After more than a decade of development, Monaco’s high-performance electric vehicle constructor Venturi will finally begin work in Antarctica at the end of 2021. Today, the first and only electric pole rover receives a significant upgrade to withstand high temperatures.
From December 2021 to February 2022, Venturi Antarctica will be used to transport teams of scientists to sites around the Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Research Station in Belgium, without risking sample contamination from exhaust gases. was.
The vehicle’s tracks are driven by a 60 kW (80 hp) motor pair, and a 52.6 kWh battery pack provides a range of 50 km (31 miles) on a single charge. In the first summer, the research station’s wind and solar installations replenished its battery bank between trips, recording a distance of about 500 km (310 miles). A spare battery pack can be carried with your gear for long expeditions if needed.
The Venturi Antarctica is designed to operate in Antarctic winters when temperatures drop to -50 °C (-58 °F). However, the area is currently experiencing summer heat of -10 °C (14 °F), requiring some changes by the visiting team from Venturi.
Venturi Automotive ©Sarah Del Ben
Engineers replaced the sprockets that drive the tank tracks to prevent compacted snow build-up and fix the resulting performance issues. A new ventilation system has been added to the six-person cabin to cool the inside when the Antarctic sun, combined with the heat from the power electronics, makes things a little too hot for the occupants. Also, new air intakes and vents were fitted to the front and rear of the mini-tank to help cool the power electronics underframe.
Research station scientists currently only travel 40 km (25 miles) due to snow discrepancies affecting range per charge. This issue will be addressed in the next upgrade round.
“In 2009, HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco asked us to consider the design of a polar rover,” said Gildo Pastor, president of Venturi Automobiles. “We have made progress from version to version until this Antarctica III entered service. We are pleased that our excellent Monegasque machine meets the needs of the International Polar Foundation and the Princess Elizabeth Antarctic Research Station. We plan to return to the site later, and have spent over a year continuing the optimization process.”
Source: Venturi
