The Driven to Extremes team, which is aiming to drive a fully electric Kia EV6 from Oslo in Norway to Lisbon in Portugal over just five days, has left on its epic 3,600-mile adventure.
Covering 15 countries in 120 hours, the challenge is inspired by an endurance test completed by Sir Stirling Moss 70 years ago, and designed to show that it’s possible to cover a huge distance in a short time using an electric car and existing charging infrastructure.
With the support of Kia UK, as well as Kumho Tyre UK, DFDS and Newspress, the team is aiming to arrive in Lisbon on September 9th to mark World EV Day. Understood to be the first time the route has been attempted in a fully electric vehicle as a continuous trip, the team will look to make the most of the Kia EV6’s range and rapid charging technology to complete the epic adventure.
Having left Oslo, waved off from Kia’s Norwegian headquarters, the team set course for the border with Sweden. From there it’s destination Denmark before driving through Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, Yugoslavia, Monaco, Spain and finally Portugal. The team aim to complete the route in in five days, only stopping to charge and change drivers.
The ‘Driven to Extremes Euro EV Marathon’ draws on the adventure undertaken by Stirling Moss in 1952. A publicity stunt to promote the then-new Humber Super Snipe 4-door saloon, the legendary racing driver, along with three of his ‘fast friends’, visited 15 European countries in less than five days.
2022’s challenge gives that journey a modern perspective, and will conclude on World EV Day, 9th September, when the team crosses the finish line. Traveling from Oslo to Lisbon, driving roughly 200-mile legs at a time, and using Europe’s public charging network throughout, the challenge will use one of the most accomplished electric vehicles available today.
The Kia EV6 will cover 15 countries in 120 hours.
With a WLTP range of 328 miles on a single charge, the Kia EV6 ‘Air’ is perhaps the perfect car for the Driven To Extremes team to tackle the 3,600-mile marathon. With its spacious cabin and long wheelbase, the car will provide comfort during this 120-hour drive, while its 800V ultra-rapid charging technology will keep pit stops to a minimum.
Capable of taking the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes when using a 350kW charger, or from 10 to 80 per cent in 1 hour 13 minutes using a 50kW charger, the Kia EV6 will allow the team to pick optimal stopping points along the way.
From its departure point at Kia’s Norwegian headquarters in Lørenskog on the outskirts of Oslo, the team of drivers will use main roads and bridges to cover the 3,600 miles and the adventure will be tracked at all times by a GPS system. The team of three will take turns behind the wheel of the EV6, resting and navigating – with the only planned stops made for driver swaps and electric car charging. A support vehicle, also supplied by Kia, will accompany the EV6 to document the drive, carrying a photography and film crew.
