As cars, motorcycles and bicycles plug into the electric trend, it’s only a matter of time before the powersports realm gets charged up too. Detroit’s Livaq is zooming ahead in this electrifying race with the Equad, an all-electric ATV.
Powered by a modular battery, Livaq claims that the Equad can cover up to 170 miles (274 km) on a single charge. With the help of a pair of hub-mounted 21 hp (16 kW/28 PS) motors, it can achieve a rather impressive for some or alarming for others, top speed of 67 mph (108 km/h).
To keep it composed over the road or the trail, Livaq has equipped the Equad with a four-link rear suspension, and an independent front suspension. Hydraulic brakes help it shed some of that speed when a tree approaches.
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Company founder and CEO, David Medina, says he first had the idea for the Equad in 2016, but admits that he “couldn’t find anybody crazy enough to write a check to a 17-year-old.” But he couldn’t let it go, and now, the goal of the project isn’t just to electrify ATVs, it’s to decarbonize them as much as possible.
This means that the Equad has been engineered to be as reliable as possible. Its batteries are capable of more than 3,000 performance cycles, can be charged wirelessly, and are encased in waterproof stainless steel for durability against wear, tear, and other potential hazards. Additionally, if the need arises, the modular batteries are straightforward to replace.
In addition, the ATV uses recycled materials to make it greener. The company doesn’t just use whatever left over in a dumpster, though. It uses repurposed carbon fiber to make the body panels, which Medina describes as sharp, striking, and leonine.
“We wanted our vehicles to capture the raw essence of the wild while seamlessly weaving in contemporary design elements,” says Medina. “Taking cues from the relentless mountain lion, we sought to mirror its distinctive balance of strength, poised stance, muscular silhouette, and its agility in diverse terrains.”
Unfortunately, that all comes at a cost. The Livaq Equad is now available to pre-order at a price of $28,600. However, a 30 percent discount is available until March.