Polaris has had an electric vehicle in its range since 2010. This is the Polaris Ranger EV. Polaris can therefore be seen as a pioneer in the field of electric driving of UTVs.
In 2023, Polaris introduced the Ranger Kinetic, which is available in two trims, the Premium and the Ultimate. But what is the top speed of these vehicles, and how do they compare to other Rangers?
The top speed of the earlier Polaris Ranger EV was in the 25 mph mark. The 2023 Polaris Ranger Kinetic easily ticks 60 mph. The Ranger Kinetic can go faster, but the electric motor is locked at 60 mph for safety reasons.
This is decent speed for a UTV that is mostly used for work. That is why the top speed will not often be achieved, partly because this costs a lot of power, which is at the expense of the range. The following applies here: the faster you drive, the less far you get. More on this later.
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Ranger EV/Kinetic Top Speed Compared To Other Ranger Models
Curious to see how fast the Ranger EV/Kinetic is compared to other Polaris Ranger models? The table below gives you a quick overview of the different top speeds. Keep in mind that these numbers are averages of the factory specs, as well as several speed tests, found on YouTube.
| Model | Top Speed (mph) |
|---|---|
| Ranger Kinetic | 60 |
| Ranger EV | 25 |
| Ranger 500 | 35.5 |
| Ranger 800 | 40 |
| Ranger 900 | 50 |
| Ranger XP1000 | 60-65 |
| Ranger 150/200 | 15 – 30 |
As you can see, the Ranger Kinetic has an impressive top speed. In addition, it also accelerates to 60 mph in 4 seconds. It is a beast of a machine.
Also read: Polaris UTV Reliability, Check Your Model Here!
Why Is The Speed Limited?
The top speed of a vehicle is mainly determined by the power (kW or hp) that an engine in a vehicle can deliver. Electric motors are generally not inferior to fuel engines in terms of power.
In theory, EVs can therefore reach high top speeds just as easily as cars with a fuel engine. The problem for EVs, however, is that driving at high speed consumes a lot of energy.
Because air resistance is proportional to the square of the speed, driving at top speed requires an enormous amount of energy to overcome the air resistance.
Fuel engines have a large supply of energy in the form of petrol or diesel in the fuel tank. In addition, hardly any heat is released during the transport of the fuel from the tank to the engine.
With an EV, however, the energy supply is limited: a battery contains, relatively speaking, much less energy than a fuel tank. In addition, the battery and the cables from the battery to the electric motor heat up enormously if there is a high demand for energy for a long time.
To prevent a battery from running out quickly or the cables from getting too hot, the top speed of an EV is often limited.
Also read: 7 × Polaris Ranger EV Problems and how to Fix it!
The Relationship Between Speed And Range
If you want to drive faster, there are a few things you can do. You can remove the speed limiter, and you can install new, more powerful electric motors. You probably won’t do this quickly because it will cost you a lot, and you will lose your factory warranty. And you most likely didn’t buy a Polaris Ranger Kinetic to drive it hard.
What is much more important with an electric vehicle is range anxiety; the fear of not arriving at your destination.
Many EV owners are afraid that the battery will run out quickly, so they will not arrive at their destination. The range of a Premium Ranger Kinetic is 45 Miles and of the Ultimate 80 Miles. This is sufficient for everyday use for most owners.
However, if you want to increase the range, there are a number of things you can do. For example, the tire pressure must be correct, and you should not add too many electrical gadgets to your Ranger Kinetic. For more tips on increasing the range, I recommend that you read our article about the Polaris Ranger EV/Kinetic Range & how to increase it!
This article gives you all the information about the range and how to increase it.
