Summer is the off-roading season. Now that summer has finally arrived, it’s time to pull out the sleeveless shirts and get ready to get muddy. For our friends who are more elevated, you can save your, “but I drive an electric car” excuse. It’s the summer of 2022; it’s time to take your EV off-roading. 

Time to take your EV off-road

Gas prices should give you all the incentive you need this summer to take your EV out in the woods. Electric pickup trucks are still slow to hit the market. As of now, the Rivian R1T is the first and only electric pickup truck on the market. However, that won’t last long. Ford has the F-150 Lightning, Chevy has the Silverado EV, and Canoo’s modular EV has a pickup version. These are only a few of what is sure to be an electric pickup truck onslaught in the coming years.

EVs have come a long way. Gone are the days of 80-mile range, and now it’s not unusual to see an EV claim over 300 miles. Hell, most of our petrol mud trucks can’t hardly get half of that out of a tank of gas. With that, here are three reasons why it’s time to take your EV off-road. 

Range

Gear Patrol points out that the days of range anxiety are coming to an end. As I mentioned earlier, battery technology is advancing quickly, and with it, so are range distances. 250 miles of range is all but industry standard at this point. Some electric SUVs have an even greater range still. Take the 2022 Rivian R1T, for instance. That truck is rated to get 314 miles from a single charge. However, after a recent study, the off-road range of the R1T is probably something closer to 270 miles. 

Although range is quickly growing across the segment, it is important to remember that range estimates are based on the best-case scenario. This means how your driving, road condition, weather, and more can easily affect these estimates. Off-roading is, by definition, poor driving conditions, often requiring more power for much shorter distances. Always make sure to map out your ride before taking an EV in the woods. 

Performance

EVs are performance monsters. Because of the instant torque, EVs can be faster’n greased lighting on the road and have all that twisty torque needed to brute force your way through some trails. 

Linear power delivery is the key to a strong off-road truck. That just so happens to be the things EVs do best. However, a close second is EV’s multi-motor systems that can make AWD or 4×4 drivelines smarter and more effective. In some cases, EVs have a motor for each wheel. This allows for very precise and dedicated power for each wheel. 

There also tends to be more ground clearance for electric pickup trucks and SUVs due to the lack of a bulky engine and transmission. Gear Patrol sums the point up nicely; “EVs are just as capable off-road as ICE vehicles are, and they do it without making (much) noise at all.” 

Storage space 

Like with ground clearance, EVs can offer far more storage room than internal combustion-engined cars because of the lack of major parts like engines and transmissions. For one, EVs get the frunk and the trunk. That’s just a net positive. But smaller things like lower storage compartments and more headroom are available because EVs can have a lower, flatter floor. 

EVs were made for the wilderness

Aside from the current lack of remote charging – a problem Rivian is working on – EVs are the perfect vehicle to take off-road. There are fewer emissions and less chance of harmful fluid leaks; they are quieter and often offer more torque than their ICE brethren. So, don’t put it off any longer. Gas prices are stupid, the world is heating up, and we ain’t getting any younger. Take that EV off-road this summer. You (probably) won’t regret it.