Outdoors

The Ziesel works kind of like an off-road armchair

The Ziesel works kind of like an off-road armchair
The Ziesel takes to the snow
The Ziesel takes to the snow
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The Ziesel, haulin' gear
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The Ziesel, haulin' gear
The Ziesel takes to the snow
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The Ziesel takes to the snow
Steering is managed using a single armrest-mounted joystick
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Steering is managed using a single armrest-mounted joystick
The driver is held in place with a four-point harness, and a tubular steel frame offers protection in the event of a rollover
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The driver is held in place with a four-point harness, and a tubular steel frame offers protection in the event of a rollover
Its designers seem particularly stoked about its use on ski hills, for duties such as patrolling, hauling gear or performing rescues
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Its designers seem particularly stoked about its use on ski hills, for duties such as patrolling, hauling gear or performing rescues
It has two electric motors that put out a combined 400 Nm (295 ft lb) of torque, and take it up to a top speed of 35 km/h (22 mph)
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It has two electric motors that put out a combined 400 Nm (295 ft lb) of torque, and take it up to a top speed of 35 km/h (22 mph)
Power comes from a 96-volt lithium-ion battery pack, that has an automatic heating system for use in cold environments
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Power comes from a 96-volt lithium-ion battery pack, that has an automatic heating system for use in cold environments
The Ziesel tips the scales at 210 kg (463 lb), including its battery pack
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The Ziesel tips the scales at 210 kg (463 lb), including its battery pack
An optional LED lighting package is available
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An optional LED lighting package is available
The Ziesel is made by Austria's Mattro Mobility Revolutions, and is designed to travel over all types of terrain
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The Ziesel is made by Austria's Mattro Mobility Revolutions, and is designed to travel over all types of terrain
View gallery - 10 images

How many times have you heard people say that we should all get out of our comfy chairs, and go experience the great outdoors? OK, maybe never, but it's certainly a common sentiment. In the case of the Ziesel, however, you can do both. It's essentially a chair with electric motors, suspension, and caterpillar-type tracks.

The Ziesel (which is German for "ground squirrel") is made by Austria's Mattro Mobility Revolutions, and is designed to travel over all types of terrain. That said, its designers seem particularly stoked about its use on ski hills, for duties such as patrolling, hauling gear or performing rescues.

It has two electric motors that put out a combined 400 Nm (295 ft lb) of torque, and take it up to a top speed of 35 km/h (22 mph). Power comes from a 96-volt lithium-ion battery pack, that has an automatic heating system for use in cold environments. The company tells us that its range will vary greatly depending on use, although one charge of the battery should be good for four to eight hours of continuous driving.

The driver is held in place with a four-point harness, and a tubular steel frame offers protection in the event of a rollover
The driver is held in place with a four-point harness, and a tubular steel frame offers protection in the event of a rollover

Steering and speed are managed using a single armrest-mounted joystick. The driver is held in place with a four-point harness, and a tubular steel frame offers protection in the event of a rollover.

The Ziesel tips the scales at 210 kg (463 lb), including its battery pack. The base version sells for €21,710 (around US$29,000) plus shipping.

One can be seen frolicking in the snow, in the video below.

Source: Ziesel

[Ed note: We've been informed that Mattro is based out of Austria, not Germany, and have edited this article accordingly]

Ziesel 2013 - Grenzenlos/Unlimited

View gallery - 10 images
4 comments
4 comments
mooseman
Very cool! I can see myself hooning along a beach in one of these..... :)
bergamot69
Ah, those wacky Germans...
What a perfectly ridiculous contraption!
I want one. Badly.
John Waller
This can certainly open the doors for wheelchair bound people as well. They could go just about anywhere off-roaders can go. I wonder how it would do on sand dunes??
SoundsGr8toMe
A model very similar to this is being provided to disabled veterans and is priced around $15k. Bill O'Reilly (The O'Reilly Factor) has been VERY instrumental in getting that model to wounded vets, free of charge.