The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE shrugged off the steep inclines, twisting tarmac and near-freezing temperatures of the UK’s highest paved road to successfully ‘Everest’ at Great Dun Fell, in Cumbria, on a single charge of its 90kWh battery. The electric performance sports utility vehicle (SUV) model was driven by Olympic and world champion cyclist, Elinor Barker MBE.
The concept of ‘Everesting’ is simple in that you complete a series of runs up an incline until achieving an elevation gain of 8,848m, which is equal to an ascent of Mount Everest. ‘Everesting’ has become a popular endurance challenge and boomed among cyclists during the pandemic.
Great Dun Fell, known as Britain’s Mont Ventoux, is home to the highest surfaced road in the UK. The narrow ribbon of asphalt is defined by a series of sweeping bends and gradients of up to 20 percent as it climbs 547m from the start point used for the challenge to a peak of 848m.
Elinor Barker completed 16.2 repeats of the 3.6-mile (5.8km) climb using the I-PACE’s regenerative braking technology. This generated approximately 60 percent of additional available energy over the total 16 descents.
Having covered 124-miles (199.6km) in total, including an eight-mile drive to the start point on the fell, the I-PACE completed its energy-intensive challenge with 31 percent battery charge remaining. This would be enough to drive for up to 80-miles (128.7km) further.
Key to the efficient completion of the challenge was the I-PACE’s regenerative braking system. Developed using technology from Jaguar Racing’s Formula E programme, ‘regen’ is a critical enabler for success on the track. In an average race the I-TYPE 5 generates around 30 percent of additional energy from regen.
Elinor Barker, Olympic and world champion cyclist, said: “I watched with fascination as cyclists took up the Everesting challenge during lockdown. Even as a professional rider, it’s a daunting feat of endurance, so I was happy to do it behind the wheel of the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE.
“When I found out that Jaguar Racing drivers typically need to regenerate 30 percent of their I-TYPE’s battery capacity in a Formula E race, as a competitor I naturally wanted to beat that figure. I’m delighted to have smashed that target.”
Jack Lambert, Jaguar Racing Engineer, said: “The advanced regenerative braking system developed for the I-PACE is a defining feature of the driving experience.
“Lessons learned through our Formula E programme on the track ensure I-PACE customers enjoy benefits on the road in terms of optimised range. The regenerative braking also provides up to 0.4g of deceleration so Elinor would only have been using the conventional friction brakes at two or three points on each run.”
