Arjeplog: Where They Test Cars to Extremes

Arjeplog in Lapland, Sweden gets so cold in winter it offered families 1,000 kroner ($108 US) to move there. The indigenous name in the Pite Sami tongue sounds a bit like Árjepluovve. They may not have had many takers because the 2,000 residents dropped the idea. This could have had something to do with its subarctic climate.

Baby It Gets Cold in Arjeplog in Winter

We added a monthly temperature chart below this para if you thought we were kidding. We’ll definitely try the sweet, spicy warm glogg wine if we are over there at Christmas. In fact, if that’s what winters moderated by mild maritime air mean, we’d stay away completely except there’s a catch.

Arjeplog is a popular winter test site for European and Asian auto makers. We suppose that degree of robustness could come in handy if the Polar Vortex pays another visit. BMW is currently testing the batteries, electric motors and charging capabilities of its BMW i4, iX3 and iNEXT EVs. Furthermore their suspension components, brakes and electronics are also up against the test.

A Truly Brutal Challenge in the Frozen Tundra

Well that’s what Nico De Mattia calls it writing in the BMW Blog. However, this is more than testing the latest electric power train. They will also be seeing whether they can zero to sixty mph in 4 seconds when it’s as cold as that.

This is an open question giving that battery chemicals slow down below freezing and this affects output and performance. None the less, climatologists are suggesting more freezing winters in Europe in future. Therefore it makes sense to push batteries to extremes. Their engineers might not like to be caught with their lederhosen leather breeches down, especially on a cold Arjeplog morning when its chilly.