zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
Some Crazy Bastards Are Taking A Nissan Leaf On A 10,000-Mile Rally
Some Crazy Bastards Are Taking A Nissan Leaf On A 10,000-Mile Rally-October 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:23

One thing you don’t think electric cars can typically do is rally. Long distances, probably very few charging stations along the way—it doesn’t really sound like a place where an electric car can flourish. And then there’s this .

Created by a company called , this is a modified Nissan Leaf that’s based on the standard 30 kWh version that had a 155-mile range on a single charge. Mods include Speedline SL2 Marmora wheels and Maxsport RB3 tires, welded plates beneath the wishbones, braided brake lines, mudflaps, an aluminum sump guard and a light bar up top.

Weight reduction was the focus for the interior of the car. The back seats and seatbelts were taken out, while a fire extinguisher and a medical kit were placed in the trunk.

The rally itself is the Mongol Rally, which stretches 10,000 miles from the UK to Mongolia, happening this summer. Each team participating in the rally is expected to raise a minimum of £1,000, or about $1,300, for charity. The Leaf will be the first all-electric car to attempt this rally.

Participants have to use small, sub-1.0-liter engined cars because then breakdowns are likelier: drivers have no choice but to interact with locals along the way, which is extremely encouraged. They are “expected to get themselves out of trouble,” asserts the press release brightly.

It’s not a timed race, so Chris Ramsey, founder of Plug In Adventures, said that it’s all about the experience.

“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.”

The rally starts on Sunday, July 16.

I feel strangely protective of this little car. I hope it doesn’t get stranded somewhere.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
You've Probably Never Heard Of The Coolest Canadian Car Ever Built
You've Probably Never Heard Of The Coolest Canadian Car Ever Built
Name a car from the early 1960s built by a famed racing driver with curvy, lightweight aluminum bodywork, a big American engine, and a reputation for being unruly and fast as all hell. Your first thought was probably the famed Shelby Cobra, did you know there was a who...
Oct 18, 2024
Listen To In-Car Audio From Race Cars While You Work
Listen To In-Car Audio From Race Cars While You Work
If you follow racing in the U.S., you probably already know about the . Most of the episodes are too much of a distraction to put on as background noise while you work, but a couple of recent entries in his series have been working incredibly well for me....
Oct 18, 2024
After Delivering 8 Seasons At The Back Of The Grid, Haas F1 Team Dumps Guenther Steiner
After Delivering 8 Seasons At The Back Of The Grid, Haas F1 Team Dumps Guenther Steiner
The partially North Carolina-based squad has determined that after , it needs to mix things up a little. The team’s firebrand has been following an abysmal 2023 season which saw the team score just four points-paying finishes. The team’s , where scored a fourth-place finish, but that season too...
Oct 18, 2024
Local Businesses Want Compensation After Allegedly Losing Money During Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
Local Businesses Want Compensation After Allegedly Losing Money During Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
If you listen to Formula 1 or local officials from Las Vegas and Clark County, you’d probably think November’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix was a success. Some sources estimated that the city of Las Vegas made over $1 billion in revenue from the event — but there were...
Oct 18, 2024
Race Team Would Rather Create A Fake AI Woman Rather Than Hire A Real One
Race Team Would Rather Create A Fake AI Woman Rather Than Hire A Real One
In another unsurprising example of motorsport’s inhospitable mindset toward hiring competent women, the Racing team has announced a new partnership with Ava Rose, a literal , who will... engage with fans? Share knowledge about technology? “Navigate the cutting edge of innovation to create positive change” (whatever that means)? I...
Oct 18, 2024
Get Ready To Spend All Your Money On Retro Formula 1 Merch
Get Ready To Spend All Your Money On Retro Formula 1 Merch
Fellow nerds, get ready to open your wallets, because I’ve found what may be the greatest store of all time. With designs from Formula 1 teams like , you’re sure to find something that fits your particular nostalgic niche. I’d like to introduce you to Racing Retro. I first...
Oct 18, 2024
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved