If you think EVs are slow, stodgy, and extremely limited by range, you’re in for a surprise.
Come next March, a Nissan Ariya piloted by British adventurer Chris Ramsey will attempt a 17,000-mile run from the North to the South Pole, a journey in which the EV will face temperatures ranging from 20 below to 90 above, while navigating across glaciers, deserts, and rain forests.
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Ramsey isn’t alone in pushing to the limits with a battery-electric vehicle. German Reiner Zietlow has captured an assortment of world records using EVs, most recently taking a Volkswagen ID.4 to the 19,000-foot summit of the dormant Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia.
In recent years, EVs have become an increasingly common presence during the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and there will be more on hand when the next event takes place on the last Sunday in June.
The latest battery-electric vehicles are quick, fun to drive, and are pushing to the extremes, whether on the race track or traveling in environments that would challenge even the most rugged gas- and diesel-powered models.
Battery-electric vehicles have also become more commonplace on race tracks, with series such as the Formula E and Extreme E.
EV sales have risen sharply over the last 5 years, with as many as one in four Americans now seriously considering one. And such feats may be a factor in winning over skeptics.
Electric Vehicles Tackle Extreme Adventures
“Our mission is to show that electric vehicles can tackle the harshest of environments — from the bitter cold of the poles to the hot and humid jungles of South America and illustrate that they are exhilarating to drive whilst meeting the daily demands of drivers around the world,” said Ramsey, who has already set a number of records with battery-electric vehicles.
He was the first to use one to complete the 10,000-mile Mongol Rally. He also holds the world record for traveling the farthest on an electric bike in 12 hours — clocking 180.75 miles. Ramsey’s ties to Nissan began in 2015 when he and his wife completed a 1,652-mile run in a short-range Nissan Leaf while only using public chargers.
The Ariya he will use for the Pole-to-Pole run will have a number of modifications to its body and suspension, including flared fenders and all-terrain tires. But it will rely on the same dual-motor e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system, making 389 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, found in the production vehicle.
Zietlow similarly stuck as much as possible to stock drivetrain technology to prove the capabilities of his Volkswagen ID.4.
“Our aim was to demonstrate that electro-mobility can perform well even at extreme altitudes,” said the German adventurer, who now has set five Guinness World Records.
From Track to Showroom
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Going to Extremes
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Modern Electric Vehicles for All
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Winning Over Buyers
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