From Berlin to the Indian capital New Delhi – Fering’s car wants to be able to drive about that far on one tank and one battery charge. With the “Pioneer”, the British start-up has developed a prototype which, with the combination of a drive battery and a small combustion engine, is intended to achieve an enormous range: 7000 kilometers.
The all-electric range of the “Pioneer” is just 80 kilometers. However, a 3-cylinder combustion engine with a displacement of 800 cubic centimeters is installed, which is intended to generate the electricity required for long distances. In addition, energy is recovered when braking, for example. The internal combustion engine runs on biodiesel and is therefore said to be environmentally friendly. After all, the manufacturer promises the “most environmentally friendly off-grid vehicle in the world”.
The payload of the hybrid vehicle is 1.5 tons. Fering makes the same statement for the curb weight of the vehicle. This means that the weight is comparatively low, which the manufacturer claims to have achieved with a vehicle frame made of an aluminum mixture and composite materials. The design should have a positive effect on acceleration, energy consumption and thus the range. At the same time, the British promise maximum frame stability.
Company founder Ben Scott-Geddes, a former Formula 1 engineer at Ferrari and McLaren, wanted to design a vehicle that could circumnavigate the world – including a 4000-kilometer route across the frozen sea from Canada to Russia. The result is the “Pioneer”, which as an expedition vehicle should be able to drive through the polar regions as well as through the desert. In short: the pick-up should be used “anywhere and anytime” and be able to “cross the globe with less effort”. And you need enough power.
Instead of a lithium-ion battery, Fering therefore uses a lithium-titanium-oxide battery. It is said to offer “extraordinary performance over a long service life” and be able to withstand extreme weather conditions. It can also be dismantled into its individual parts, which means that the electricity can be used on a campsite or in a research station, for example.
To ensure that no body of water becomes an obstacle, the hybrid vehicle has large wheels with 22.5-inch rims. They should help ensure that the “Pioneer” can also drive in the most remote areas. The two electric motors and brake discs are internally mounted, which should allow for a better ride through snow and mud. Even a water depth of up to 1.40 meters and a maximum gradient of 60 percent should not prevent the vehicle from continuing its journey. In addition to private use, the all-wheel drive pick-up should also be suitable for use by rescue services.
The “Pioneer” with a torque of 600 Newton meters is not “bigger than a typical delivery van” and “shorter than a Ford Mondeo station wagon,” says Fering. The vehicle is around 5.53 meters long, two meters wide and 1.97 meters high. If necessary, it can be set 36.5 centimeters higher and 13.5 centimeters lower. The top speed is relatively low at 125 km/h. However, further data on engine performance and the size of the diesel tank have not yet been given.
The vehicle is said to have an unlimited lifespan because it is easy to repair and upgrade. If, in the event of damage, it can no longer be repaired, significantly less material will have to be recycled than with other vehicles of its kind.
You can reserve the “Pioneer” for the equivalent of around 580 euros without obligation, but the development process is not yet fully completed. After Fering presented the first prototype about a year ago, the start-up has now completed its first test phase and secured the financing for the second phase. This should allow two more prototypes to be built. The first prototype is to be disassembled for testing and improvement. Fering confirmed last week that the company plans to start producing the first customer vehicles next year. Small series production is scheduled to start at the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024. How much the “Pioneer” will cost is not yet known.
Although the average range of vehicles with combustion engines is longer than that of electric vehicles, the latter currently have an average range of 504 kilometers in Germany. Should the “Pioneer” actually achieve a range of 7000 kilometers, it would clearly set a record.
Sources: Fering, Topgear, Statista
