A quiet ride

With a trail set up at a vineyard outside Charlotte, North Carolina, the new CU 800 UTV from Greenworks Commerical went on a test drive last week at the company's official press event.

The latest from the battery powered equipment company, the CU 800 is powered by a UL-certified 13.8kw lithium-ion battery. The design is set up similar to a traditional gas-powered UTV, with a parking brake and throttle. Speed is controlled by an operator switch, indicator higher or lower gears. The vehicle tops out at 35 mph and can sustain 90 miles on a full charge.

Protocols for the vehicle are similar to other battery-powered products. For example, Corey Fisher, engineering manager, says as the UTV sits over a period of time, like during winter months, the battery life will only decrease about 8 percent. He recommends unplugging the batteries completely during long periods of rest.

A carrying capacity of 500 pounds makes the UTV capable of transporting other equipment, and it is capable of towing 1,500 pounds. Customization options include mud tires, a 3,500-lb. winch, full windscreen and a camouflage wrap. As far as color options go, the UTV is also available in black.

Greenworks founder Yin Chen said a UTV made sense for the company as they strive to be leaders in the battery-powered equipment market. With the vehicle proving to be a quieter alternative to gas, he said it will work well in the hunting industry as well.             

A prototype of the UTV was previewed at GIE+EXPO last year, and is now officially available through Carswell, Carswell OEI, PACE and Steven Willand independent dealer networks alongside other Greenworks Commercial equipment. The CU 800 comes with a price tag of $24,999 and a two-year battery and equipment warranty.

The company also launched a new system of tools geared towards homeowners that prefer to shop through dealer channels. The new dual voltage 48/24V System operates on a lithium-ion 48/24V power platform. The batteries are designed to automatically switch over from one voltage to the other when inserted into tools matching the voltage platform.