#ElectricVehicles

When we first laid eyes on the Polaris Ranger EV nearly five years ago, we thought we’d seen the beginning of a big electric push from the major manufacturers. Save for BRP’s very quiet release of the Can-Am Commander EV two years ago, we clearly misjudged the direction off-road manufacturers were headed.

For fans of electric power, however, all may not be lost as Kawasaki recently filed patent documents for an electric UTV, which you can see for yourself here.

Polaris Industries Inc. has announced the acquisition of Goupil Industrie SA, a privately owned, Bourran, France-based manufacturer of on-road, commercial electric vehicles. The move will add Goupil vehicles to Polaris’ growing small electric vehicle product portfolio.

Goupil, which reported approximately $25 million in sales during calendar year 2010, will continue operating in Bourran with its current staff.

“As Polaris continues to deliver outstanding performance and gain market share in our core business, we are excited to acquire Goupil and add to our growing small electric vehicle lineup. We are eager to pursue the natural synergies between their commercial light duty work products and the more people-mover oriented offerings from our GEM business,” says Scott Wine, Polaris chief executive officer. “We see tremendous, long term growth in the global small electric vehicle market, and Goupil, with its established product line, history of profitable growth, and segment-leading European presence, will be an integral part of our strategy to realize that potential.”