Pioneering husband and wife, David and Bekka Corrie-Close, chose the Polaris Ranger EV to help run their sustainable farm.
Sat within the powerful Polaris Ranger EV whilst driving through the flower-filled meadows surrounding Sizergh Castle in Cumbria, David and Bekka felt peaceful and content. With only the sound of the long, lush grass being flattened by the wide, low-pressure tyres, the native, horned cattle turned lazily to see who was approaching.
The Ranger EV is used as the farm’s workhorse and provides David and Bekka with a utility vehicle that far outweighs the benefits of a tractor or 4×4 pickup truck; capable on the exposed and rough terrain yet with a very light footprint. The electric-powered Ranger is both strong and quiet, with its single 48-volt, high-efficiency electric power drive and its all-wheel-drive (AWD) that covers the Cumbrian countryside without generating unnecessary noise.
After a move to Cumbria 10 years ago, David and Bekka both tried part-time voluntary work to find their calling, but it wasn’t until David landed a farming apprenticeship that things really got going.
“It turns out farming was the career I really wanted,” David explained.
In 2015, The Horned Beef Company was formed, farming land in small plots scattered over the Cumbrian countryside.
“It wasn’t easy,” Bekka recalled, “Home was a yurt, with no mains water or electric.”
The couple has received overwhelming support from the public for their commitment to ecologically-sound farming and land management methods.
Bekka continued: “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our community investors and those that buy our beef,”
Working with the National Trust, the Prince’s Trust, RSPB and Cumbria Wildlife, and with David taking vice-chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, the pair are now managing over 1000 acres on top of their 150-acre farm site.
“’Farming with Nature is the new direction of travel for UK agriculture,” David asserted, “Electric powered utility vehicles will play a big part with this as they are non-polluting and sustainable. Quietly managing our animals and going about our day-to-day jobs makes the job nicer for all those involved. Electric power interests us and we try to use the technology wherever its available. We are currently installing a solar panel water pump system to supply drinking water across the farm as our local water pressure does not provide access to the whole land.”
He adds, “I couldn’t believe it when I found out that a fully electric Ranger was available. With a large bed box and capacity of over 225kg it helps us move whatever we need around the farm. The next challenge is to see if we can charge our Ranger EV using a solar array on the farm.”
As we headed back to the farm after David and Bekka had checked the cattle, the Polaris quietly took us up the meadow and you could easily see why this electric power workhorse was just right for their farm and the future of The Horned Beef Company.
For further media information on Polaris ORV products, please contact the Polaris Britain Media Office on +44 (0)1525 270100 or email us at press@polaris-orv.media.
About Polaris
As the global leader in Powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. With annual 2019 sales of $6.8 billion, Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle® mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; snowmobiles; and deck, cruiser and pontoon boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments, and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.
