Reaching 21,325ft: A Height Above Sea Level
The phrase “aim high” has been taken literally by Swiss transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss, who have just set a new altitude record for EVs. Terren, their big rig, was the vehicle chosen to embark on this grand adventure, taking it to the western ridge of Ojos del Salado in Chile. This is the highest active volcano in the world, and the place where a Porsche 911 with portal axles recently set an altitude record.
The sports car powered by synthetic fuel managed to ascend 22,093 feet (6,734 meters) above sea level, a remarkable feat. But the off-road truck didn’t fall short either, reaching a height of 21,325 feet (6,500 meters). This achievement has set a new record for electric vehicles, surpassing the one held by the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, which in May 2022 had managed to climb the Uturuncu volcano in Quetena Chico, Bolivia up to 19,081 feet (5,816 meters).
The innovative and solar-sourced Terren is being lauded as a hybrid-platform freight-hauler crafted by Aebi Schmidt. This corporation hails from Switzerland and is well known in the industry for its agricultural machinery and large-scale equipment. Its prototype has drawn from the renowned Aebi VT450 Transporter, while also offering rear wheel maneuverability. Boasting a capacious 90-kWh accumulator, it can traverse up to 200km (124mi) on a single charge. When Festigation goes into production, an even greater battery capacity that exceeds 140 kWh will be made available; extending the range of the vehicle further.
Motivation is driven by a duo of electric engines capable of generating a combined 380 horsepower. Being that Ojos del Salado is out of civilization, the roof of Terren was permanently adorned with solar panels measuring 86 square feet (8 square meters) to power up the battery.In addition, another 301 square feet (28 square meters) of portable photovoltaics were deployed in daylight. The creators of the project assert that harvesting energy from the sun for five hours provides a range of around 93 miles (150 kilometers).
The history-making venture began at the Maricunga salt lake, getting underway with preliminary excursions at an elevation of 11,154 ft (3,400 m). In late November, Terren reached a critical milestone by surpassing the 6,000 meter mark. This was followed by an even more triumphant moment one week later, when it topped 21,325 ft (6,500 m) – all entirely on solar power!
Source: Gebrüder Weiss
