Flying high
That's what it's all about
- Three friends from eastern Switzerland are developing an electric all-terrain multi-purpose vehicle for municipal services and agriculture.
- The prototype is due to be completed this spring.
- With a world record attempt on a Chilean volcano (6,893 meters high), the team wants to prove the performance of the e-mobile next winter.
And then, unexpectedly, a thunderstorm rolls in. In 20 minutes, they would reach the Monte Rosa hut at 2,883 meters above sea level. Lightning and thunder follow each other at such short intervals that the impending danger leaves you breathless. The mountain bikes, skis and camera equipment on their backs weigh heavily, their clothes are soaked to the skin. Then it suddenly appears from behind a rock: The saving, futuristic-looking, crystal-like Monte Rosa hut.
It’s just a short episode from an insane adventure that the two brothers David and Patrik Koller and their buddy David Pröschel undertook last summer together with two cameramen: They wanted to be the first people ever to climb the 4,554-meter-high Signalkuppe peak in Valais on their mountain bikes. In the end, only Patrik and the one cameraman made it, but this expedition is a perfect example of how the three childhood friends work. No idea is too crazy, no plan too bold, there is no fear of failure.
From buggy to "Terren electric drive system"
As children they dammed streams and built huts, as teenagers they welded together petrol-powered buggies, as adults the hobbyists now dream of a technical revolution. “Our goal is to further develop electromobility,” says David Pröschel. “We thought about where the advantages of electromobility could be implemented best and fastest and where the cost/benefit factor is balanced.” The solution seemed to be the development of a slow vehicle (air resistance and noise factors) that is in use for several hours a day (amortization factor), does not cover long distances (battery power factor) and can be easily recharged. It became clear that an all-terrain multi-purpose vehicle would combine all of these advantages. “If this were to be used in a mountainous region, we would also have the advantage that almost half of the energy could be recovered when driving downhill,” says Pröschel. The idea of the “Terren electric drive system” was born. The innovative electric drive system meets the special requirements of commercial vehicles. It can be used to equip both new and existing vehicles.
Do it yourself
The three boys rented an old workshop building and converted it themselves, carpentered living space into it and installed a photovoltaic system on the roof. “We used solar cells that should have been disposed of due to a warranty claim,” says David Pröschel. “They may not look so pretty, but they work perfectly.” So well, in fact, that they no longer have to pay for electricity, but even receive money from the municipality because they produce surplus electricity. Otherwise, however, the project has torn a big hole in the pioneers’ pockets. “Together, we have invested around 100,000 francs so far and don’t pay ourselves any wages,” says Pröschel. Thanks to partners, sponsors and extremely successful crowdfunding, the prototype will soon be completed. It is based on an Aebi transporter and should be ready to drive by spring. However, a few hundred thousand francs are still needed to make it ready for series production. The pioneers are therefore still looking for additional sponsors and investors. This is one of the reasons why they have launched an ingenious marketing ploy: a world record attempt.
Expedition to Chile
To generate attention, you need good storytelling. The three visionaries quickly realized this. And so they came up with a suitable setting to present the hero “Terren” in a worthy manner. And because small dreams are not their thing, the two Davids and Patrick are planning the big coup: they want to put the “Terren” through its paces in Chile this year. The plan: to climb the highest volcano in the world and the second-highest peak in South America – the 6,893-metre-high Ojos del Salado. If successful, this would be the world altitude record for land vehicles!
However, there are still a few hurdles in the way of the three inventors. They now have to complete the complex interior work on the “Terren” and install the electronics and hydraulic system. The entire software must then be programmed.
But as the past few years and especially the experience on the world record preparation tour in the Valais mountains last summer have shown: The three friends will also survive this trip unscathed despite thunder and lightning. And who knows – maybe they will even visit us in Gstaad with their prototype before their adventure in Chile…!
