Nissan

Nissan

Nissan

Nissan

Nissan

Nissan

With the public charging infrastructure for electric cars expanding apace and Tesla Superchargers popping up like mushrooms, the concept of driving a few hundred miles in an EV is no longer as absurd a suggestion as it was just a couple of years ago. But ten thousand miles across Europe and central Asia? Come on now.

That’s exactly what Chris Ramsey of Plug In Adventures plans to do, entering an all-electric Nissan Leaf in the 2017 Mongol Rally charity run. It’s the first time an electric vehicle has entered the event.

The Mongol Rally for those new to the name is an adventure-based (i.e. you win just by finishing) drive from Goodwood Circuit near Chichester to Ulan-Ude in Siberia. That’s nearly 7,000 miles as the crow flies, or as Google Maps plots a direct course. The rally organisers reckon that most cars will follow a 10,000-mile scenic route that takes in large parts of Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

If you envisaged the Leaf AT-EV (all terrain electric vehicle) being some sort of monster electric Group B rally machine you are in for a disappointment. Ramsey’s car is surprisingly similar to the ones you will see on a dealer forecourt. The 30kW battery is standard and so is the optimal driving range of 150-odd miles. Ditto the 110bhp/80kW traction motor.

External changes to the Leaf AT-EV (carried out by performance specialists RML Group) amount to no more than the fitting of Speedline SL2 Marmora wheels and Maxsport RB3 tyres, welding plates to the underside of the wishbones, fitting braided brake lines and mudflaps, and attaching a 6mm aluminium sump guard to protect the suspension, EVs not having sumps. Spacers have been added to the suspension to add a few inches to the ground clearance, too.

There’s also a bespoke roof rack with an LED lighting rig that can generate 16,400 lumens of supplementary low-voltage forward lighting for the when the street lights really become few and far between.

Internally things are even less different. The rear seats and internal trim have been ripped out to save 32 kilos, though this will be eaten up by the kit Ramsey and his wife will have to load up to make the trip. A bespoke box now covers the battery which was thought too exposed after the rear trim was removed. Other than that and some rubber floor mats the interior is standard.