It’s pretty obvious these days that all kinds of transport—like motorcycles, cars and recreational powersports vehicles—are increasingly being powered by electricity. The problem is, many hardened gearheads think a battery-powered motor creates a soulless experience that’s less fun to throttle through the forest than a full-throated gas-burner. But if you look at the numbers, the tide is definitely beginning to turn for off-road electric vehicles and their adoption by riders of all backgrounds.

According to Globenewswire, the market for electric off-road vehicles is prediction to reach $2.23 billion in a little over five years. There is an expected 18.9 percent increase between 2022 and 2028. On a global scale, electric bicycles are estimated to grow from 17.5 billion in 2021 to over 40 billion by 2030.

So, what’s the driving force for this dramatic prediction?

?     Mechanical Benefits and Increased Access

North America has an abundance of public lands, with world-class backcountry for all sorts of adventurers. But getting there can be a challenge, often requiring vehicles with high clearance and lots of traction to access the more remote areas via forest roads and rugged trails. Of course, that access has to be balanced against the political and environmental impact of those off-road vehicles.

And this is where EVs shine.

Electric off-road vehicles can crawl through even the most challenging terrain quietly and efficiently. Torquey electric motors are generally very useful at lower speeds and can get you to hard-to-reach places without scaring wildlife, irritating neighbors or pumping toxic emissions into the immediate environment.

Aside from reduced emissions, electric vehicles have fewer fluids in them by type and volume. The drivetrain of an internal combustion engine (ICE) can have thousands of moving parts, whereas an EV may only contain dozens. This can greatly reduce the long-term ownership costs in maintenance and supplies, while increasing reliability.

Also, when the heavy battery pack and motor are mounted low on a vehicle, the center of gravity is closer to the axles, creating better handling dynamics.

And as electric off-road vehicle benefits become more popular, the list of major manufacturers offering options to the outdoor enthusiast continues to build. The wide field of manufacturers is not only exciting in terms of fostering innovation, but also price competition.

?     Who’s Making Them?

Nearly all car manufacturers are now producing an EV of some kind to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. Companies such as Polaris and Can-Am are a couple of the big names that are getting into the game with all-electrics models of their most popular designs. Electric adventure motorcycle offerings from Zero and Can-Am also show some promise.

But a host of innovative startups are pushing the envelope in this space. One of the USA based companies worth checking out is Volcon.

Based in Texas with a production facility in Mexico, Volcon aims to bring production of their electric off-road vehicles back over the border as they expand their client base and build the brand.

The company has deep roots in the off-road world, with founders Christian Okonsky and Adrian James both cutting their teeth in the dirt bike racing world at a young age. Each has years of experience in the EV technology space as well, so in 2020 they forged Volcon, an EV startup in the e-Powersports market. Volcon has also been available on the stock market (VLCN) since October 2021.

Okonsky started the Austin based low-speed electric vehicle company Ayro. Volcon co-founder Adrian James held an advisory position at Ayro, and the pair soon realized they had a shared passion for the big outdoors and the environment.

At the time, a handful of companies produced EV products for on-road vehicles but not for the off-road enthusiast. So Volcon’s first product was an electric off-road motorcycle, followed by a high-performance UTV, the Stag.

The Stag was developed with the help of Eric Kozin of Kozin Motorsports and the founder of Armageddon Performance Products, which gave the UTV real off-road chops. Volcon has since expanded into all terrain e-bikes as well.

• What Does Volcon Offer?

Volcon‘s mission is to build the best off-road vehicles—but using electric powertrains. The advantages of electric motors are incredible power and torque that’s delivered instantly, quiet operation, reduced emissions and mechanical simplicity.

Their vehicles provide viable alternatives to powersports enthusiasts, and Volcon believes that more of these people will adopt electric power quickly. Currently, Volcon offers the Grunt, Runt, Brat, and Stag. The Grunt is a user-friendly electric motorcycle with chunky tires and a powerful motor—perfect for outdoor adventures. The Runt is the Grunt‘s little brother and focuses on safety and fun for kids, allowing families to ride off-road together. We 100 percent support fun vehicles kids can learn on which aren’t heavy or get hot while still being able to have riding fun with mom or dad.

Volcon‘s foray into the e-bike world comes in the shape of the Grunt. This super-cool e-bike looks like a modern take on a vintage motorcycle, but its versatility means it’s rugged enough for off-road adventures and agile enough for urban riding.

The Stag is Volcon‘s high-performance, off-road UTV. This incredible all-wheel-drive machine can be configured in several ways to carry people, cargo and all the gear you need for a day in the wilderness. The U.S. Army has ordered two Stags to be delivered in mid-2023 which are fully enclosed and tailored to help the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) in disaster and emergency response missions.

While their vehicles can do some work, it’s clear having fun is a priority for Volcon. Even though its vehicles are powered by electricity, the most hardened gas-powered fanatic can’t deny the fun electric motors provide.

With electric off-road vehicles coming from companies like Volcon, Zero, Can-Am and many other major manufacturers, we can be confident our electric vehicle future won’t be filled with boring rides. As operating ranges improve with battery technology advancements, we’re more likely to see off-road wander EVs further away from home every year.

Luckily, we don’t have to wait long—they are ready for us now and only look to get better in the near future.