LONDON – Electric vehicle advocate Plug In Adventures has created a specially modified Nissan LEAF that will be the first all-electric car to enter the Mongol Rally*, driving 10,000 miles (16,000 km) from the UK to Mongolia in summer 2017.
Dubbed the LEAF AT-EV (All Terrain Electric Vehicle), this electric Nissan has been upgraded to withstand the grueling journey. The LEAF AT-EV has been fitted with Speedline SL2 Marmora wheels and Maxsport RB3 narrow tires for better performance on unsealed roads. Welded plates to the underside of the wishbones, braided brake lines, mudflaps and a 6mm aluminum sump guard add further protection from rough terrain.
A modified roof rack provides external storage and is fitted with a Lazer Triple-R 16 LED light bar to produce 16,400 lumens of supplementary low-voltage forward lighting during the remotest parts of the trip.
As the Mongol Rally isn’t a timed race, the entrants’ vehicles ideally provide long distance comfort. The interior modifications to the LEAF AT-EV have been focused on reducing weight and providing more storage space. The driver and front passenger area is unmodified apart from the addition of rubber floor mats. The rear row of seats and rear seatbelts have been completely removed, contributing to a 32kg weight loss. A Fire Extinguisher and Medi Kit have also been integrated into the boot space.
The modifications to the LEAF AT-EV were carried out by RML Group, a leading high performance automotive engineering company based in the UK.
“The Mongol Rally is our most challenging electric vehicle drive to date, but it’s one we’ve been planning for a number of years,” said Chris Ramsey, founder of Plug In Adventures. “Not only will we face a dwindling number of EV chargers the farther east we go, the terrain also becomes more difficult to navigate. Using a Nissan LEAF for this was an obvious decision. I’m familiar with the car; it’s always been reliable and dependable for me, and it has the largest network of rapid charging options in Europe. As it will also accept a 240v Commando connection even in the remote areas when my fast-charge options are gone, I can still charge the battery and keep moving. This journey is about the travel experience, though – not reaching the destination in a fast time. I can’t wait to get out on the road and introduce more people to the advantages of electric vehicles, whatever country they’re from.”
Ramsey plans to make regular stops along the way to promote the benefits of running an all-electric vehicle to residents of the countries he’s passing through. He’ll also be using the What3Words platform to log the locations of some of the uncharted charging network, so that future EV drivers traversing the region can benefit from accurate charging point locations.
“Since we launched the LEAF in 2010, our customers have collectively driven over three billion kilometers, saving more than 500 million kilograms of CO2 emissions in the process**,” said Gareth Dunsmore, director of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe. “Our ‘Electrify the World’ initiative connects stories from these people who are living an electric lifestyle. Few Nissan LEAF owners have been more vocal or accomplished as Plug In Adventures at demonstrating that electric vehicles can do so much more than the daily commute. We applaud this ambitious driving challenge and wish them a safe and enjoyable journey.”
Are u ready to #ElectrifyTheWorld ⚡️ My @NissanEV_UK #LEAF I am. Join my #EV adventure this summer #NissanAdventures pic.twitter.com/t1aABfTFxp
— Plug In Adventures (@pluginadventure) April 26, 2017
Guess what? @PlugInAdventures will be the first to take on the Mongol Rally in an #EV – driving a special #NissanLEAF! #ElectrifyTheWorld pic.twitter.com/mnPmD0XfqO
— Nissan Electric UK (@NissanEV_UK) April 26, 2017
About Plug In Adventures
Plug In Adventures was founded by Chris Ramsey in 2011 and was born from a combined passion for adventure and electric vehicles. Comprising a group of EV enthusiasts based in Scotland, its aim is to engage with the public in unique and different ways, championing all things EV-related.
Plug In Adventures is no stranger to putting electric cars through epic drives. In September 2015, they took just two days to finish the 1,652-mile journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back again in a Nissan LEAF 24kWh, using only publicly available and free EV charging points.
In April 2016 they completed the North Coast 500 in a LEAF 30kWh. The challenging 516-mile circuitous route around the Highlands of Scotland is pitched as “Scotland’s answer to Route 66.”
The Mongol Rally is the culmination of this series of EV adventures that Chris created for himself as training – all building to this significant and challenging journey.
Follow @Pluginadventure on Twitter or visit Facebook.com/pluginadventures to keep up with their journey.
About the Mongol Rally
The Mongol Rally is a 10,000-mile charity drive across the mountains, desert and steppe of Europe and Asia. It takes place each summer and first started in 2004. The event is organized by The Adventurists (TheAdventurists.com), which run a number of events that have raised £5million for charity to date. Each team in the Mongol Rally is expected to raise a minimum of £1000 for charity.
The rules state that participants must drive a small, sub-1.0-liter engine car as it will make the event more of a challenge with a greater chance of a breakdown meaning drivers can interact with locals along the way. The drive is unsupported with no on the road backup. Participants are expected to get themselves out of trouble.
For 2017, The Adventurists have supported Chris’ decision to enter the rally with the LEAF AT-EV, so that it can become the first electric vehicle to attempt the journey and highlight the organization’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.
The 2017 Mongol Rally launches on Sunday, July 16.
Notes to Editors:
* Plug in Adventures – and not Nissan Motor (GB) – is independently entering and participating in this event.
** Totals based on estimates from Nissan’s Global Data Center (GDC) as of March 2017. The total distance travelled and the amount of CO2 emissions saved by Nissan LEAFs globally is an assumption based on data gathered from Nissan LEAFs registered with NissanConnect EV, approximately 50 percent of total sales globally.
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,000 staff across locally based design, research development, manufacturing, logistics and sales marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 660,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, commercial vehicles and the Nissan LEAF, the world’s most popular electric vehicle. Pursuing a goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan is leading the field with its vision of Intelligent Mobility. Designed to guide Nissan’s product and technology pipeline, this 360 degree approach to the future of mobility will anchor critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society. Nissan is positioned to become the most desirable Asian brand in Europe.
http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2015, the company sold more than 5.4 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 12.2 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world’s best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan manages operations in six regions: ASEAN Oceania; Africa, Middle East India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America. Nissan has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and Mitsubishi Motors since 2016 under the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/. You can also follow @NissanMotor on Twitter.
# # #
Contact
Cedric Ratinaud
Intelligent Mobility and Corporate Communications
CRatinaud@nissan-europe.com
Phone: +33616643481
Kayleigh Edwards
Intelligent Mobility and Corporate Communications
Kayleigh.Edwards@ntc-europe.co.uk
Phone: +441234755860