Believe it or not, some of today's sleds don't even need reindeer to zip around the world. The all-electric LEAF-Sled is the first of its kind that doesn't require being fed with lichen and therefore produces no emissions.
The following review is based on a road, snow, and sky test.
What is a LEAF-Sled?
The LEAF-Sled is pretty much identical to a conventional sled, except that it runs on electricity. That and the fact that the manufacturer had to develop a high-capacity battery and special charging stations to withstand the frigid temperatures at the North Pole.
LEAF-Sled Price and Specs
The priceless LEAF-Sled proudly wears a “Zero Emission” badge on the hood, so now you don't have to bother with feeding your reindeer with regular-grade or premium lichen.
Inside the LEAF-Sled you'll immediately notice the large cargo area for hauling all those gifts to the good little boys and girls on the planet. The battery does take away a bit of space, but since modern kids ask for a lot more tablets and iPods than giant stuffed animals, it's all alright.
Driving the LEAF-Sled
This all-electric sled gives new meaning to Silent Night: You don't hear hooves tapping upon takeoff or Rudolph and co.'s little bells chiming endlessly as you cruise through the midnight sky. Instead, the LEAF-Sled quietly glides under the stars and lands on roofs without disturbing the young children from their sweet slumber.
Of course, the biggest drawback of the battery-powered LEAF-Sled is limited range -- approximately 10,000 kilometres with a full charge. That means you'd better plan your trips ahead and locate the SCFC (Santa Claus Fast Charging) stations along the way. Otherwise, you'll have to rely on standard earthly power when you stop by a human's house, which takes a lot of time and can be dangerous, too: This author once got caught in an elf trap while trying to plug a LEAF-Sled into a power outlet.
Wrapping up the LEAF-Sled
If one of your main concerns is to protect reindeer and help preserve lichen, then the new LEAF-Sled will make you happy. Delivering all the gifts might take an extra day or two, but that should only make Boxing Day a little less frantic!