Day 2

The second day of the Arctic Road Rally saw participating electric vehicles travel from Coldfoot to Deadhorse, Alaska — a 239-mile drive through a steep mountain pass, rolling tundra, deep mud, and thick fog. 

The drivers participating in this first-of-its-kind electric vehicle demonstration encountered all the conditions and challenges common to late summer on the Dalton Highway. Rocks punctured tires. Stretches of road construction and soft, sticky surfaces bit chunks out of vehicles’ battery efficiency. A charging station malfunction north of Atigun Pass added hours to the schedule. But innovation and perseverance prevailed. 

At the end of the day, as the sun set over the North Slope, all 10 of the rallying electric vehicles pulled through the security gate leading to Kuparuk River Unit, where ConocoPhillips — a major sponsor of the Arctic Road Rally — will host the drivers through Monday, leading the final drive to Oliktok Point and facilitating an electric vehicle show for workers at the camp.

Next up: The short trip to the shores of the Arctic Ocean, the northernmost drivable point in the U.S.

Photos by Kirsten Swann / Launch Alaska.