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 274 km on a single charge. With the help of a pair of hub-mounted 21 hp motors, it can achieve a rather impressive for some or alarming for others, top speed of 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. 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.
Unfortunately, that all comes at a cost.
The Livaq Equad is now available to pre-order at a price of US$ 28,600. However, a
30 percent discount is available until March.
