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Small Homestead Electric Vehicle - Options for 2021

 
Posts: 278
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Hello,

I've been following the Wheaton Labs problems with electric utility vehicles https://permies.com/t/24710/permaculture-projects/Solar-Electric-UTV-Polaris-sucks and I'm wondering if conditions have changed in the 8 years since it was first posted.

I have 10 acres of mixed woods, lawn, wet areas, and tall grasses.  I want to be able to haul around tools and materials and pull a small trailer.  A great option would be an inverter to power tools.  I have such a hard time finding anything used that is not just a golf cart.  Searching for UTV produces results that are mainly used for off-roading fun.  I'm not sure if I'm just searching wrong or what I'm looking for doesn't exist.

Shortly after WW2 there was a Jeep offering that had a PTO, 3 point hitch, and a back area to store cargo/tools.  An electric version of that would be great.  https://jalopnik.com/the-amount-of-equipment-you-can-power-with-an-old-jeep-1789748976
 
steward
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Do you mind if I ask what you have against a golf cart?

And why Electric?

To me, it sounds like maybe because you can't add a trailer, etc?

We have a mule though I don't know if they build any that are electric.

We also have a golf cart that is handier than the mule. Though they both can do about the same things.  We only have the mule because a friend wanted to trade our jeep for his mule.
 
pollinator
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In the last eight years, electric bikes and electric cars came a LONG way, but I don't think utvs did anything.  

If I were buying an electric homestead vehicle today, it would be either an electric fat tire cargo bike or a golf cart.  


If you get a golf cart, my choice would be 48 volt to get affordable inverter and solar charger options.
 
Jerry Ward
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I don't have anything against Golf Carts, but I would want one with the flatbed on the back rather than golf club holders.  However, I'm having trouble finding one of those used.  I want electric so I don't have to maintain a gas engine
 
pollinator
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I’d get a beefy off-road ebike and trailer

Off-road electric bikes

Looks to me as though it would meet your requirements to haul tools and materials.
 
Anne Miller
steward
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Jerry Ward wrote:I don't have anything against Golf Carts, but I would want one with the flatbed on the back rather than golf club holders.  However, I'm having trouble finding one of those used.  I want electric so I don't have to maintain a gas engine



Our golf cart was a standard golf cart.  Once a person knows what brand they are going to buy or have then that person can buy the flatbed assesory, plus a lot of other cool things.

Our golf cart has the flatbed plus a trailer.
 
pollinator
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$26,000
https://solectrac.com/cet-electric-tractor


 
Jerry Ward
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$26K - That is way more than I'm looking to spend.
 
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