Nissan LEAF AT-EV “Going Off The Grid” — Driving 10,000 Miles From UK To Mongolia This Summer

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Nissan reports that Plug In Adventures has created a specially modified Nissan LEAF for a unique tour.

Pioneered with a purpose as the first Nissan LEAF going an immense distance “off the grid,” it will be the first all-electric car to enter the Mongol Rally.

That means the special Nissan LEAF — dubbed LEAF AT-EV (All Terrain Electric Vehicle) — plans to drive 10,000 miles (16,000 km) from the UK to Mongolia this summer.

https://twitter.com/NissanEV_UK/status/857194005695799296

The modified LEAF is based on a normal 30 kWh LEAF like you can get at practically any Nissan dealership in the world. However, it has certain technical modifications for the parts of the Mongol Rally that are off the beaten track. Nissan and Plug In Adventures can better tell you about those:

“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.”

It’s a fascinating use of a Nissan LEAF, which is my daily driver in an urban environment. It is perfect for that use, as I’ve detailed for 1½ years here on CleanTechnica, but I’d never think of it as an off-road vehicle. Now I do. That said, none of its talents in this arena surprise me, since I have thoroughly enjoyed its handling, low center of gravity, smooth ride, versatility, and comfort in various environments. Of course, Plug In Adventures put in a lot of work to make it fit for something as extreme as the Mongol Rally.

“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.”

Doing good along the way, Ramsey will chart charging point locations for future uses. Also, Ramsey plans to make regular stops to promote the benefits of running an all-electric vehicle. Residents of the countries he’s passing through will learn about clean EVs and where to charge: “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 location.”

The Nissan LEAF is an ideal choice for this fun charity drive for various reasons, including the fact that it’s the top-selling electric car in history. The LEAF is loved by hundreds of thousands of early adopters across Europe, North America, Japan, and elsewhere. In total, 3 billion kilometers have been logged in Nissan LEAFs, cutting approximately 500 million kilograms of potential CO2 pollution, Gareth Dunsmore, director of Electric Vehicles at Nissan Europe, notes.

“Our ‘Electrify the World’ initiative connects stories from these people who are living an electric lifestyle,” Gareth adds. “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.”

I can say that I have driven to and through several cities in Southwest Florida in a 2015 Nissan LEAF in the past 1½ years. Even the existing charging network is adequate for regional transport for work and pleasure, and it is getting better by the week. It’s still not quite “convenient” for day trips too far away, but if you plan and have useful things to do while charging, it’s simply a different lifestyle. The long-distance potential of the 30 kWh Nissan LEAF doesn’t surprise me, and I’m happy to see more attention put on it.

Related Stories:

Are These Renderings The Next-Gen Nissan LEAF?

Audi Will Withdraw From Endurance Racing To Concentrate On Formula E


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Cynthia Shahan

Cynthia Shahan, started writing after previously doing research and publishing work on natural birth practices. Words can be used improperly depending on the culture you are in. (Several unrelated publications) She has a degree in Education, Anthropology, Creative Writing, and was tutored in Art as a young child thanks to her father the Doctor. Pronouns: She/Her

Cynthia Shahan has 947 posts and counting. See all posts by Cynthia Shahan