Commander Concept Vehicle Looks Ready To Ship
At its innovation festival and dealer convention in the heart of Montreal Canada, BRP knocked our socks off with the introduction of a late stage Electric powered Commander prototype.
When we say late stage, we mean we could have literally driven this side-x-side home – Well at least for 160 miles before stopping for a charge.
Yup, the whisper-quiet Commander ElectricÂ’s lithium ion battery pack caries a charge for 160 miles before youÂ’d need to plug it in and the charge is full in two hours European and 4 hours North American.
Further to this, apart from an earthy-looking exterior, the Electric Commander is the exact same as the gas-powered 800 and 1000cc monsters released last season. It’s also jammed with useful goodies like 4-wheel drive, individual locking front and rear diffs and there’s even a turf mode so you wouldnÂ’t rip up your grass.
Lithium ion has its advantages over a lead-acid battery powered side-x-side. Charge power doesn’t fade with lithium ion, nor does the power weaken as it nears the end of its charge.
Another advantage for those of us living in cold-weather climates is that LI batteries aren’t damaged by the cold like a lead-acid battery. You may experience less power, but your vehicle will remain operational when you need it to plow your driveway.
Further to this, the life expectancy of a lithium ion battery is ten years. This means that you won’t have to shell out to replace 14 lead-acid cell batteries after several years due to faded capacity.
One issue that immediately stands out to us is the price tag. Lithium ion batteries would bump up the sticker price significantly on an already likely-higher-than-average unit.
Though there is a market for a high-end electric vehicle on a global scale, we suspect that when this unit finally does make it to market, a more economical lead-acid battery version will accompany it to offer buyer’s a choice similar to an 800 or 1000 Commander.
