Is driving an e-motorcycle from Argentina to Los Angeles even possible?
A trip on a motorbike across the Americas from Ushuaia in Argentina to Los Angeles would be a challenge on its own.
Doing it on an electric motorcycle made it a step into the unknown. Would actor Ewan McGregor and his pal Charley Boorman be able to charge the vehicles regularly enough to complete the trip in the planned 100 days?
It was clear from the start of the adventure, which the pair filmed for the Apple TV show Long Way Up, that range was going to cause continual anxiety.
South America had no fast chargers at all. That meant the pair relied on household plugs to charge their bikes, which presented a huge logistical challenge.
Going through 13 countries in just over three months was not going to be easy. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire bikes they chose to make the trip can take hours to charge.
What they learned about charging and range on e-motorcycles
At the planning stage of the trip, it looked as if it might be impossible.
Then Enel X created a corridor of 220 JuiceBox fast chargers throughout Latin America to North America.
They would help the pair complete their trip and serve as a legacy for future electric adventurers.
Most people start in LA and head south, which starts easy and then gets harder, but we went full-on in at the deep end by starting in Argentina, Charley told Motorcycle News. “It was so cold that the batteries’ range was instantly reduced so we could only do about 120-130 miles a day and the cold affected the charging, he remembered.
The bikes had to survive tough off-road conditions in remote areas. Image credit: Apple TV
Several times in remote areas, the electric power in homes and hostels was too weak to charge the bikes. Ewan and Charley had to rely on a diesel generator to get life into them again. Ewan’s bike was towed for the final part of his journey to a ferry in the early part of the trip in Patagonia – the only way to make it as there was only one ferry per day.
But they found talking to the café owners and even border staff who offered their electric power was part of what made the trip special.
“We would knock on people’s doors and say, ‘Look, I know this is an odd request, but do you mind if we plug in?’ Ewan said. The pair had to apologize after their charging attempt blew a fuse and plunged a home into darkness.
Fear of being stuck in such inhospitable places as a freezing desert at night caused anxiety about whether the power would last.
But there were also experiences such as the descent the two riders took in Peru. Going from a height of 14,000 feet to sea level over three hours only used 6% of the battery.
Looking to the future
The big difference once the pair entered the US was being able to use fast chargers.
Instead of waiting overnight for the bikes to charge, it took less than an hour.
“It was like seeing an escalator for the first time, Charley joked.
The trip, which began last September before COVID-19 and social distancing, is being shown on Apple TV with new episodes every Friday.
Harley-Davidson modified their LiveWire bikes for the 13,000-mile trip. Image credit: Apple TV
Long Way Up. Bande-annonce officielle | Apple TV
Ewan and Charley were the first to test the Harley-Davidson LiveWire on a trip of this kind, much of it off-road.
The 2020 LiveWire bikes were modified to last the distance on tough terrain, including salt flats, snow, gravel roads, and sand.
Other adventures
Ewan and Charley are not the only intrepid riders to take the LiveWire on tough trips.
While there were mishaps along the way, he pointed out in an interview that the motorcycle’s screen, which gives directions and shows how much range is left on the bike, was helpful.
That was until he lost his phone on the highway.
Thankfully, Felix was able to turn back and find it again.
“Nowadays, you need your phone for pretty much everything on a trip like this, he said.
It is even used to activate the charging stations.
But he added: “I’m absolutely convinced that the LiveWire — and electric motorcycles overall — will expand the overall appeal of motorcycling.
“The sport has lost more and more fans over the past years — and in Europe, you have talks about banning motorcycles altogether on Sundays and holidays due to noise pollution. That’s where I believe electric motorcycles will make a huge difference, he told Revzilla.
He completed the challenge in part thanks to the West Coast Green Highway, a solid network of consistently-spaced charging stations running up the west coast all the way to Canada.
Diego describes the group of enthusiasts who gather on social media to discuss the LiveWire as a movement.
“I wanted to be a part of Harley-Davidson history and have my future grandkids be able to talk about how their grandfather was the first H-D electric motorcycle owner to do such a ride, he said. “I wanted to show the world that electric charging infrastructure is growing too.
As for Ewan and Charley, they were keen not only to explore the Americas but also to be part of history.
“It’s definitely the future. We’ll all be driving electric-powered vehicles, I’m sure, Ewan said.
Range anxiety can be an issue for fleets, too. HERE’s Route Planning API can calculate delivery plans based upon an EV’s specific capabilities. HERE Technologies’ director of product management Christoph Herzig said: When [HERE] plans the routes, and optimizes the tour plans, we can take into account the actual range of the vehicle based on real-time battery-charge information, which comes from the connected telematics system.
Know where to find your next EV charge here.
New Apple TV Show Features Ewan McGregor Cruising Latin America on the Back of 2 Electric Motorcycles
Apple TV has released a glimpse into its new motorcycle adventure series Long Way Up. A series that documents Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s 13,000 mile journey on the back of their electric prototype Harley Davidson LiveWires in order to promote the sustainability of the planet.
In what will be over 100 days of travel, the two best friends will journey through 13 countries beginning at the tip of South America in Ushuaia. They will navigate through underexposed areas on the back of their electric Harley’s equipped with cutting edge technologies
In addition to McGregor and Boorman, we will see their longtime partners and directors, David Alexanian and Russ Malkin ride along in their own Rivian pickups.
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire was originally designed for urban riders and on a single charge has a maximum range of just 146 miles. Mcgregor and Boorman found themselves looking for places to plugin along the way while refueling their own bodies with food and water. This included relying on the kindness of strangers to plug in at their homes as charging stations are hard to come by in the middle of nowhere in much of South America.
As a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, McGregor gave some inside details regarding their journey stating “There’s no real infrastructure for charging in the middle of Patagonia, for instance. So we’d just knock on people’s doors and ask if we could plug them in. They usually do let us. Sometimes we’d camp in their garden at night, and we’d plug in.”
You can watch the first three episodes globally on Apple TV September 18, with new episodes airing weekly.
Electric rumblings
The biggest, and most publicised, difference, is the use of electric motorcycles – specifically the street-orientated Harley-Davidson LiveWire. And while H-D is surely rubbing its hands together, the choice of motorcycle is more than just a publicity stunt – it provides the very backbone of the story in Long Way Up.
Riding an electric motorcycle 13,000 miles from the bottom of South America to Los Angeles hasn’t been done before (at least that we know of), and some might believe it to be impossible. The electric concept creates much drama and tension in the show, but it also gives the journey a pioneering spirit, almost as if McGregor and Boorman are early 20th century explorers searching for a new-found land.
You don’t have to watch the show to know that there inevitably will be flat batteries, charging issues, and economical riding. All of these factors play into the storyline and, while we’re pretty sure that they will make it in the end, you can’t help but question whether it is possible.
Fantasy land
The first episode includes mandatory preparation scenes, with a mad rush to meet deadlines and get to the start line by the agreed date. As always, the team makes it by the skin of their teeth. By Ep.2, we’re transported to the bottom of South America for start of the epic journey.
Both Round and Down featured fascinating locations, but the South American setting in Up feels a lot more magical and awe-inspiring. The development of drone technology certainly helps, with plenty of wide-angle aerial shots for your eyeballs to feast on. But when the team arrive in Ushuaia to begin the trip, it feels like they have stepped into a fairy-tale, with snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes as far as the eye can see.
Despite the step-up in production, the bigger budgets, the electric motorcycles, and the arguably bigger logistical effort, the beginning of the Long Way Up journey feels a little more subdued than previous editions. Usually, the team starts in the UK, with family, friends, and every other man and his dog showing up to see them off.
This time, Boorman and McGregor quietly (no pun intended) leave an empty car park (well, except for a busload of school kids) at the bottom of South America in the middle of winter. And there is an air of doubt and fear that hangs over them like a dark Cloud. Will they make it all the way?
The third episode ends on somewhat of a cliff-hanger, as Boorman and McGregor express their frustrations at the ever-present charging issues. They clearly have doubts about how long they can keep this up, and whether they will get enjoyment out of it. The audience is left with the same sentiment.
Everything is gonna be alright
But as the credits roll to another Sterophonics number, Kelly Jones sings ‘ everything is gonna be alright ’ and we are given a glimmer of hope that it will work out. And if my knowledge of popular culture is correct, then it will get better, because that’s how film and television works. The heroes always prevail in the end. And still, I’m hanging for the fourth episode this Friday to find out.
Some people have expressed frustration that Long Way Up is on AppleTV, but it is absolutely worth paying the 7.99 per month to watch Ewan and Charley go round once more. And you can cancel once the show finishes, or even take advantage of the free trial.
Besides, Boorman told us that if enough people watch Long Way Up. they will do a fourth installment from London to Australia and call it Long Way Down Under. Come on people, stop complaining and watch the show – it is well worth it. It’s the next best thing to travelling the world (damn you COVID-19).
Fantasy land
The first episode includes mandatory preparation scenes, with a mad rush to meet deadlines and get to the start line by the agreed date. As always, the team makes it by the skin of their teeth. By Ep.2, we’re transported to the bottom of South America for start of the epic journey.
Both Round and Down featured fascinating locations, but the South American setting in Up feels a lot more magical and awe-inspiring. The development of drone technology certainly helps, with plenty of wide-angle aerial shots for your eyeballs to feast on. But when the team arrive in Ushuaia to begin the trip, it feels like they have stepped into a fairy-tale, with snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes as far as the eye can see.
Despite the step-up in production, the bigger budgets, the electric motorcycles, and the arguably bigger logistical effort, the beginning of the Long Way Up journey feels a little more subdued than previous editions. Usually, the team starts in the UK, with family, friends, and every other man and his dog showing up to see them off.
This time, Boorman and McGregor quietly (no pun intended) leave an empty car park (well, except for a busload of school kids) at the bottom of South America in the middle of winter. And there is an air of doubt and fear that hangs over them like a dark Cloud. Will they make it all the way?
The third episode ends on somewhat of a cliff-hanger, as Boorman and McGregor express their frustrations at the ever-present charging issues. They clearly have doubts about how long they can keep this up, and whether they will get enjoyment out of it. The audience is left with the same sentiment.
Everything is gonna be alright
But as the credits roll to another Sterophonics number, Kelly Jones sings ‘ everything is gonna be alright ’ and we are given a glimmer of hope that it will work out. And if my knowledge of popular culture is correct, then it will get better, because that’s how film and television works. The heroes always prevail in the end. And still, I’m hanging for the fourth episode this Friday to find out.
Some people have expressed frustration that Long Way Up is on AppleTV, but it is absolutely worth paying the 7.99 per month to watch Ewan and Charley go round once more. And you can cancel once the show finishes, or even take advantage of the free trial.
Besides, Boorman told us that if enough people watch Long Way Up. they will do a fourth installment from London to Australia and call it Long Way Down Under. Come on people, stop complaining and watch the show – it is well worth it. It’s the next best thing to travelling the world (damn you COVID-19).
What McGregor and Boorman had to say
In the Summer of 2019, confirmed in an interview recorded at the Bike Shed Motorcycle Show that and he were planning a third Long Way trip. We later learned that this time, they would travel south to north on a par of specially-prepared Harley-Davidson LiveWires, accompanied by two Rivian R1T electric pickup trucks.
While pictures of the crew with its electric vehicles surfaced on Instagram— and we were able to track their progress via South American news outlets and social media—, it wasn’t until the adventure was over and in the rearview mirror that the people involved started opening up about it.
The chance to talk with McGregor and Boorman and hear what they had to say about their trip was a great opportunity to gain some insight into the experience. If you’re a fan of either or both guys, you’ll be glad to know that they’re as cool and funny in person as they are in the show. I would easily have sat there to chat with them for hours-on-end, but we only had eight minutes on the counter so I did my best to make it count.
Of course, I was curious to know how this new adventure compared to the previous two and whether it was better or worse than they anticipated. Summarized, it was a little bit of both.
“Being one of the first handful of people to be able to head up and go from the bottom of Argentina to Los Angeles seemed like a great idea. As usual, Ewan and I, we’re always kind of up for a challenge and ready to go. We said “Yeah! I think it’s a great idea riding electric motorbikes” but I don’t think we really had an idea of what to expect,” Boorman said.
“Suddenly we were down at the bottom of Argentina, we had all our gear on, it was freezing cold, we were delayed three or four days because of a blizzard. Finally, we got a break in the weather and we headed off and then we realized that we weren’t going to get as far as we thought we were going to get because batteries don’t like the cold. They don’t perform as well. There was this sort of range anxiety learning curve that we had to deal with in those first few days. It was only at that point that we started thinking “Whose idea was it?”—and then we realize that it was our idea.” he recalled. “But it was brilliant and I think it will be one of those memories (that will last) forever.”
During the series’ first episode, there was a whole discussion about electric motorcycles being the future despite the current challenges the technology faces. While I have my own opinions about what improvements should be made to help the technology gain popularity, I wanted to know what they thought would have improved their trip—better charging times, better range, more stations? McGregor jokingly answered: “Everything you just said.”
“We knew before it that it’s certainly not easy to do when you’re in the middle of nowhere. The infrastructure being very non-existent in the remote parts of Argentina and all the South American countries really. There are charging stations but only in the cities and of course, most of our journeys weren’t in the cities,” he added, on a more serious note. “We knew that going into it, we had an awful lot of great help. We just got by however we could and it became part of the fun of doing the trip, really: finding somewhere to charge. We’d find a restaurant at lunchtime and we’d ask if they minded if plugged in. The fact that it was difficult to charge, it became the adventure.”
Considering how different this trip was, I asked them what they would have done differently. McGregor, being his Smart-ass self, answered right off the bat “I’d have gone on a petrol bike.” “The adventure and the challenge are the reasons why you do these trips. I certainly wouldn’t change anything. It was good fun. Apart from the petrol,” added Boorman.
The good
It’s so good to be back in Ewan and Charley’s luggage and follow them on a new adventure. If you missed them, their chemistry, and their shenanigans, then it won’t feel like over a decade has passed since you last “hung out” with them. Ewan continues to “wooh” his way through breathtaking landscapes and Charley is still his good, old, hands-off riding self.
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If I could describe my overall feeling best, there’s a modernized familiarity to the show (at least the first three episodes). The familiar part lies in how they still set up their shop in a flat somewhere in England that turns into a buzzing HQ with a gigantic map pinned on the wall and a slew of experts’ input to prepare them for their journey, the usual gear goodies unpacking, and the overall sense of camaraderie among the crew. There are still last-minutes hurdles that they magically overcome, selfie-type vlogs in which the riders share their thoughts, and the same contagious, childish excitement about traveling to unknown lands.
The modernized aspect is showcased in the access to better technologies both from a technical and production perspective. Helmet-mounted cameras and drones are tools that were now available to them. of and the former BMW and Mitsubishi vehicles were replaced by a small fleet of electric motorcycles and trucks.
This third series definitely feels like a leap forward into the 21st century compared to the first two. Their decision to travel such a distance (15,000 miles or so) on electric motorcycles allowed them to showcase how well the technology can perform while also informing the audience about its limitations.
The bad
Three episodes in and I noticed that the show doesn’t have the same grittiness as The Long Way ‘Round and The Long Way Down. As McGregor put it during the interview, compared to their previous two adventures where they could simply pick a spot in the wild and camp, this time, the planning was much different due to their need to plug and charge the motorcycles.
If you liked the previous two series’ rawness, chances are you’ll find that this third installment lacks the “up close and personal” treatment that made McGregor and Boorman so approachable and endearing. The treatment is more polished and the use of drone shots, which results in absolutely spectacular venture points, also takes us out of the bubble.
The struggles and challenges aren’t about getting the bikes to run again in the middle of nowhere and facing brutal terrains any more than they were about being able to charge the bikes.
Though McGregor said that it became part of the adventure, it also feels like the whole charging aspect also got a little bit in the way. Sure enough, the series’ third episode ends on a bit of a depressing note, when the guys realize that things were going much slower than they anticipated and that they still had a very long way to go.
The bottom line
Despite a moody ending to the third episode, I’m pretty sure that things lighten up in the following episodes, once the reality sets in and that they come to terms with the fact that this trip won’t be anything like the previous. I’m confident the future episodes won’t revolve so much around the charging itself and will instead become the vicarious experience that got us hooked the first two times.
As the duo explained during the interview, the first few days (documented in the first three episodes) were the most challenging because they had to learn to deal with a different, more limited technology. They eventually got a hang of it. The fact that the partners also managed to create a V2M network—vehicle to motorcycle—that allowed Ewan and Charley to charge the bike directly from the Rivians about halfway through the trip likely contributed to cheering things up and relieving a bit of that range anxiety.
If you can forgive the fact that the series cleaned up a little bit, I think you’ll still get to enjoy the time you spend following Ewan and Charley. I know I did.
Apple has yet to confirm the number of episodes included in the series. All we know is that the first three episodes will be available for streaming on September 18 and that the following episodes will be released weekly.
If you’re the binging type like I am and want to wait until all the episodes are out to get your Apple TV subscription—that’s exactly what I’ll do. If you like the more old- school “new episode every week” thing better, then, sure, give it a go.
I think it’s worth it if only to get immersed in the Ewan and Charley universe once again. Get your Apple TV seven-day trial and check out the first episodes to get a feel for it and see what you think about it.