At the world’s highest volcano, the Ojos del Salado in Chile, three Swiss inventors are trying to set the world altitude record for vehicles with their electrically powered agricultural and multifunctional transporter (called “Terren”). The day before yesterday we had our first success.
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Congratulations on your first world record. 5950 meters – the minimum target has been achieved.
Patrick Koller: Thank you! It was a technical record, a record for years of work, and not one that would have been difficult to break here in Chile. We could have climbed even higher. The vehicle is really nice.
Now you have the record for electric vehicles. That of all four-wheelers is 6694 meters. Do you dare to do that?
Let’s see what’s inside. Only the western peak of Ojos is passable. The summit is at 6750 meters. Getting up there is only possible with a cable winch and enormous effort. If present. If we manage to do this, we will become quite ill.
What obstacles are you most afraid of?
The beginning and the end are difficult. It is steepest there. A lot depends on the route you take and which side you attack from. Our advantage is that, unlike the competition, we can camp at over 6,000 meters because we are completely independent. We don’t need diesel, we always have electricity. Our truck charges with solar energy. And even better than hoped.
No technical glitches?
When we arrived, we tried to charge the Terren at a commercial charging station, and our onboard charger promptly stopped working. So we were dependent on our PV system from the start. But this really produces energy. We expected that fully charging the 90 kWh battery would take 1.5 to 2 days. Actually we only need one day. By the way, thanks to Swiss components from Megasol, Studer Innotec and Brusa.
That sounds like a relaxing trip so far.
It wasn’t that simple. A nut on the solar system was a little loose. This led to sparks and heating of the material. Fortunately, we noticed the resulting discoloration and were able to prevent a cable fire. The nut probably came loose due to the vibrations while driving. The Terran also needed a software update. Fortunately, thanks to Starlink, that is also possible here in the middle of nowhere… and there was a small incident with the cooling water. There was air in the system somehow.
And?
We then emptied them with the pump of the drinking water system.
The filmmaker Claudio von Plata, who accompanies you, talks about your MacGyver qualities in the newsletter.
We knew even before we left that we were a harmonious team and could improvise well.
How Terren’s team already broke a world record in Switzerland
For example when building the toilet?
Hahaha. This should not be underestimated. A decent toilet is essential. We noticed this already on our first visit here. And with our toilet you can just dig a hole and sit down.
In the background an engine coughs and won’t start. Patrik no longer answers.
What just was that?
I need to let the engine warm up. I will soon be looking at a new route together with Jiri Zak. One with slightly fewer stones. Jiri is a stroke of luck for us. He holds the world altitude record for motorcycles and is here every year. I think he is the person who knows this mountain best. And of course we can benefit enormously from it.
The engine coughs again.
How hot is it there?
It is currently minus five degrees. It was minus ten that night. Wait quickly, I have to put the bike in the sun. Later I’ll probably have to help with the hot air dryer (laughs).
How do you imagine it, you six Swiss alone in the middle of nowhere in the Atacama Desert?
We are not alone. There is another team that also wants the world height record.
Ohhh! Competition?
Yes, Porsche is there. But we can’t reveal anything about that yet… Now they are of course afraid that the small Swiss start-up will take away their butter. But despite all the competition, they are also nice and good guys and it’s cool that they are there too.
But now it’s a race?
In that sense, yes. Of course we want to be faster. But as already mentioned: we have the advantage that with our electric drive we can set up our tents higher and charge the vehicle. They each have to break their record attempts in one day. They are two fundamentally different philosophies. Even while climbing. When it gets steep, they try to use brute force and spin the wheels. With our enormous support surface we can slowly crawl upwards. We are slower – and gentler.
When will we know if you have also broken the overall world record?
We are progressing faster than planned and adapting well. Theoretically we have three weeks left, but I think we can do it in a week.
Then we keep our fingers crossed and look forward to our next conversation.
Thank you and also…
You can follow the world record attempt called Peak Evolution. And here:
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
Mission website
Company website
Hours after our conversation, the following email from Patrik Koller arrived at the newsroom:
Engine only started with bridges :-). Went up to 6450 and it’s really tough there. The glacier we have to cross is in pretty bad condition. We had more than 20 minutes each. Exhausting high 10. But with the Terren it will probably be child’s play.
Good luck guys!
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I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
