Electrification is a juggernaut in the vehicular landscape, looming large in almost every type of transportation. Even snowmobiles. Let’s take a look at the Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric snowmobile, which has everyone’s attention.

A Look at Ski-Doo’s New Grand Touring Electric Snowmobile Motor, Battery, and Charging

Ski-Doo, maker of snowmobiles since 1959, says that the 2024 Grand Touring Electric is the first of several electric snowmobiles. For now, it will only be available as a commercial vehicle. More on that in a moment. Proprietary Rotax e-Power technology powers the sled on the REV Gen5 platform. Integrated lithium-ion batteries provide power and charging is handled via an onboard Level 2 charger. It uses the familiar J1772 type 1 connector. Ski-Doo says that charging time to take the battery from 10- to 80-percent is 1.5 hours. Three hours is the magic number to charge the battery from 0- to 100-percent.

Grand Touring Electric Snowmobile Tech and Features

The Grand Touring Electric’s transmission is a clutchless direct-drive with chaincase and the power is put to the snow via a high-efficiency track. The front RAS X suspension has 8.9-inches of travel. Out back is a revised SC-5 suspension with 9.8-inches of travel. The Grand Touring is a two-passenger machine, and it has handy features like an ultra-high windshield and dual mirrors. It also boasts a 10.25-inch touchscreen, LED lighting, and reverse. Dry weight of the Grand Touring Electric is 539-pounds.

Part of Ski-Doo’s Electrification Plan

It’s important to mention that the Grand Touring Electric is part of Ski-Doo’s larger electrification plan. You see, Ski-Doo’s parent company, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), says that it plans to offer electric models in all its product lines by 2026. That’s a relatively quick timeframe, so prepare for a volley of cool electrified stuff from BRP.

How You Can Ride a Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric

As noted earlier, the new Grand Touring electric snowmobile is a commercial application only. This means it is designed to meet the needs of commercial guided tour operations. In this case, exclusively for Uncharted Society Experience centers. These centers are a network of BRP certified outfitters that offer powersport experiences. Ski-Doo says that the features, power, and range of the Grand Touring Electric are optimized for guided snowmobile excursions up to 31 miles. The Grand Touring Electric was specifically designed to minimize the cost of ownership for the tour operators. Additionally, tour operators can offer a zero-emission experience and have access to eco-sensitive environments.

The Bottom Line

The Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric snowmobile is a game changer, worthy of attention. It offers a non-ICE experience and benefits while still offering the innate fun of snowmobiling. The machine fuels excitement as we look forward to Ski-Doo’s rollout of more electrified snowmobiles.