EVs on ice? Watch this electric car company push its limits in the icy mountains of New Zealand (SF Motors )

How does an automotive startup from Silicon Valley continue winter weather development when summer hits? It goes to the Southern Hemisphere, to a beautifully remote mountainous region of New Zealand. Vehicle development for SF Motors is a year-round endeavor as they near the 2019 release of their first intelligent electric vehicle, the sporty SF5 crossover. They’ve given us an exclusive first look into the SF5’s extreme cold weather development at the rarely seen Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (SHPG) in Wanaka, New Zealand. 

Gearheads, this is a bucket list location.

During the months of July and August, multiple SF Motors powertrain development vehicles and engineering teams met at SHPG to validate the durability of key components in below-freezing temperatures, and dial-in traction control settings. 

Validation efforts included extensive testing of production-intent powertrain components at below-freezing temperatures, low-grip (slippery) traction control and ABS system operation, and general vehicle winter handling. This valuable performance data is all part of a program that ensures the next generation of safe, intelligent electric vehicles. 

With an office like that, who wouldn’t want to be an automotive controls engineer?

SF Motors is creating intelligent electric vehicles with the latest technology from Silicon Valley, combined with manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and China. SF Motors fuses intelligent technology with human-centered design to provide greater safety, comfort and convenience for drivers and passengers. The company is committed to accelerating, empowering and uniting the EV industry by sharing its electric and intelligent technologies with local and global partners. SF Motors is headquartered in California with domestic and international operations. For more information: http://www.sfmotors.com/