Polaris goes electric with Zero Motorcycles

A partnership between Polaris and Zero Motorcycles will produce a range of electric vehicles including ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles.

The ten-year agreement will see Zero use its class-leading electric motorcycle technology and powertrains, to assist Polaris in offering an electric vehicle (EV) option within each of its core product segments by 2025.

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Minnesota-based Polaris hopes to position itself as the powersports EV leader by 2025, spurred on by its rEV’d up electrification strategy. The first vehicle from the Zero-Polaris partnership is expected to debut by the end of 2021.

“Thanks to advancements in power, pricing and performance, now is the right time for Polaris to implement our rEV’d up initiative and aggressively accelerate our position in powersports electrification,” said Scott Wine, chairman and CEO of Polaris. “We believe this transformative partnership will enable us to leapfrog technological hurdles around range and cost while providing a tremendous speed-to-market advantage.”

Polaris, which was founded in 1954, also produces motorcycles through the Indian Motorcycle brand. Whether the Zero partnership will provide a platform for an electric Indian model has not been announced. Indian’s direct competitor, Harley-Davidson, recently launched its first electric motorcycle, the LiveWire.

Based in California, Zero Motorcycles is a global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains. It produced its first prototypes in 2006, and has been an innovator in electric motorcycle technology.

Zero had a presence in Australia, but ended consumer sales in 2017 due to unfavourable exchange rates and taxes.

Polaris Australia imports Polaris and Indian products locally, and is headquartered in Melbourne. The brand recently announced its exit from the Australian ATV market due to the new ATV safety regulations.