OVERDRIVE inaugurates the world's highest EV charging station at 15,280 ft at Pang

OVERDRIVE along with Audi India, ABB India and LionCharge, installs 5 fast-charging stations along the Chandigarh - Leh highway, making this route accessible to electric vehicles.

OVERDRIVE, India's premier automotive media source, has established the world's highest EV charger in Pang, at a height of 15,280 feet. This is one of five high-altitude DC fast-chargers being installed by OVERDRIVE in collaboration with Audi India, ABB India, and LionCharge along the Chandigarh-Leh route. This will allow all-electric automobiles in India to travel along one of the country's most renowned road trips.

To demonstrate the utility of this initiative, the OVERDRIVE team embarked on a 4-day drive from Chandigarh to Leh in an Audi e-tron electric SUV. Over the course of this drive, the Audi e-tron will cover over 700kms in some of the most challenging conditions an EV has been subjected to in India. The Audi e-tron driven by the OVERDRIVE team traversed four high mountain passes, which make up some of the highest motorable roads anywhere in the world. These included Baralacha La, Nakee La, Lachalung La and Tanglang La. Along this journey, the Audi e-tron was also one of the first EVs to drive through the Atal Tunnel and enter the Lahaul and Spiti valley.

Bertrand D'souza, Chief-Editor at OVERDRIVE said, "The delicate ecology of the Ladakh region is already threatened with ever-rising footfalls and the accompanying pollution. Making this destination accessible via clean energy will be a significant step towards minimizing this negative impact".

The drive culminated here with the inauguration of the charger in the presence of Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Member of Parliament and Tashi Gyalson, Hon'ble Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh and Capt. Ravinder Chawla, Assistant Vice President, Spice Shuttle Pvt. Ltd.

Over the course of this journey, the OVERDRIVE team used the chargers set up by LionCharge and ABB India. This adventurous route, one of the toughest in the world, is now equipped with five Terra 22 kW Smart AC Type 2 fast chargers at strategic locations around Mandi, Manali, Jispa, Pang and Leh. LionCharge now operates the world's highest charging station at 15,280 ft at Pang.

The first charge was provided at Audi Chandigarh, which offers EV facilities to EVs from any manufacturer. The second charger is set up at Mandi, 193 km later, followed by one at The Himalayan Resort in Manali, 105 km away. Continuing up to Leh, the next charger is at Padma Lodge, Jispa, 138 km from Manali, the next at Pang another 161 km away. The last charger is set up at the Fortune Resort, Leh another 175 km away.

The Audi e-tron 55 Quattro houses a liquid-cooled 95 kWh lithium-ion battery powering two electric motors, with a combined output of 360PS and 561 Nm. This electric SUV gets from zero to 100 kmph in 6.6s. Three levels of energy recuperation are available, accessed via the paddle shifters, and these can recover up to 30 per cent of the energy spent. This provides the Audi e-tron with a 400 km WLTP range.

It's a historic drive and milestone for us at Audi India – this is perhaps the highest altitude any Audi EV has been to in India and I am heartened in the way OVERDRIVE made the journey up to Leh. Delhi to Leh is a challenging journey for any vehicle especially the section from Manali to Leh – the fact that the e-tron did this journey busts a lot of myths such as performance in cold climates, ground clearance and most importantly range. We are thankful to our partners at ABB who have electrified the entire route from Chandigarh to Leh and have opened the doors to adventurous EV owners. The Audi e-tron is a car that is scaling new heights every day and the drive to Leh has been the highest so far", said Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head, Audi India

Michelin tyres ensured the Audi e-tron ran at optimum performance throughout this trip while car-care partners Sonax helped OVERDRIVE with complete detailing and easy-use car kits.

Special thanks to http://go2ladakh.in/ for their support & assistance in Ladakh

Follow OVERDRIVE on this drive @odmag on Instagram, @odmag on Twitter and OVERDRIVE on Facebook, odmag on Youtube and overdrive.in. The social hashtags are #etrontoLeh #ODelectrifiesLadakh