The 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

• Reaching new heights: Performance SUV completed 16.2 ascents of Britain’s highest surfaced road – Great Dun Fell – gaining 547m on each full climb
• Race-to-road technology: I-PACE’s clever regenerative braking – developed with learnings from the Jaguar Racing Fomula E team – recovered equivalent to 58-miles (93.3km) of range under the challenge’s extreme conditions
• World-class performance: British Olympic and World champion cyclist, Elinor Barker MBE, was at the wheel of Jaguar’s award-winning EV for the drive
• Endurance challenge: Popularity of repeatedly ascending a climb until the total elevation gain matches the height of Everest boomed among cyclists in the last year*
• Ready to go: I-PACE battery and cabin were preconditioned while charging to optimise range and comfort – ideal for temperatures of less than 2°C at the summit
• Watch and share the film here
• Available to order now: Jaguar I-PACE is priced from £65,195 in the UK. Configure yours at: jaguar.com

The award-winning all-electric performance SUV model was driven by Olympic and World champion cyclist, Elinor Barker MBE.

The concept of Everesting is simple, yet extreme: complete a series of runs up an incline until achieving an elevation gain of 8,848m – equal to an ascent of Mount Everest – and the popularity of this endurance challenge boomed among cyclists during the pandemic*.

Known by cyclists as ‘Britain’s Mont Ventoux’ – a reference to the daunting Alpine mountain stage in the Tour de France – Great Dun Fell 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 per cent as it climbs 547m from the start point used for the challenge to a peak of 848m. Elinor completed 16.2 repeats of the 3.6-mile/5.8km climb (a 7.2-mile/11.6km loop in total) using the I-PACE’s regenerative braking technology to generate approximately 60 per cent*** 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 per cent battery charge remaining – enough to drive for up to 80-miles (128.7km) more. 

Key to the efficient completion of the Everesting 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 per cent*** of additional energy from regen, without it the car simply wouldn’t make it to the chequered flag.

I watched with fascination as cyclists took up the Everesting challenge during lock down – 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 per cent 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 – all while enjoying the comfort, silent power delivery and single-pedal driving of the I-PACE.

JAGUAR I-PACE COMPLETES EVERESTING CHALLENGE ON A SINGLE CHARGE