SCOTTISH husband and wife team Chris and Julie Ramsey, aka Plug In Adventures, have become the first entrants to complete the Mongol Rally in an all-electric vehicle – a modified 2016 Nissan LEAF dubbed the AT-EV (All-Terrain Electric Vehicle).
The history makers crossed the epic cross-Continental rally finish line in Ulan-Ude on Saturday (9 September).
Chris and Julie left the rally start line at Goodwood Motor Circuit in the UK on Sunday 16 July and travelled 8,000 miles through 13 countries, charging their car 111 times for less than £100 in electricity costs to reach the Siberian finish line, just north of the border with Mongolia.
Their Nissan LEAF will now join other Mongol Rally entrants’ vehicles on a cargo train back across the continent to Estonia, where Chris and Julie will continue the drive back to their hometown of Aberdeen, a further 2,500 miles. In total the pair will clock up more than 10,500 miles during the trip.
Chris Ramsey said; “There were a number of detractors who told me an electric car isn’t capable of long-distance journeys. Well after thousands of miles and almost zero problems, I can tell you that is not the case. This has been the absolute trip of a lifetime and I can’t believe we’re now at the finishing line. We’ve travelled through countless countries using just battery power and zero emissions. I’m elated, ecstatic, a bit exhausted, but also completely electrified!”
Throughout Europe, Chris and Julie had the use of an extensive rapid charger network, which can provide an 80% battery charge in just 30 minutes. However, once they got into Bulgaria and beyond, they faced a dwindling number of rapid charge options and instead turned to a variety of alternatives for electric power.
These included Bars, Cafes, Hotels, Hostels, a Barbershop, a Post Office, Garages, Car Dealerships, a Tractor Showroom, a Police Station, and three Fire Stations in Russia. They even had a trained electrician plug their LEAF directly into an electricity pylon in the middle of the woods in Siberia.
Chris and Julie enjoyed the goodwill of people in every country they travelled through, only paying for electricity at a handful of charges. Rarely did anyone turn down the team’s request to plug in their car and on top of that they were frequently offered drinks, food and even accommodation for the night.
Chris said: “We’ve been shown some of the best hospitality we could have hoped for. It’s certainly changed our perspective of how we should behave when we get home. One example that sticks out was when we turned up at a Nissan dealer in Russia at 2am. There was a chap waiting for us and he plugged our car in securely in the workshop, then led us into the showroom where he gave us tea, food and comfy sofas to sleep on.”
The Nissan LEAF also proved a trusty companion. Chris said; “In terms of vehicle reliability, the car’s been brilliant. We’ve had one puncture, one damaged alloy wheel, a mud flap came off and someone stole one of our stickers. That’s it!”
On the challenges that faced the pair, Chris added: “There were of course a couple of low points. Illness hit us in the later stages of the journey which was hard, but other than that, it’s been fine. Some of the longer charge times at petrol stations in the middle of nowhere left us feeling a bit low, but then when you pull into a small town or village and you’re greeted warmly by the locals it just lifts you up and it’s such a thrill.”
Whilst on the journey, the Plug In Adventures team was keen to promote the benefits of running an all-electric vehicle and they found interest in the car and their journey in all the countries they visited. Chris was even invited to take part in a series of panel discussions at the Astana International Exposition, bringing the 2017 theme, ‘Future Energy’, to life. The LEAF AT-EV was also put on display at the expo.
The team also tackled some of Europe and Asia’s amazing roads including the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania. A winding mountain pass, which provided a healthy amount of regenerative braking in the car’s B-mode.
The longest stretch the couple did on a single charge with their fully loaded vehicle was 115 miles, pulling in to charge with 6% capacity left. On average Chris and Julie were logging 95 miles between charges, keeping enough spare battery power once they got to the charging locations in case they needed to find an alternate energy source.
Julie Ramsey said: “This has been a trip of a lifetime. We’ve eaten unusual foods, slept in weird locations and even travelled on a cargo ship. We’ve met the most amazing people and been overwhelmed by both the generosity and the interest in our electric adventure.
“I’d say this trip probably isn’t for everyone. It’s certainly been challenging at times. However, the experiences we’ve had and the people we’ve met along the way has been priceless. I think we’d do it all over again in an instant!”
Countries travelled through so far are Scotland, England, France, Belgum, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the finish line in Russia.
They’re planning to travel through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, England and Scotland on their trip home.
Charging facts:
• 111 vehicle charges
• 26 were ‘rapid’ (80% charge in 30 minutes)
• 15 were ‘fast’ (Mennekes Type 2 for a 4-5 hour charge)
• The rest using domestic plug sockets (12-14 hour charge)
Total cost of electricity to charge the LEAF AT-EV: Less than £100 estimated
