Driving an all-electric car in a 16-day, nine-country rally around the Baltic Sea may seem like a crazy idea, but that’s exactly what one couple did. They took on the challenge of the 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally in a European-spec Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro EV, and it turned out to be an incredible adventure.
The Baltic Sea Circle Rally, organized by the Superlative Adventure Club (SAC) based in Hamburg, Germany, is a combination of a fun run and a competition. Teams navigate through backroads with just paper maps, without the aid of GPS, and camp along the way. Each year, teams are also required to raise at least 500 euros for a chosen charity. The couple participating in the rally chose to support The Jessi Combs Foundation, which supports young women pursuing careers in automotive trades. They were able to raise over $3,000 for the foundation.
What made their journey even more remarkable was the fact that they were the only team from outside Europe, and they were the only team driving an all-electric vehicle. They traveled all the way from Oregon to Germany to compete in the rally. Their goal was to cover 5,000 miles through nine countries.
The rally took them through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Although the rally is named after the Baltic Sea, they didn’t actually spend much time near it. One of the highlights of their journey was reaching the northernmost point in Europe, Nordkapp, Norway, also known as the North Cape. It was an impressive milestone and marked the midpoint of the rally.
The couple drove a Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro, a European-spec model with a sleek design and plenty of storage space. They even had a Ququq BusBox camping system installed, allowing them to sleep, cook, and store gear in the vehicle. The ID. Buzz Pro featured a 201 HP motor and an 82-kilowatt battery. Despite its larger size, it had a decent range and managed to exceed the estimated range on several occasions.
Charging the electric vehicle proved to be a challenge in some countries. In Germany, they couldn’t download the necessary charging apps or use their American credit cards at the chargers. They had to rely on a German relative for assistance. However, once they reached Scandinavia, they were able to download charging apps and use their phones to pay for charging. They also had access to Tesla Superchargers. The Baltic nations presented new challenges, as the charging apps didn’t work, including Tesla chargers. They had to rely on new QR codes and app download instructions on the charge machines.
Despite the challenges, the couple successfully completed the rally and became the first team from outside the European Union or adjacent country to finish an SAC rally with an EV. They proved that long-distance EV travel is possible with the right planning, patience, and flexibility. However, they acknowledged that there is still work to be done on the charging infrastructure, but improvements are on the horizon.
Their journey was not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the potential of electric vehicles for long-distance travel. It showcased the ability of EVs to conquer challenging routes and provided valuable insights into the necessary infrastructure improvements. The couple’s adventure in the Baltic Sea Circle Rally serves as an inspiration to others considering long-distance travel in an electric vehicle and highlights the exciting possibilities of electric mobility.