Adventure | The electric snowmobile opens new horizons

The electric snowmobile is arriving on the trails of Quebec. Our colleague tried it out.

Without getting off her electric snowmobile, the guide takes advantage of a stop at an intersection to give instructions to the convoy behind her. She suddenly looks surprised. “It’s sick!” We can talk to each other! No need to make signs! », exclaims Andréanne Ouellet, owner of Saguenay Aventures.

The three Taiga snowmobiles stationary do not, in fact, emit any sound. Departing from L’Anse-Saint-Jean, their apprentice drivers returned from the Petit-Saguenay wharf where they were able to admire the magnificence of the snow-covered fjord before making a U-turn. They will do this 45-kilometer introductory ride in just under two hours, with top speeds of 40 km/h.

This cruising speed, which could be described as “contemplative” in comparison with the power of gasoline models, does not displease the group. On the contrary, upon arrival, the four novice snowmobilers admit their surprise at having loved the experience so much.

However, getting on a racing car with skis and tracks to travel the snowy trails is not part of their habits, even less of their environmental values, they say, each in their own way. But the attractions of an electric vehicle change the situation, they immediately add.

“I have always refused my sons to buy a snowmobile because I find it noisy and polluting. But now, I’m more open to the idea,” says Valya, laughing, mother of three young boys aged 8 to 10 and owner of an electric bike rental shop with her husband Graham.

The latter nods his head with approval. “This allows you to explore the backcountry, in places that are too far away to go on skis or snowshoes. I have zero interest in going there on gas. But with this, it’s different,” he explains after discovering viewpoints very close to his home. “And yet, I have lived here for 20 years. »

Their two excursion companions share this enthusiasm. Even the duration of 90 minutes for a complete battery recharge does not cool their ardor.

“I would take an electric snowmobile any day. It drives the same way, apart from the difference in compression on the descents,” says Antoine, a former dog sled guide and patrolman at the Mont Édouard ski resort, located five kilometers away.

“Even I, who am a motorcycle guy, would adopt it,” says Bruno for his part with a big smile. “My only downside is the lack of acceleration with the setting Tidy [vitesse et accélération réduites]. I would put that at Sport or to Wild, but I would quickly eat up my battery. »

And the noise? Because if the engines of the machines become silent when the accelerator is released, their tracks still emit a good dose of decibels while rolling. “It’s noisier than I imagined, but I’m curious to know if the cottagers heard us passing like you can hear the gas snowmobiles in the distance,” Graham wonders.

Green customers

It is precisely for these outdoor enthusiasts, in no way enamored by noise and exhaust gases, that the company Saguenay Aventures purchased three Taiga brand electric snowmobiles last year, designed and built in Quebec. She uses it to offer half-day guided excursions around the fjord.

“This allows us to introduce the territory to a different clientele,” explains guide Andréanne Ouellet, owner of the company, who has initiated a process of decarbonizing its activities.

Using the electric snowmobile as a means of transportation between points of attraction, and not as sports equipment, is also part of the strategy of the Quebec brand Ski-Doo. She designed a tourism product called BRP Experiences, exclusive to tour operators in Europe and North America.

“The leitmotif of the brand is the interpretation of nature,” explains Pierre Challier, president of the Nord Expe company, located in Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval and La Malbaie. With its seven Ski-Doo snowmobiles, it offers tourists 30 km excursions in two hours. “A duration that suits them completely, according to what they tell us,” he adds.

“These snowmobiles are perfect for an initiation. They are quiet, agile and light, and their speed is limited to 40 km/h for customers. They are ideal for going to places to observe fauna, flora or geology,” says Mr. Challier.

This type of snowmobile appeals to a different clientele, concerned about the environment, he confirms. “We discovered that 75% of our customers also own another electric vehicle. In short, they are already convinced [des bienfaits] of that energy. »

Waiting for a network

“It’s the future,” says Stéphane Desroches, general director of the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ), convinced that its members are only waiting for a real network of charging stations and better battery life. to also take the electric turn.

The construction of a network of charging stations, adapted to snowmobiling, however, constitutes a particular technological and financial challenge, recalls Mr. Desroches.

“Snowmobiling is a sport that is practiced in groups. A relay cannot therefore be satisfied with having only two charging stations to accommodate a group of six snowmobilers who would like to recharge their batteries during a meal. »

In addition, several outfitters in remote areas are not connected to the Hydro-Québec network. A large number of them produce their electricity with a diesel generator, or even simply with solar panels for the needs of the chalets.

“It is certain that it will be easier to create networks in regions like the Laurentians. The future is very promising, but we will have to wait at least ten years before this comes to fruition,” says the general director of the FCMQ, crossing his fingers. “Technology can change so quickly. »