I first covered the EQUAD in December 2023, when Detroit startup LIVAQ was showing off what it called the most capable electric ATV ever. Three years later the machine is back in the news, and the pitch has barely changed: a carbon fiber body, full-time electric four-wheel drive, a claimed 170 miles of range, and a pre-order price of $19,989. What has changed is the top speed figure floating around coverage. It now reads 75 mph in some places, while LIVAQ’s FAQ still says around 67 mph. That gap tells you most of what you need to know about where this machine stands. It is fascinating, ambitious, and still asking buyers to trust a startup’s timeline.
What LIVAQ says the EQUAD does
The EQUAD runs two 16 kW hub motors for a claimed 40 kW of peak power through a full-time 4×4 system. Its 15.4 kWh battery is swappable. LIVAQ says it charges at home on a wireless charger. A recharge costs around $4, with annual gas savings of $8,102 versus a gas quad. Those savings and recharge figures are LIVAQ’s claims, not tested results. The 170-mile range figure is a maximum. It will move with terrain, speed, and riding style. The body panels use repurposed carbon fiber, the seat is 4D-printed, and the chassis is modular. Suspension is independent up front with a four-link rear setup, plus power steering, hydraulic brakes, regenerative braking, and 12.5 inches of ground clearance. The whole thing is IP67 rated against dust and water, and it measures 84.2 inches long, 49.6 wide, and 51.5 tall.
The numbers that do not line up
Start with speed. LIVAQ’s FAQ says the EQUAD is estimated to reach around 67 mph. Recent coverage, including the Bless This Stuff piece that put it back on my radar, says LIVAQ advertises 75 mph. Both cannot be the company’s number, and until LIVAQ updates its own spec page, 67 mph is the figure the company itself publishes. Weight is similarly slippery. Early coverage listed 1,010 pounds, while the current FAQ lists 595.2 kg, which works out to about 1,312 pounds. That is a 300-pound difference, and it matters on a machine whose whole pitch is power to weight.
Then there is the price structure. The MSRP is $28,600. Put down a non-refundable $1,000 deposit and the price drops 30 percent to $19,989. Put down a refundable $100 deposit and you get 10 percent off, or $25,689. Do the subtraction. The refundable path costs $5,700 more than the non-refundable one. That is a steep premium for the right to change your mind. For scale, the $19,989 promo price is more than ten times Tesla’s $1,900 kids-sized Cyberquad. That is a useful reminder that the EQUAD is a full-size adult machine, not a toy. And the timeline deserves the same skepticism: LIVAQ delivered its first EQUAD in 2022, talked about Spring 2024 deliveries in 2023, and here in October 2026 the website still leads with a pre-order promotion.
Who this is for, and who should wait
This is a machine for early adopters who enjoy backing ambitious hardware and can live with startup timelines. If you have land, a charger, and patience, the EQUAD is genuinely different from anything gas-powered. It offers quiet running, instant torque, and a swappable battery. LIVAQ is a small Detroit company working out of Newlab, and that scrappiness is part of the appeal. Skip it if you need a machine this season, want a dealer network, or care about resale value. There is no dealer network to point to yet, and a pre-order deposit is a bet on a company, not just a product.
What I would want answered before a deposit
Before I put down either deposit, I would want three things in writing. They are a production schedule with a delivery estimate, warranty terms, and a service plan for when something breaks. LIVAQ says reservation holders get production schedules and delivery estimates by email, which is the right promise, but it is still a promise. I would also want the speed figure settled on LIVAQ’s own spec page. A company that lets coverage run a faster number than its own FAQ invites exactly the kind of doubt that kills pre-orders.
I am still rooting for the EQUAD. The electric ATV category needs something with this much imagination, and LIVAQ’s Detroit story is easy to like. But rooting for a machine is not the same as reserving one. Watch LIVAQ’s spec page, not the headlines. Let the company’s own numbers catch up to the coverage before you send a deposit.
Questions People Ask About the LIVAQ EQUAD
How fast is the LIVAQ EQUAD?
LIVAQ’s own FAQ says the EQUAD is estimated to reach around 67 mph. Some recent coverage says 75 mph, but until LIVAQ updates its own spec page, 67 mph is the company’s published figure.
How much does the EQUAD cost?
The MSRP is $28,600. With the pre-order promotion, a non-refundable $1,000 deposit brings it to $19,989, while a refundable $100 deposit brings it to $25,689. That makes the refundable path $5,700 more expensive.
When can you actually get one?
Pre-orders are open now, and LIVAQ says reservation holders receive production schedules and delivery estimates by email. The first EQUAD was delivered in 2022 and Spring 2024 was once the delivery target, so the timeline has already slipped years.
How far does it go on a charge?
LIVAQ claims up to 170 miles from the 15.4 kWh swappable battery. Real range will depend on terrain, speed, and riding style, and the battery charges at home on a wireless charger.
