Our New Polaris Ranger EV 4x4

September 13, 2016

We have a new all-terrain vehicle at Cantitoe Corners.

Owning a working farm is a huge responsibility. Whenever I can, I always take the time to tour the property, talk to my outdoor grounds crew, visit all my animals, and check on the progress in my gardens. Most of the time, I do this on a mid-sized rugged utility vehicle. I drive one all around my 153-acres. I can get into narrow places that a traditional car could never go, and see things far off the carriage roads and in the woodlands. It can also be used for hauling all sorts of cargo. Plus, because it is so open, it is easy to clean.

This summer, we purchased a new Polaris Ranger EV 4x4 - it’s already been put to good use here at the farm. Take a look at our photos.

: Polaris dealer, Rob Herman, recently delivered our new Polaris Ranger EV. It is among the newest models available.

: This Ranger is an all-electric vehicle, so it produces zero tailpipe emissions – one of my favorite features.

: It runs on a single 48-Volt, high-efficiency, AC-induction motor. The electric motor is extremely quiet, which is great when I’m riding around the farm discussing various tasks with my property director, Mike Fiore, or my head gardener, Ryan McCallister.

: The Polaris Ranger EV is a plug-in model, so it can charge from any standard, three-prong grounded 110V outlet. My grounds crew makes sure it charges every night, so it is ready bright and early in the morning.

: The wheels are built for off-road terrain in all kinds of conditions. Whenever needed, we can drive this vehicle through the woodland.

: Because we do so much carting around the farm, it is important to have a roomy and durable back cargo space.

: This cargo box has a towing capacity of more than a thousand pounds – picking up fallen branches in the woodlands, or driving a day’s harvest from the gardens to my Flower Room is so easy.

: And, this model has comfortable bench seating for two, and well-marked, easy to reach controls.

: I was happy to see that the vehicle also came in a neutral “Avalanche Gray” base model color – it coordinates well with my signature “Bedford Gray” used all around the farm.

: Polaris utility vehicles can be outfitted with many different and useful accessories, such as a windshield and roof. These features are easy to install and arrived just a few days later.

: Mike unloaded the windshield and the roof. It takes up to 15-minutes to install these two parts.

: The windshield is covered in a protective plastic coating, which just peels off after installation.

: Mike places the roof onto the vehicle – it is very light, but very strong and slips easily into place.

: It’s a durable, precision engineered roof that protects the main compartment from the elements. Oftentimes, I will ride around the property before leaving for work, so it is helpful to have a roof on the vehicle in case it is raining or snowing.

: Mike attaches the roof in the proper tracks – the “lock and ride” technology makes this quick to do.

: The roof has a lot of clip closures, which keep it completely secure.

: As an electric vehicle, it can go to about 25-miles per hour, and safety is a major concern, so the vehicle is equipped with seatbelts and arm rails.

: Mike checks all the clips for the roof.

: And then screws in the appropriate fasteners.

: The roof is complete – so sturdy and durable.

: Next, Mike sets the windshield in place. This is made of strong, shatterproof, optical-grade laminate safety glass. It is made to provide the best visibility and scratch-resistant protection.

: This piece also just clicks into position with the special Polaris “lock and ride” technology.

: Here is a closeup of one of the clips that secure the windshield.

: They are positioned on the top and on the two sides for maximum safety.

: The last part of the installation is to remove the protective coating.

: Everyone on the crew loves using the Polaris – this summer, we have used it to transport buckets of harvested vegetables and berries from my gardens.

: It is safe to use off-road because it won’t damage the grass.

: Here, Charles uses it to carry the sprinklers when they are moved from place to place. It has been very dry here in the Northeast, and we’ve been doing a lot of watering at the farm.