Why should a car wreck or spinal injury make it impossible to enjoy hunting, fishing, or hikes in the woods? Tommy Ausherman pondered this question long enough to start a company dedicated to making the outdoors accessible to the differently abled. His company, Outrider USA, started out in the three-wheeler biz but has since graduated to quads and has just introduced its most capable product yet: the Coyote.
The Coyote measures about 6 x 3 x 3 feet and weighs as little as 150 pounds, and unlike a typical ATV, it fits in the back of a midsize SUV. Built on a bespoke aluminum monocoque chassis and outfitted with knobby tires on 2.5-by-20-inch wheels, optional all-wheel drive, and plenty of suspension travel, the Coyote promise to go where no typical powerchair can. The seat is 16.5 inches off the ground and its backrest is adjustable (which accounts for the 3-inch height-range in the specs). The Coyote is even rated to tow 180-300 pounds and carry 300-400 pounds of rider and gear.
For those who prioritize towing or carrying larger loads over tackling the toughest terrain, there's a single-motor carbon-belt-driven live-axle option that sends 4 hp to the wheels through a planetary gear reduction and achieves 93-percent efficiency. It also boasts the lightest curb weight, which is why it can carry or tow the most, but this design adds 7 inches to the wheelbase and overall length and Outrider is in the process of phasing this model out (currently only accepting orders for riders whose weight requires it).
Those who desire more suspension articulation and typically carry lighter loads can swap that live axle for an independent trailing-arm rear suspension and a pair of rear hub motors, each is good for 1.7 hp at 88 percent efficiency and makes considerably less noise than the single inboard motor. For the ultimate off-roader, opt for four of these independently suspended hub motors. Note that all models get a multi-link independent front suspension and 220x57 air shocks with adjustable rebound damping for comfort, and ground clearance for all models is 7 inches.
Top speed is limited for safety, probably to 22 mph, though some reports have listed a 28-mph Vmax. There may be a bit of wiggle room there—perhaps it's upgradable for those mostly tackling level ground.
Depending on how far into the backcountry buyers wish to venture—or what they'd like to power while they're out there—Outrider offers up to four 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery packs (consisting of 21700 cylindrical power cells like those used by Tesla in its battery packs), with each additional pack adding $1,250 to the price and about 35 miles to the expected range. With the full kWh available, range is quoted at about 140 miles. Charging comes courtesy of a standard 110-volt 1kW onboard charger, or an optional 2.5kW Level 2 charger that halves the recharge time. (The packs are not removable for indoor charging.) And a $900 option adds USB and 12-volt sockets for powering campsite items ranging from phones, lights, and GPS units to a 12-volt camp fridge.
Most riders will control the Coyote using a pair of hand grips that incorporate a twist throttle that initiates "one-pedal" style regenerative braking. The hand brake grips actuate the dual Magura hydraulic 7-inch Front Disc Brakes. To steer, simply push one handle forward and pull the other back. For quadriplegic riders or those with spinal cord injuries that reduce their grip strength, there's a three-pin controller in which the hand grasps one pin while the other two locate the wrist.
The base price for the live-axle rear-drive Coyote with the single battery pack and no options is $13,985, but that model is being phased out. The RWD independent suspension model starts at$14,985, and the AWD model starts at $15,985. All prices exclude freight charges to the buyer's address of choice, which will vary with every order (they ship fully assembled). Opt for the AWD model with the full 140-mile battery pack and you're looking at $19,735. To any of these you can add the aforementioned USB/12-volt-power package, a headlight and illuminated whip antenna ($89 and $140), and a cargo rack ($375).
Same way most folks buy a Tesla—configure one online and wait for it to be hand built in Fletcher, North Carolina, crated, and shipped to your home for the start of Outrider's two-year warranty. Then bust it out and start exploring the back 40, your favorite fishing hole, duck blind, etc.