the fact that they don’t have combustion engines, means that they have surprisingly good water fording capabilities – a major benefit when wading through rivers or mud pits. Electric vehicles are also built with a lot of anti-corrosive materials and receive a lot of anti-corrosive treatments for protection against the elements and preserving the lithium-ion batteries. Hence, EV’s offer long-lasting reliability, and parts won’t have to be maintained or replaced all too often. 

Disadvantages

As with anything in life, there are some disadvantages to off-roading in an EV SUV to take into consideration: 

• Limited Selection: With EV technology still being relatively new, and considering that all-electric off-road SUVs haven’t exactly been perfected yet, the range of offerings is, at current, still very limited. 
• Limited Battery Life: EV batteries don’t last very long at present, which means there’s the chance of your off-roading trip not lasting very long or being cut short due the car’s battery running low. 
• Limited Charging Network: Being that most off-roading takes place out of the city and off-the-beaten-path, it’s likely that there’ll be no charging stations nearby, which doesn’t do those with range anxiety any favors.
• Limited Aftermarket Support: Because EVs are still relatively new, not many private or corporate mechanics and service centers have the right tools and knowledge to repair or maintain them. 

While many may be worried about what the EV revolution may lead to in terms of the enjoyment and emotion of cars, it’s clear that the transition may actually maintain those qualities and even lead to better things.