The Max Adventure workforce has completed the Driven To Extremes Euro EV Marathon and pushed a totally electrical Kia EV6 Air from Oslo, Norway, to Portugal, beating its unique goal by arriving in simply 3.75 days and having added an additional nation to its itinerary.
Covering 16 international locations and three,174 miles (5,109 kms) in somewhat over 89 hours, the problem was designed to indicate how straightforward it’s to cowl large distances in a short while utilizing a normal EV and present charging infrastructure. The journey began because the workforce had been waved off from Kia’s Norwegian headquarters in Oslo, with Kia Portugal in Lisbon welcoming the travellers at journey’s finish.
The workforce improved on the time set by racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, who undertook the drive in 1952, by 47 minutes. This is known to be the primary time the route has been tried in a totally electrical automobile. Having completed the epic 3,174-mile journey, the workforce arrived in Lisbon to mark World EV Day on September 9th.
Using the Kia EV6 Air’s spectacular vary and 800V rapid-charging expertise to most impact, the workforce additionally relied on ‘Kia Charge’ to chop the journey time. Allowing straightforward recharging, the ‘Kia Charge’ service lets EV homeowners entry greater than 400,000 public chargers throughout Europe from a single account with a single RFID card. This supplied the workforce with fast charging places alongside its route, enabling them to get again on the highway as rapidly as attainable after every cease. The EV6’s fast charging expertise was important to the workforce’s recorded time.
Speaking of the problem, Project Leader Mac Mackenney mentioned: “This wasn’t about trying to beat Sir Stirling, but demonstrate that mammoth trans-continental drives in an EV can easily be undertaken here and now in 2022. Many people still view EVs as ineffective or unable to cope as a daily means of transport outside of city life, but the Kia EV6, and the charging network show that just isn’t true.”
We’d prefer to thank Kia UK, in addition to Kia Norway and Kia Portugal, for his or her assist and hospitality, and need to recognise the keenness and kindness we’ve skilled on the highway as we’ve travelled from the highest of Europe to the underside.”
Originally aspiring to cowl 15 international locations in 120 hours, the workforce had been in a position to shave greater than a day and add an additional cease to their itinerary after it turned clear simply how rapidly they might cowl the gap. Only stopping to cost and alter drivers, the workforce operated in shifts and adhered to the velocity limits of every nation visited.
Despite recording the journey, the drive wasn’t about setting the quickest time attainable, and the workforce made detours to honour Sir Stirling alongside the best way. This included the 7,500-foot excessive Julier Pass within the Swiss Alps, a part of the unique 1952 route, and Monaco, which allowed the workforce to drive the historic Grand Prix circuit.
In addition to the assist of Kia UK, and the beneficiant mortgage of an EV6 ‘Air’ for the problem, challenge accomplice Kumho Tyre (UK) provided the ECSTA PS71 EV tyre that’s unique match on the problem automobile and used all through the trial. Partner DFDS supplied ferry crossings to France after which once more to the beginning level in Oslo to make sure that the workforce had been as rested as attainable forward of the marathon drive. Keeping everybody fed and nourished, the AMG Group provided Wayfarer expedition rations to make sure workforce meals had been fast and fuss free.
Leaving Oslo, the workforce set a course for the border with Sweden. From there it was vacation spot Denmark earlier than driving by way of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Monaco, Spain and at last Portugal.
The workforce departed on Sunday, 5th September at 15:00 and crossed the border into Portugal, at Vilar Formoso on Thursday, 8th September at 08:12. This marked the beginning and cease level for the timing – as per the unique drive in 1952.
The total journey was tracked by challenge accomplice YB Tracking, and the route hint is out there at https://yb.tl/evmarathon
The Driven To Extremes Euro EV Marathon
The ‘Driven to Extremes Euro EV Marathon’ was impressed by the journey undertaken by Stirling Moss in 1952. A publicity stunt to advertise the then-new Humber Super Snipe 4-door saloon, the legendary racing driver, alongside with three of his ‘fast friends’, visited 15 European international locations in lower than 5 days.
2022’s problem provides that journey a contemporary perspective, and concluded on World EV Day, September 9th. Traveling from Oslo to Lisbon, driving roughly 200-mile legs at a time, and utilizing Europe’s public charging community all through, the problem used one of the vital achieved electrical automobiles accessible right now.
With a WLTP mixed vary of as much as 328 miles on a single cost, the Kia EV6 ‘Air’ was the proper automobile for the Driven To Extremes workforce to deal with the three,174-mile marathon. With its spacious cabin and lengthy wheelbase, the automobile supplied consolation throughout this 89-hour drive, whereas its 800V ultra-rapid charging expertise stored pit stops to a minimal. Capable of taking the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in simply 18 minutes when utilizing a 350kW charger, or from 10 to 80 per cent in 1 hour 13 minutes utilizing a 50kW charger, the Kia EV6 allowed the workforce to select optimum stopping factors alongside the best way.
To make sure the workforce had the absolute best probability of finishing the problem in time it additionally used ‘Kia Charge’. Providing quick access to chargers throughout all components of the UK, Northern Ireland and Europe, ‘Kia Charge’ lets homeowners select from 23 cost level operators within the UK by way of a single account, and dozens extra throughout Europe. ‘Kia Charge’ offers instantaneous entry to greater than 21,000 connectors throughout the UK – equal to roughly 70% of the nationwide public infrastructure – and greater than 400,000 throughout 29 European international locations, all from a single account.
From its departure level at Kia’s Norwegian headquarters in Lørenskog on the outskirts of Oslo, the workforce of drivers used important roads and bridges to cowl the three,174 miles and the journey was tracked always by a GPS system. The route hint is out there by way of accomplice YB Tracking: https://yb.tl/evmarathon. The workforce of three took turns behind the wheel of the EV6, driving, resting and navigating – with stops made for driver swaps, workforce relaxation and automobile charging. A assist automobile, additionally provided by Kia, accompanied the EV6 to doc the drive, carrying a pictures and movie crew.
To interview challenge chief Mac Mackenney concerning the Euro EV Marathon, please use the media contact particulars under.
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