This Quebecer wants to drive from Ontario to the Arctic Ocean in an electric car.
Patrick Nadeau, a driver from the Chaudière-Appalaches region who completed a round trip of over 15,700 km to Mexico with his Hyundai IONIQ 5 in the fall of 2022, now wants to repeat the experience… this time to the Arctic!
This time, the project is supported by Hyundai Canada and will involve crossing five provinces and two territories to reach the shores of the Arctic Ocean. The Quebecer will also have the updated and improved 2025 IONIQ 5, specifically the Preferred version with the Ultimate package. Its new 84 kWh battery offers an official range of 504 km.
The departure is today from Hyundai's Canadian headquarters in Markham, Ontario. After passing through the Prairies and the Rockies, Patrick Nadeau will head north along the West Coast, then through the Yukon, before reaching the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, in the Northwest Territories.
Including the return journey, which will take place partly on a different route, the two-month journey will total over 15,000 km.
The aim is to demonstrate that an electric vehicle like the IONIQ 5, combined with Canada's growing recharging infrastructure, makes very long journeys across the country possible, even in more remote locations where road conditions and access to charging stations pose major challenges.With the return journey, which will be partly on a different route, the two-month trip will total over 15,000 km.
“I know the vehicle well enough to be confident that no modifications are necessary to reach my destination safely,” said Patrick Nadeau. "Owning an electric vehicle is not the same as owning a gasoline-powered vehicle. It requires more planning, which EV owners quickly accept and adopt."
It will be possible to follow him on his northern adventure via weekly updates on Hyundai Canada's official social networks (Facebook, YouTube and Instagram). A documentary-style travelogue is also planned.
Furthermore, in association with Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a Canadian non-profit organization committed to the fight against pediatric cancer, Patrick Nadeau will be offering immersive virtual reality experiences free of charge to numerous hospitals across the country, enabling young patients to virtually explore the Arctic from their rooms during their treatment.
In the summer of 2023, German driver and long-distance specialist Rainer Zietlow set a record by crossing Canada from coast to coast in an electric vehicle with the fewest stops at charging stations, in this case a Volkswagen ID.4 with an 82 kWh battery (443 km range).
