PowerSports Business

February 15, 2016

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Flambeau Outdoors' A.P.E. touts 50-mile range Flambeau Outdoors, a manufacturer of quality gear for hunting, fishing and the outdoors, has released a new all-electric UTV geared at meeting the needs of hunt - ers and land managers called the A.P.E. (Advanced Performance Electric). Flambeau Outdoors' parent com- pany, Flambeau Inc., acquired the assets and manufacturing facilities of Tomber- lin in Leesburg, Fla. Tomberlin, you'll recall, came close to releasing an electric UTV in the past, but beyond some prototypes and demos, the program never went to market. Tomber - lin founder Mike Tomberlin is "very much involved in the project," according to a Flam- beau spokesman. Flambeau Outdoors went back to the draw- ing board to design its own electric UTV built from the ground up to be a powerful and capa- ble, no-compromises, all-terrain electric UTV. By absorbing Tomberlin and building on what that brand had already started, Flambeau is ready to come to market with the new machine. It's scheduled to be available to consumers in July. It features a top speed of 18 mph and a range of 50-plus miles (will vary based on driving conditions). By tailoring the vehicle's performance to utility/work applications and allowing the user to do so as well on the fly, the UTV makes full use of the battery pack and delivers more reliable run times. Whether it's getting to the treestand before first light or taking care of business on the back 40, the A.P.E. does it better — without the noise and exhaust of a combustion engine, without the underwhelming performance com - promises of lesser electric UTVs. The 48-volt high-efficiency AC-induction motor produces 26 horsepower, and with peak torque delivery available from a standstill, that translates to an instant, and almost downright intimidating, throttle response. This extremely low-maintenance compact motor doesn't have a redline to stay below and is even tested sub - mersible to 10 feet. Three intelligent power modes regulate bat- tery output: Low unleashes 100 percent torque with a 10 mph top speed; high allows for an 18 mph top speed, and max range allows for more than 50 miles of driving on a single charge (range varies with driving conditions). These power modes allow amperage out - put to be tailored to the job at hand, extend- ing the A.P.E.'s range while allowing it to meet head on a variety of different perfor- mance demands. The A.P.E. also comes stan- dard with a unique Stealth Mode that limits top speed to 3 mph — perfect for silent cruis- ing and harnessing the A.P.E.'s incredible torque in low-traction situations. Four-wheel independent suspension, on- demand 4X4/2WD with limited slip front dif - ferential and four-wheel hydraulic disk brakes lay the foundation for a lively and capable chas- sis. And after clawing up the steepest terrain, A.P.E.'s regenerative braking helps top off the batteries on the way back down. "Anyone who manages land for wildlife knows the importance of reducing human pressure on that area and has probably seen how noise and exhaust can spook game ani - mals," said Flambeau Outdoors marketing director Kim Norton. "With our new A.P.E. E-UTV it's much easier to slip in and out of the woods over any kind of terrain to check trail cams, set stands or work on food plots without broadcasting our presence." For farmers, ranchers and other active landowners, the A.P.E.'s silent operation allows work to start at dawn without a loud motor to disturb guests, neighbors or live - stock. A.P.E.'s utility features include a dump bed and 1,000-pound payload capacity. A standard onboard charger allows easy plug- in charging anywhere without the need for a special charging station. The A.P.E. is also a street-legal low-speed vehicle, opening up additional avenues for use. 24 • February 15, 2016 • Powersports Business ATV/UTV www.PowersportsBusiness.com New all-electric UTV has Tomberlin roots See A.P.E., Page 25 Flambeau Outdoors has unveiled its all-electric A.P.E. side-by-side, with a retail price of $15,999 and July delivery.

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