(AEV) TAIGA - PERFECTING THE EV ADRENALINE RUSH

Taiga is a forward-thinking Canadian company looking to change the off-road powersports industry by finding a quieter, cleaner, and simpler way of connecting people to nature. We shouldn't have to sacrifice the environment for an adrenaline rush and some excitement. Its mission is to create EVs that transform how people access the outdoors.

Taiga is the first company to offer commercial all-electric jet skis and snowmobiles. They currently have four models on sale, three snowmobiles and one jet ski: Ekko, Atlas, Nomad, and Orca.

I'll start with the snowmobile series, but first of all, let's address the impact snowmobiles have on the environment so we can properly understand Taiga's motivation for going electric. Scientific evidence indicates that over-snow vehicles (OSVs) significantly impact entire ecosystems. Their powerful noises are heard along vast distances and disturb wildlife. The toxin released through the exhaust affects air quality and accumulates in the snow, which is then released during snowmelt.

Jet skis also heavily pollute the environment by dumping excessive fuel in the water. Personal watercraft use is considered one of the worst activities to impact the environment, especially since so many used to run on two-stroke engines that use gas and oil. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Luckily, humans are best at innovation, and the people at Taiga have come up with solutions that can mediate this issue. Ekko, Atlas, and Nomad are the three snowmobile models, each made to be used in different ways. All three have a direct drive system with a toothed belt for maximal performance. A major plus is that the Taiga snowmobile models require minimum maintenance, making it easier to get into the sport.

Both snowmobiles and the jet ski have two versions – Standard (or Sport for the Orca) and Performance. Interestingly, all of Taiga's products have the same price. The price tag for Standard (or Sport) is $17,490, with a $2,000 increase for the Performance model. Read more about each of the three at autoevolution - link - Mircea Mazuru - link - more like this (electric recreation) - link - more like this (Canada) - link

(INS) BEN O'HARE TESTS THE TAIGA ORCA

Jet skis can be exhilarating. There’s definitely something special about blasting across the water at 50 miles per hour on a hot summer’s day with the sun shining down and wind in your hair.

However, personal watercraft (PWC) also can burn through an insane amount of fuel. Hence they can cost a small fortune to run and, like all other gas-powered vehicles, are detrimental to the environment.

An electric jet ski, therefore, makes a lot of sense – with low running costs and limited environmental damage you immediately lose the two major drawbacks of traditionally powered PWC. Yes, jet skis are ultimately toys and unnecessary for day-to-day travel, but if you are buying one, the Orca is by far the most sustainable way to go.

Meet the Taiga Orca, the world’s first all-electric jet ski. Taiga Motors, founded in 2015, is a Canadian firm aiming to electrify the powersports industry. As well as the Orca jet ski, the firm also produces the Nomad electric snowmobile.

I traveled to Burlington, Vermont to test a Founders Edition Orca on the beautiful Lake Champlain. The 490 square-mile Lake Champlain stretches between the US and Canada. When I rode the Orca, the weather was not on my side and I had to combat strong chop and rough winds - however, I think this only added to the fun.

The Orca was first unveiled back in 2019. The final production version is just as sleek as the first prototype and has a wide array of colors to choose from.

The Orca is powered by a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, which is roughly the same size as the first-gen Nissan Leaf’s pack. However, while the 2010 Leaf’s battery weighs 496 pounds, the entire Taiga Orca comes in at just 738.5 lbs. The Orca keeps its weight down thanks to a carbon fiber composite hull. However, it’s still rather heavy compared to gasoline jet skis, which typically weigh in the region of 500-700 lbs. Still, not bad for an EV.

Three versions of the Orca are currently available. The entry-level version is the 90 horsepower Orca Sport. A Performance version of the Orca with more color options produces 160 hp. The Carbon trim sits at the top of the Orca lineup and offers the same power as the Performance but has sportier looks and weighs less. The Founders Edition I rode is sold out.

The majority of ICE jet skis make between 100-150 hp, meaning the Orca Sport and Carbon are among the most powerful jet skis on the market. As a result of this power, they can tow wakeboarders and tubers. Insideevs - link - Ben O'Hare - link - more like this (Canada) - link - more like this (electric boats) - link