In the increasingly diverse sector of electric cars we find proposals that, at first glance, may surprise. For example, who would have opted just a couple of years ago for an extreme off-road vehicle powered by a central electric motor, designed to be driven by fire and mountain rescue teams over difficult terrain?
The Scots at Munro Vehicles, specialists in the mass production of fully electric off-road vehicles, have surprised the automotive sector with the new Mountain Rescue special edition of their MK_1 electric pick-up. It is a vehicle that boasts extraordinary 4×4 capabilities and adapts to different special functions, being capable of moving through very complicated terrain without emissions.
Based on the standard Munro MK_1, it incorporates all the comforts of this model, but has been specially adapted to the technical specifications and requirements to meet the needs of rescue services for interventions in remote and difficult-to-access mountainous areas. It is a rugged all-terrain vehicle capable of going anywhere.
Thus, some of the main differences from the standard model are the blue emergency lights mounted on the roof, an interior space large enough to safely transport a stretcher, and space for the driver and three passengers, plus all the equipment necessary to evacuate possible wounded.
The rear platform allows you to transport a euro pallet with water tanks or rescue equipment and up to 1,050 kg of cargo. Furthermore, with the Performance finish, the capacity increases to 3,500 kg, an impressive figure for an electric vehicle.
The design, with angular and straight lines, is inspired by classic off-road vehicles and has a certain appearance of a military vehicle. For obvious reasons, the ground clearance is more pronounced than in most vehicles, in order to avoid stones and other obstacles in any climate and terrain. The extremely short front overhang offers the driver an astonishing 84-degree angle of attack. The total length of the car is about 4.59 m.
If something characterizes this vehicle, it is that the engine is located in the central area, something unusual in electric cars. This achieves absolute parity when distributing power between axles and does so very efficiently. Furthermore, the motor is surprisingly light, weighing just 40 kg.
In terms of engines, the Munro MK_1 is capable of developing a maximum power of 381 HP (280 kW), as well as a maximum torque of 700 Nm. It manages to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. The Mountain Rescue version is also available with a 299 HP (220 kW) electric motor.
It has an 82.4 kWh battery, with the possibility of rapid recharging at 100 kW, which allows you to go from 15 to 80% of the total charge in just 36 minutes. With the battery fully charged, it boasts a range of more than 300 kilometers.
Another unconventional feature of this all-terrain vehicle is its useful life, calculated at a maximum of 50 years. This is thanks to its simple design and the low maintenance cost of its components.
The Scottish electric off-roader has three equipment levels: Utility, Range and Performance. The basic model starts at 70,000 euros and the intermediate variant costs about 83,000 euros, while the high-end version reaches the figure of about 96,000 euros. If you want to know all the details of this vehicle, don’t miss the brand presentation video that accompanies this article.
