A full size snowmobile is loud, heavy and built for covering ground fast. Moonbike was built to do the opposite. Designed in the French Alps and now owned by the Canadian light EV maker ENVO, the Moonbike is a 100% electric snowbike that weighs 87 kg, steers with a single front ski and runs almost silently. With winter close and a new chapter announced in October, it is worth a closer look.
The Moonbikes Electric Snowmobile, Explained
Think of it as a cross between a trail motorbike and a snowmobile, cut down to the essentials. There is no front wheel. A replaceable HDPE ski does the steering up front, and a 10 inch proprietary track drives it from the rear. The frame is ultralight aluminum, the whole machine is 70.5 cm wide, and Moonbike says it uses fewer than 200 parts, with no chain and no belt. Braking comes from a rear hydraulic disc with a 203 mm rotor.
The patented direct drive motor is rated at 3 kW continuous with a 6 kW peak and 170 Nm of torque. Top speed is up to 26 mph, or 42 km/h, depending on terrain and rider weight. According to the brand's FAQ, it can handle powder up to 30 cm deep and climb slopes up to a 40% grade.
Range, Batteries and the Cold
Range is the question everyone asks about an electric snowmobile, and the honest answer is that it depends on the battery. Moonbike offers Standard 2.5 kWh and Performance 3.2 kWh packs, and a dual setup of up to 5 kWh. A single battery gives roughly 1 to 1.5 hours of riding, or 16 to 32 km. Running two roughly doubles that to 2 to 3 hours and up to 64 km, or about 40 miles. Charging takes 4.5 to just under 6 hours on the standard charger, or 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours on the fast charger. The batteries come out in under five minutes, so they can charge indoors, and a heated battery box keeps them working down to minus 25 °C, or minus 13 °F.
Snowbike vs Snowmobile
The comparison Moonbike makes itself is weight. It puts its bike at 87 kg against 250 kg or more for a typical snowmobile, and pitches that as the reason it is easier for beginners to handle. The tradeoff is clear too: this is a machine for resorts, private land, designated trails and Moonbike Parks, not for long backcountry runs. The brand says more than 45 of those parks now operate in over 25 countries, and its quiet motor makes it a natural fit for wildlife tours and night rides with the front light on.
What ENVO Is Building Next
The bigger news is in Moonbike's October update on the ENVO partnership. Founder Nicolas Muron, an aeronautical engineer, still leads engineering on a next generation bike. The plan includes a battery shared with ENVO's Utility Personal Transporter and its electric RIB boat, and a utility version for security and search and rescue work is in development with a fleet client. You can read the founders' story on the about page and see the wider lineup at ENVO.
Planning a winter trip around the gear? Our guide to Snow Peak's classic camping gear and our look at the CLR Outdoor VIK 3.8 Pro folding kayak cover the rest of the year.
