Subaru's EV Project in One of the World's Most Remote Places

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Subaru and Easee test EV tech on St Helena, aiming for a zero-emission future
Subaru and Easee have teamed up to trial EV charging on the island of St. Helena, located halfway between Africa and South America in the Atlantic Ocean

Tired of city living? Fancy a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of modern life? Perhaps a trip to St. Helena is on the cards.

St. Helena, a tiny island located in the Atlantic Ocean, more than one thousand miles from both the African and South American mainland, is one of the most remote places on Earth.

It was the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte after his exile from Europe; it is home to Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise, the world's oldest living land animal who was first moved to the island in 1882; and, now, it is the site of the world's most remote EV charging infrastructure.

For this project, vehicle manufacturer Subaru joined forces with Easee, a rising star in the EV sector, and the government of St. Helena. The target? To achieve zero-emission transport by 2030.

With a population of just 4,439 and an area of a mere 47 square miles, this project promises to provide a fascinating, unique case study into how an entire society can close the loop on fossil fuels.

A map of St. Helena, created by Oona Räisänen

A unique trial in a unique location

So, how will this project work? For a period of two months, an Easee Charge unit finds its home outside the Museum in Jamestown, the island’s capital.

This charging unit is connected to the local power grid operated by Connect St Helena Ltd. This setup provides the juice for Subaru’s all-electric vehicle, the Solterra, which is set to face rigorous testing across the island's diverse terrains.

By the end of this two month trial, all parties hope to fine-tune EV technology fit for the island. This is harder than it seems, seeing as it is one of the world's most isolated and challenging environments.

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Ultimately, this collaboration could make St. Helena a pioneering example of sustainability in remote regions.

And what is in it for Subaru? The team believes that success here could lead to a ripple effect, potentially introducing sustainable transport solutions to similar remote locales globally.

“From Subaru’s perspective, it’s an honour to be involved in a project that could potentially lead to a fully sustainable future for St. Helena," says Lorraine Bishton, Managing Director of Subaru UK.

"It’s a real testament to Subaru’s reliability and capability that we’re not sending a technician with the Solterra. And to be honest, if you can operate an electric vehicle in this type of environment then you really can anywhere.”

Lorraine Bishton, Managing Director of Subaru UK | Credit: Subaru

Why Subaru works for St. Helena

The arrival of Subaru's Solterra on St Helena was a spectacle, delivered via the island’s monthly supply ship. Among the local community, Subaru vehicles are famed for their robustness, and the introduction of an electric model stirred quite the excitement.

The Solterra effortlessly navigates the island's sealed and unpaved roads, volcanic terrain, and narrow lanes. Even a full day of driving, which covers approximately 50 miles, uses less than 20% of the vehicle's battery capacity.

And then there's the Solterra's regenerative braking system. This innovative feature allows the driver to replenishes the car's battery while the vehicle brakes whilst descending hills: a perfect feature for the hilly terrains of St Helena.

The island is administratively part of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, a territory in the United Kingdom

The sustainable future of St. Helena

At the moment, St. Helena is currently generating 25% of its electricity from renewable sources, namely wind and solar. The aim is to increase this to 80% by 2028.

The remainder of the island's power is supplied by a diesel station, which costs approximately US$6.2m annually in imported fuel.

For such a remote island, the financial and environmental benefits of transitioning to renewables are clear, not to mention the self-sufficiency these sources can offer.

Mark Brooks, the Minister for Treasury and Economic Development of St Helena, is enthusiastic about the potential changes this project could bring.

"We're excited to partner in this project to bring in an electric car and an electric charger and install them as public charging stations in the remotest place in the world," he says.

"The next step is to roll out the infrastructure so that we are using electric vehicles more and more on the island. There are a lot of diesel and petrol vehicles currently and we want to change that behaviour."

Mark Brooks, St Helena's Minister for Treasury and Economic Development

A showcase for Easee's technology

Easee is a Norwegian EV charging company, so you might expect its team to trial technology somewhere in northern Europe. As the crow flies, St. Helena is almost 5,000 miles from Oslo, so this case study is certainly unusual.

However, it may just provide the Scandinavian manufacturer with an excellent platform to strut its stuff.

It is a challenging test for the Subaru Solterra and Easee’s robust charging technology, but Easee's team believes it can act as a beacon for other remote locations worldwide.

Adam Rodgers, Managing Director of Easee UK

"We don't believe location should hinder the EV transition," says Adam Rodgers, Managing Director of Easee UK.

"Our charger's robustness, durability and efficacy really is a powerful accolade. We know we can place it somewhere as remote as St. Helena and it's going to work."


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