
A truck powered by solar energy sets altitude record: it has climbed a volcano in Chile
Chile, south-america
200 km
6,500 m
moderate
Year-round
Forget waiting for better batteries – check out this *solar-powered truck* that just conquered a volcano! Seriously, the Gebrüder Weiss Peak Evolution team took the Terren solar truck all the way up to 6,500 meters (that's over 21,000 feet!) on the Ojos de Salado volcano in Chile, the highest *active* volcano on the planet.
This custom ride is based on an Aebi VT450 Transporter but kitted out with a solar-powered electric system designed by DPP Innovations. The cool part? They want to sell this as a retrofit kit for existing trucks.
The Terren packs two Bosch electric motors cranking out a combined 320 horsepower and is linked to a special transmission that seriously boosts efficiency. It was running a 90 kWh battery pack (good for about 200 km of range while climbing), though the production kit is supposed to have a beefier 140 kWh battery.
To make it to the top, the team had to get creative. They lightened the body with composites, added rear-wheel steering, slapped on some gnarly off-road tires, and even rigged up some hydraulic winches for extra grip. It's a wild build showcasing the power of innovation for eco-friendly adventures!
Where is it?
A truck powered by solar energy sets altitude record: it has climbed a volcano in Chile is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -36.4869, -71.3908
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 200 km
- Max Elevation
- 6,500 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -36.4869, -71.3908
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