From Ontario to the Arctic Ocean in an electric car: a successful gamble for this Quebecer
Remember that Hyundai IONIQ 5 owner who made it his mission to drive from Hyundai Canada's head office in Markham, Ontario, to the shores of the Arctic Ocean? Well, his mission was accomplished, and he's back.
Patrick Nadeau, a driver from the Chaudière-Appalaches region, crossed five provinces and two territories to finally reach the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, in the Northwest Territories, on June 10.
The complete round trip took almost 316 hours and totalled 19,743 km, for an average of 5.3 km/kWh - equivalent to 18.9 kWh/100 km. This is even better than the 20.1 kWh/100 km announced by Natural Resources Canada for the IONIQ 5 Preferred 2025 model with all-wheel drive and 19-inch wheels, despite the sometimes difficult road conditions and less clement weather.
“Reaching Tuktoyaktuk in an IONIQ 5 is an incredible feeling, a true testament to the vehicle's unwavering performance and the constant evolution of the EV charging network in Canada,” enthuses Nadeau. This trip wasn't just about the distance covered; it was about proving what's possible with an EV. The support and interest of Canadians along the way was truly inspiring."
No problem with recharging
With a little planning, the big traveler was able to locate all the charging points along the way, even in the north of the country where they are much rarer.
Thanks to the new 84 kWh battery, the vehicle's official range is 463 km. It was recharged 87 times for an average of 42 minutes and a total cost of $1,403.13. “With a regular SUV averaging 10 L/100 km, that same trip would have cost me over $2,500 in gas alone,” he notes.
According to him, the biggest challenges during his adventure had nothing to do with driving an electric vehicle. I ended up being stuck in Dawson City for a few days because I had to take a ferry that wasn't open yet due to high water levels," he says. After reaching the Arctic Ocean, part of the Alaska Highway was closed for a while due to forest fires, which also delayed my trip."
By the way, Patrick Nadeau's IONIQ 5 was loaded with around 400 lbs of equipment, including his filming and camping gear, clothes, food and a full-size spare wheel. The latter was not necessary, as no punctures occurred during the trip.
