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Oct 31, 2026

Electric snowmobiles and e-bikes: where Lapland is heading

Guests increasingly ask us whether there is a quieter way to move through the Lapland winter than a petrol snowmobile. It is a fair question: in a silent forest, engine noise and exhaust are the first things you notice. Electric snowmobiles exist, and the best-known one was developed right here in Rovaniemi.

In this article we set out what reliable sources say about electric snowmobiles, how Finland’s tourism sector is approaching sustainability, and — honestly — where StayLapland stands today: our electric options are electric fatbikes, both on a guided safari at Lapland Winter Park and as a rental from the Postmaster Hotel.

In short: electric snowmobiles were developed in Rovaniemi by Aurora Powertrains, from a research project that began at Lapland University of Applied Sciences, according to Business Lapland. They are quiet and emission-free in use, but range is limited. At StayLapland, the electric way to explore is the Lapland Winter Park eFatbike-safari — 2 hours, easy, from 99 € — and our E-bike Rental from 55 €.

At a glance

• From: 99 €
• Experience type: eFatbike
• Duration: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Book in Advance: Cut off: 8 hours before start time
• Cancellation: Bookings are non-refundable. All sales are final.
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; Not stroller accessible

A Rovaniemi invention: the electric snowmobile

According to Business Lapland, the regional business portal of Lapland, the electric snowmobile known as the eSled was developed by Aurora Powertrains in Rovaniemi. It grew out of a research project at Lapland University of Applied Sciences that started more than a decade before the article, and the company itself was founded in 2017.

The motivation came from safari operations. As the company’s managing director told Business Lapland, there was a need for an environmentally friendly, quiet, smoke-free and odour-free alternative to fuel-operated snowmobiles. In other words, the people who drive tourists through the forest every day were the ones asking for it.

What the figures say — and their limits

Business Lapland reports the following figures for the eSled:

• Operating speed on safaris: 40 km/h
• Range per charge: 30–40 km
• Top speed: approximately 100 km/h
• 35 electric snowmobiles manufactured by the end of 2020

Two things follow from this. First, a 30–40 km range is enough for a typical safari loop, but it shapes how routes are planned: the machine has to come back to a charger. Second, 35 units is a small fleet compared with the conventional snowmobiles used across Lapland. Electric snowmobiles are real and in use in tourism, but they are still a niche, not yet the norm.

Same rules, whatever the motor

Electric or not, a snowmobile in Finland is a vehicle with rules. Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, sets out the basics for snowmobile drivers: the driver must be at least 15 years old, the snowmobile must be registered and insured, and riding off official routes requires the landowner’s permission. A passenger in a sled must wear a helmet when the sled is open.

On our own snowmobile tours, such as the Private Snowmobile in the Arctic Nature, the product page lists our specific conditions — for example, children 140 cm or taller can sit on the snowmobile, while shorter children ride in the sled pulled by the guide’s snowmobile.

The bigger picture: Sustainable Travel Finland

The move towards quieter, lower-emission activities sits inside a wider national programme. Visit Finland runs Sustainable Travel Finland, a development path for tourism companies and destinations. To earn the label, a company works through seven steps — from a formal commitment and training, through a third-party audited certificate and transparent sustainability communication, to a development plan and verification, with the label renewed roughly every two years.

Visit Finland reported that by September 2023, 5 destinations and 367 companies offering more than 1,000 travel experiences had achieved the label since applications opened in June 2020. Electric vehicles are one visible part of this, but the programme is broader: it covers the environment, local culture, economy and social responsibility.

How this shows up on our tours: electric fatbikes

We do not currently offer an electric snowmobile safari on our site. Where we do use electric power is on two wheels. The Lapland Winter Park eFatbike-safari uses specially designed electric fat-tyre bikes that handle snow, sand and forest trails, with the motor assisting you on steep inclines and rugged paths.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Difficulty: easy — suitable for beginners and experienced cyclists
• From 99 €
• Location: Lapland Winter Park, Ollerovaarantie 160, 96100 Rovaniemi — no pick-up or drop-off
• Bookings close 8 hours before the start

Please note the small print on the product page: bookings are non-refundable and all sales are final. The safari is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. You can see the park’s other activities on our Lapland Winter Park page.

Renting an e-fatbike from the Postmaster Hotel

If you prefer to ride at your own pace, our e-fatbike rental starts from 55 € and runs from 3 hours to 3 days. The bikes are kept at the Postmaster Hotel, Postikatu 1, in the centre of Rovaniemi, and the rental includes a high-quality e-fatbike with electric pedal assist, a helmet, a lock and — for multi-day rentals — a charging cable.

The bikes are adapted to riders from 155 cm (ideally 160 cm). You can ride through the city, along riverside paths or into quiet forest trails just beyond the centre. Rental is listed among our summer activities; for autumn ideas, see what we run during ruska.

Where Lapland is heading

The honest answer is: gradually quieter. The technology for silent snowmobiles was built in Rovaniemi, national programmes reward companies that measure and reduce their impact, and electric bikes already let visitors explore without engine noise. The limits are real — range, charging and fleet size — so petrol snowmobiles will remain part of Lapland winters for some time.

Our own commitment, as stated on our product pages, is to keep groups small, minimise our impact on nature and support local communities. If you want to see Lapland under your own (assisted) power this winter, the eFatbike safari is a good place to start; see our EARLY27 book-early code for how the winter discount works, and our full activities in Rovaniemi.

Frequently asked questions

Were electric snowmobiles invented in Lapland?

The eSled electric snowmobile was developed by Aurora Powertrains in Rovaniemi, based on a research project at Lapland University of Applied Sciences, according to Business Lapland.

How far can an electric snowmobile go on one charge?

Business Lapland reports a range of 30–40 km per charge for the eSled, with an operating speed of 40 km/h on safaris.

Does StayLapland offer electric snowmobile tours?

Not at the moment. Our electric options are the Lapland Winter Park eFatbike-safari and our e-fatbike rental from the Postmaster Hotel.

How long is the eFatbike safari and what does it cost?

The Lapland Winter Park eFatbike-safari lasts 2 hours, is rated easy, and starts from 99 €. It takes place at Lapland Winter Park, Ollerovaarantie 160, without pick-up.

Can I cancel the eFatbike safari?

No. According to the product page, bookings are non-refundable and all sales are final.

How tall do I need to be to rent an e-fatbike?

Our rental bikes are adapted to riders from 155 cm, ideally 160 cm.

How old do you have to be to drive a snowmobile in Finland?

Traficom states that a snowmobile driver must be at least 15 years old. Our own tours have additional conditions listed on each product page.

Ready to book?

You may also like

• E-bike Rental — from 55 €, 3 hours – 3 days

Sources

• Business Lapland — E-innovation created in Lapland’s Arctic conditions (Aurora Powertrains)
• Visit Finland — Sustainable Travel Finland
• Traficom — Moottorikelkkailija, tunnetko säännöt?