In “Gas Mode” the unit has enough power to handle treks through forest roads, tight winding trails and obstacles that are encountered along the way. However when we faced certain steep inclines, it lacked in power. But this didn’t stop us, we simply engaged the 4WD. Engaging the 4WD requires both drive trains to work simultaneously which results in more HP for the unit. The last small criticism I have with the unit in “Gas Mode” is the engine noise; it didn’t bother me personally but may be an issue for some.In “Gas Mode” the unit has enough power to handle treks through forest roads, tight winding trails and obstacles that are encountered along the wayIn “Electric Mode” it’s a whole another story! The engine is extremely quiet, so quiet in fact that you don’t hear it at all, the only noise which is produced is from the tires riding over leafs, branches and obstacles along the trail.We did the same passes over different trail scenarios in both “Gas Mode” and “Electric Mode”. Surprisingly I preferred the “Electric Mode”, I found the unit more responsive and tackled the trail conditions just as easily as in “Gas Mode”.Battery life was also quite impressive, we did a good 4 hours in “Electric Mode” and at the end of our testing the gauge indicated half full. I should mention that we did not fully charge the unit before our testing as the gauge indicated almost full. Obviously result may vary depending on the trail conditions you ride.The last 45 minutes of our ride, we engaged the “Regen Mode” on high position. If you remember from earlier, “Regen Mode” mode recharges the unit’s batteries while in gas operation. Once we got back to our trailer, I took a glance at the battery power level gauge and did notice a small difference, the batteries seemed to have recharged. Unfortunately I cannot comment on how long you would have to operate the unit in “Regen Mode” for it to make a significant difference.It was a great feeling to ride along the trails peacefully without any engine noise.

The front dash is made up of 2 gauges and several switch controls for the operation of the unit. The electric and gas levels are each represented by their own gauge, so you can easily read the battery and fuel quantities. You will also find a switch selector that allows you to operate the vehicle in electric mode, gas mode or a combination of both if you want to use the unit in 4WD. On the right hand side of the gauges you will find 3 other selector switches: “Engine Start” to start the gas engine, “REGEN MODE” low and high which allows you to charge the batteries while using the unit in gas mode, and finally an on/off switch for the vehicles headlights.POWERPLANTThe Ambush iS is powered by a 28-horsepower 720cc fuel injected Subaru engine and a 48-volt AC electric drivetrain. The electric drivetrain is 25% more energy-efficient that the previous DC technology used, allowing longer range between charges and better performance on the trails. The unit features six 8-volt batteries, 4 batteries situated under the vehicle’s seat and 2 upfront of the unit with a hood cover for easy access. The division of the batteries provides for better weight distribution to the front of the vehicle supplying better traction in front wheel drive.For long hauls, the unit can be uniquely powered by the gas engine (2WD Rear). When you are ready to approach your hunting site, switch to electric power (2WD Front) for virtually silent operation. On-demand 4WD is activated by engaging both powertrains simultaneously. A unique feature of the Ambush iS is “REGEN MODE”: this allows for the vehicle’s batteries to be recharged on the fly while the unit is driven under 2WD gas power. A dash-mounted REGEN switch allows you to choose between high or low resistance. This resistance is turned into energy and sent back into the battery packs. The unit produces a top speed of 25 mph / 40 kph and to fully recharged drained batteries it can take a good 8-12 hours.SUSPENSION AND HANDLINGThe Ambush iS comes equipped with four-wheel MacPherson Strut independent suspension and sway bar. For additional traction the locking front and rear differentials direct the vehicle’s power to the wheels that need it the most. The unit also features rack-and-pinion steering which offers agile response with every turn.

off-road vehicles such as ATVs or UTVs to get to their hunting spots. The major complaint by them and I am sure this applies to other hunters as well, is the noise produced by these off-road vehicles. Aside from the noise, these units also produce exhaust fumes, which just seem too endlessly linger around their hunting locations. If your prey can hear and smell you, chances are it will have an impact on your hunt. This is why most hunters use their off-road vehicles for part of their trek and the final approach to their hunting location is done on foot.One night while watching television I came across a commercial for Bad Boy Buggies that boasted the slogan, “They won’t hear you coming”; my curiosity was aroused. When I attended the Edmonton Boat and Sportsman show a few months back I had the opportunity to meet the Territory Sales Manager from Bad Boy Buggies. He briefly introduced me to the Ambush iS model, which is a hybrid unit offering the ability to switch between gas and electric powertrains.“Gentleman, you had my curiosity… but now you have my attention”, Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained)Indeed, they had my attention. We finally arranged to get a demo unit so we could put this “Bad Boy” to the test, no pun intended.As our test location we selected a trail system that hunters utilize to get to their hunting spots during hunting season. Obviously for the safety of the trail riders, and also so the trail riders don’t scare off all the prey, this trail system is closed during hunting season. A good trail system offering many different riding conditions, perfect location to see what the unit had to offer.The test scenario we had planed was simple: basic trail riding while trying to concur adverse trail conditions. We wanted to test this unit under gas power, electric power and a combination of both. Also most importantly, we had to test the battery life of the unit to see if it could really get us where we wanted to go.