Nissan LEAF Driving the Mongol Rally as First-Ever All EV Entry
A specifically tweaked Nissan LEAF, the LEAF AT-EV, will be driving the arduous 10,000 miles from the UK to Mongolia during this summer’s Mongol Rally
Photo: Nissan
A specifically tweaked Nissan LEAF will be driving the arduous 10,000 miles from the UK to Mongolia during this summer’s Mongol Rally, “a 10,000-mile charity drive across the mountains, desert, and steppe of Europe and Asia.” Plug-in Adventures, an organization that advocates for “all things EV-related,” is responsible for the modifications of the race-worthy Nissan LEAF.
According to Nissan, the participating LEAF is known as the LEAF AT-EV (All Terrain Electric Vehicle), and features necessary adjustments and enhancements–Speedline SL2 Marmora wheels and Maxsport RB3 narrow tires for driving on unsealed surfaces, braided brake lines, a 6mm aluminum sump guard, mudflaps, and plates welded to the underside of the wishbones–designed to better handle the demanding terrain of the competition; the LEAF AT-EV is modeled after the “standard 30kWH Nissan LEAF Acenta, which offers a range of up to approximately 155 miles on a single charge.”
Nissan adds that external storage is provided by a modified roof rack that is equipped with a Lazer Triple-R 16 LED light bar that is designed to generate “16,400 lumens of supplementary low-voltage forward lighting during the remotest parts of the trip.”
The interior has also been modified to provide comfort over the long haul with added storage space and less weight due to the removal of the rear row of seats and rear seatbelts; the boot space now includes a fire extinguisher and medi kit.
“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.”
News Source: Nissan
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