Iqaluit (Jan 10/05) - It never fails: just as you drift off to sleep, a noisy snowmobile whizzes by and jars you from peaceful slumber.

But this may change in the not-so-distant future. Researchers at McGill University say they're "leading the way" with a cleaner and quieter snowmobile. For the past year, the McGill University Electric Snowmobile Team has been developing the prototype of an electric snowmobile.

The battery-powered machine promises to be much quieter, with no gas emissions.

One snowmobile manufacturer, Arctic Cat, is already on the quieter-drive bandwagon.

Arctic Cat introduced the Bear Cat Four Stroke and T6 60 Touring, also with a four stroke engine, five years ago. The sleds cost from $9,000 up to $13,000.

But the quiet snowmobile trend has yet to take full hold in the North.

For some, like David Kelly, it's all about breaking the sound barrier with all-out speed.

Kelly won the gruelling 320 km Nunavut Snow Challenge in 2004.

He said he occasionally Skidoos at night, but only when he has to.

"Just to get somewhere," he said. "Like if I have to pick something up, or if I'm visiting, or going home."

The noise his sled makes is the least of his worries. It's the temperature that gets to him after a while.

"It gets too cold when you drive at night," said Kelly.

This is not a small statement coming from a guy who braved the elements from Kimmirut to Iqaluit last March.

Allen Immingark, 33, in Kugaaruk drives a Polaris with a 550 engine and 440 touring body.

He has heard about the quieter snowmobile and said he thinks it's a good idea.

Kugaaruk is a "Polaris community" (rather than Arctic Cat) mainly because they only have the one Yamaha dealership in town. Immingark has been driving around on a snowmobile for as long as he can remember and knows how annoying noisy sleds can be at night.

"Ninety-five per cent of people here have snowmobiles," said Immingark.

He is open to the quieter and cleaner snowmobile no matter who makes them.

He doesn't think the quietness makes them more dangerous for pedestrians who cannot hear them coming, like some critics say.

"They are like cars," said Immingark. "If the headlights are working properly it should be fine. It depends on the driver."