xelom: Two Electric Snowcats Launch the World?s First Zero-Emission Catskiing Operation in Georgia

Swiss company Powderproject.ch and Italian manufacturer xelom from Bolzano join forces in the Lesser Caucasus to promote sustainable winter sports and eco-conscious freeriding.

To mark its tenth anniversary, Georgian catskiing pioneer Ingo Schlutius and his company Powderproject.ch are taking a bold step toward innovation and sustainability: beginning this season, two fully electric snowcats built by the Bolzano-based manufacturer xelom will transport international freeriders and powder enthusiasts into the snow-covered slopes of the Lesser Caucasus. Far from the Alps or the Rockies, in the remote mountains surrounding the 2,000-meter-high village of Bakhmaro, a new era of freeriding is underway.

Powerful Performance, Zero Emissions

Catskiing entrepreneur Ingo Schlutius has invested around one million euros in two electrically powered snowcats from specialist manufacturer xelom. With this investment, Powderproject.ch becomes the first company worldwide to use electric snowcats for deep-snow catskiing.

The goal is to prove that these fully electric, nearly 700-horsepower machines can handle the harsh winter conditions of Georgia’s mountain terrain. Until now, catskiing operations around the world – in Canada, the U.S., and Georgia alike – have relied exclusively on diesel-powered vehicles. Powderproject.ch is breaking new ground.

In mid-November, the two electric snowcats will embark on their 3,200-kilometer journey by truck from Bolzano to Bakhmaro. They are being delivered with specially designed passenger cabins that can carry up to twelve freeriders comfortably, quietly, and without emissions into the backcountry.

The xelom e-Cats deliver a peak torque of 27,600 Newton meters, providing full power instantly and at any speed. The expected operational range for passenger transport is around seven hours per charge. At the Powderproject.ch hotel “The PIONEERS”, a 300 kW charging station has been installed, enabling the massive batteries to reach 80% capacity in just 50 minutes. To complete the sustainability cycle, all electricity supplied in Bakhmaro is generated almost exclusively from hydropower.

Management Statements

“This is a milestone for us,” says Ingo Schlutius, founder of Powderproject.ch. “We want to take responsibility and show that sustainable winter sports are possible even in high-alpine and remote terrain — without sacrificing the unique adventure that makes catskiing so special. Of course, the electric drive will be a completely new technical experience for us, but we gladly embrace the challenge because I’m convinced that the future of catskiing is electric.”

Erich Gummerer, founder of xelom, is equally proud of the partnership and the upcoming deployment of his snowcats in Georgia: “Making catskiing emission-free and nearly silent for the first time is a groundbreaking step into the future. Ten years after Ingo Schlutius brought the first cat skiers to Bakhmaro, he is now bringing the first fully electric snowcats to Georgia — an impressive testament to his visionary character.”

About Powderproject

In February 2016, the German Ingo Schlutius – founder of Powderproject.ch – first explored the freeride terrain around the then-uninhabited winter village of Bakhmaro. With a single used snowcat from Germany’s Black Forest and a handful of test guests, he launched his first season. Today, ten years later, Powderproject.ch has become Europe’s largest catskiing operation. The company operates 20 diesel-powered snowcats, three hotels, two guesthouses, and two mountain cabins, welcoming around 1,000 freeriders each winter season over an eleven-week period. With the introduction of two electric snowcats, Powderproject.ch is not only reducing its environmental impact but also setting an example of innovation and responsibility in modern mountain tourism.

About xelom

xelom is an innovative company based in Bolzano, Italy, and part of the TechnoAlpin Holding. Within this international group, xelom stands for sustainable mobility, developing fully electric specialty vehicles for challenging terrain. Today, the company employs over 30 people and operates the world’s largest development team for electric snow groomers. With its pioneering solutions, xelom actively contributes to the vision of an emission-free future.

https://xelom.com/