Finnish electric snowmobiles charge with the JUICE BOOSTER2
Batteries discharge at sub-zero temperatures? This statement is sure to draw laughter from some Finnish engineers. After all, some of them founded the first manufacturer of electric snowmobiles in March 2017. And instead of spending a long time tinkering with a prototype, the company has already built a large number of "eSleds" and organizes safaris in Finnish dream landscapes, including a moving Northern Lights experience.
"In 2010 we said to ourselves: There has to be a more sustainable way to enjoy sledding," says founder Matti Autioniemi, and he was sure of the basic ingredients. "What if we combined the tranquility of snowshoeing with the efficiency and lightness of the snowmobile?"
Exploration tour without noise and emissions
The ball was set rolling by the Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lappland UAS), which had already previously driven several research projects related to the development of electric snowmobiles. Silent travel using electromobility was seen early on as the optimal solution for exploring untouched nature without engine noise and emissions.
In 2015 and 2016, the college team won the Zero Emission category of the Clean Snowmobile Challenge (CSC), which involved designing and building an electric snowmobile, primarily to meet goals set by the National Science Foundation (NSF). But the team's enthusiasm went far beyond winning. They wanted to bring a working product to market. So they founded Aurora Powertrains and designed the eSled in the summer of 2017.
"The heart of the electric snowmobile is designed to survive in the Arctic," says Autioniemi. "High-quality, state-of-the-art components and an intelligent thermal management system keep the battery at the optimum temperature even in the toughest conditions, letting the driver squeeze out every spark."
Thanks to its electric drive train and precise throttle response, the eSled has a decisive advantage when navigating through dense forests. The continuously variable transmission and high torque of the electric motor make every movement predictable and is much safer than conventional snowmobiles with combustion engines, even for inexperienced drivers. But safer does not mean slower. With a maximum output of 100 kW, the eSled accelerates beyond legal limits in no time at all.
JUICE BOOSTER 2 as a reliable charging solution
The electric vehicle is charged via Type 2 (AC) or CCS 2 (DC). "We searched for a long time for a suitable charging station and finally decided on the JUICE BOOSTER 2," says Autioniemi. "We have extreme conditions where normal technology quickly reaches its limits. All other chargers were either not waterproof or could not withstand the cold. We are so satisfied with the JUICE BOOSTER 2 that we now equip every snowmobile with it as standard."
