Article content continued

BRP, much like automakers, can’t deny the trend towards electrification and evolving consumer demand for more sustainable products, Denys Lapointe, BRP’s senior-vice president of design, innovation and creative services said in an interview.

“Obviously we’re in an era of change. There’s definitely this new generation coming along, Gen Y, Gen Z, obviously they’re more concerned on the global footprint,” Lapointe said.

BRP’s first attempt to sell electric vehicles came in 1996 with a “neighbourhood electric vehicle” that looked like a cross between a smart fortwo and a golf cart. The market wasn’t quite ready at the time, Lapointe said, so BRP shied away from the technology for a few years.

Now it’s been working on hybrid technology since about 2010 or 2011. Much like the rest of the auto industry, the problem is building vehicles with comparable power and range at a similar price.

Photo by Handout/BRP Inc.

“(Our consumers) probably would convert very easily if we were able to provide a product at the same cost,” Lapointe said, citing Tesla Inc. as an example of electric cars at premium prices.

“That’s the challenge that everybody’s faced with: Trying to accomplish what internal combustion engines can do at the same cost, it’s very challenging.”

So far, BRP has launched an electric kart for racing. It’s also hosting a design competition between students at six post-secondary schools in North America and Europe to create scooter-type concepts that work in winter conditions. The winner gets a paid internship to build the concept vehicle at BRP’s studio.