Can an electric car cope with modern demands and even long distances? The Max Adventure
team thinks so and has proven it by driving a fully electric Kia EV6 Air from Norway to Portugal, taking in another 14 countries on the way.
The journey, all 3,174 miles of it, took just 89 hours, including time to stop and recharge the Kia EV6. Designed to show how easy it is to cover considerable distances in a short time using a standard EV and existing charging infrastructure, the adventure started at Kia’s Norwegian headquarters in Oslo, with Kia Portugal in Lisbon welcoming the travellers at the journey’s end.
The ‘Driven to Extremes Euro EV Marathon’ was inspired by the adventure undertaken by Stirling Moss in 1952. In a publicity stunt to promote the then-new Humber Super Snipe saloon, the legendary racing driver and three of his ‘fast friends’ visited 15 European countries in less than five days.
The 2022 team departed on Sunday, 5th September at 15:00 and crossed the border into Portugal at Vilar Formoso on Thursday, 8th September at 08:12. This marked the start and stop point for the timing – as per the original drive in 1952, and had them beating Moss’ time by 47 minutes. Having completed the adventure, the team arrived in Lisbon to mark World EV Day on September 9th.
Regarding the challenge, Project Leader Mac Mackenney said: “This wasn’t about trying to beat Sir Stirling, but demonstrate that mammoth trans-continental drives in an EV can easily be undertaken here and now in 2022. Many people still view EVs as ineffective or unable to cope as a daily means of transport outside of city life, but the Kia EV6, and the charging network show that just isn’t true.”
The Route
Originally intending to cover 15 countries in 120 hours, the team were able to shave more than a day and add an extra stop to their itinerary after it became clear just how quickly they could cover the distance, only stopping to charge and change drivers.
The drive wasn’t about setting the fastest time possible, so the team endeavoured to honour Sir Stirling along the way. This included taking the Kia EV6 on an adventure to the 7,500-foot high Julier Pass in the Swiss Alps, part of the original 1952 route, and Monaco, which allowed the team to drive the historic Grand Prix circuit.
Leaving Oslo, the team set a course for the border with Sweden. From there, it was to Denmark before driving through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Monaco, Spain and finally Portugal.
Kia Support
The team selected the Kia EV6 for the adventure as, with a range of up to 328 miles, it was the perfect car for the team to tackle the journey. Fortunately, it also has a spacious cabin, providing plenty of comfort during this 89-hour drive.
Ultra-rapid 800-volt charging technology kept pit stops to a minimum, too. While not all chargers can manage it, it’s possible to charge the battery from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes using a 350kW charger. A more common 50kW charger manages the same in 1 hour and 13 minutes, still allowing the team to pick optimal stopping points.
To ensure the team had the best possible chance of completing the challenge in time, it also used Kia Charge. Providing easy access to chargers across all parts of the UK, Northern Ireland and Europe, Kia Charge lets owners choose from 23 charge point operators in the UK via a single account and dozens more across Europe. Kia Charge provides instant access to more than 21,000 connectors across the UK – equivalent to approximately 70% of the national public infrastructure – and more than 400,000 across 29 European countries, all from a single account.
As well as support from Kia UK and OEM tyre suppliers Kumho, the team was backed by DFDS providing ferry crossings, while the AMG Group supplied Wayfarer expedition rations to ensure team meals were quick and fuss-free.
- The Dalmore Aged 17 Years joins Principal Collection - 3 February 2026
- Jacob & Co Unleashes the £270,000 Bugatti Tourbillon Timepiece - 29 June 2024
- The Kabuto x Thierry Henry Collection — Smart Suitcases for the Modern Traveller - 24 June 2024