A pair of Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismos have secured a Guinness World Record for the greatest altitude change in an electric car, traveling from 218.8 meters (717.8 feet) below sea level to the summit of Hongtu Daban at 5,355.1 meters (17,569 feet) above sea level in Tibet.
The journey started at Ayding Lake in China’s Xinjiang province, an area that sits 218.845 meters below sea level. Those participating didn’t just stick to sealed roads either as they drove through a number of popular off-roading areas, such as Tomur Grand Canyon, Tarim Poplar Forest, Sansha Desert Highway, Dokuo-Lunque Highway, and the G219 National Highway.
Over a period of ten days, the two Porsches were charged up using 22 kW to 120 kW charging stations but while in the Kunlun and Tianshan mountains for four days, the cars had to be charged up by a support truck powered by smart energy management start-up EnjoyElec and backed by Porsche Ventures. The Taycans crested four consecutive peaks with an altitude of over 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) during this four-day period while also experiencing frozen temperatures.
Porsche says the two cars experienced all four seasons during the journey and that the Gravel Mode of the Cross Turismo proved to be particularly beneficial. The EV’s brake regeneration system also helped to boost the driving range on many of the trip’s long descents.
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After starting at 218.845 meters below sea level and traveling to 5,355.134 meters above sea level, the two Porsches experienced an altitude change of 5,573.979 meters (18,287 feet).
“In hot sand, wind and rain, and when road conditions were at their worst, the Taycan Cross Turismo proved to be a trustworthy travel companion that could cope with the fatigue of long distances,” Porsche described. “While its high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive and Adaptive Air Suspension swiftly filtered out the literal bumps in the road, the metaphorical ones were offset by an endless stream of sensory experiences – sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tactile sensations unique to this part of the world.”
