A solo road trip across the Americas rarely goes exactly as planned. For Sandro, a YouTuber documenting his journey across the continent in a Tesla Model X, an ordinary drive through northern Chile quickly turned into a tense situation when his vehicle ran dangerously low on battery power in the middle of the Atacama Desert.
Surrounded by vast empty landscapes and endless desert roads, he soon realized that help might not come quickly in such a remote location. With the nearest charging station still dozens of kilometers away and little traffic passing by, he was forced to improvise.
A mixture of problem-solving, unexpected help from strangers, and a reminder that even the best-prepared travelers can run into trouble in remote terrains.
Running Out of Range
Traveling in his custom electric vehicle, named Beluga, he set off toward the city of Calama after waking up at a quiet desert oasis. However, the drive quickly became more complicated than expected.
The problem began when Sandro checked his remaining range. His vehicle showed around 37 kilometers of battery left, but the nearest charging station was roughly 42 kilometers away.
When driving on normal roads, the difference might not have been a major concern. However, the route ahead included a gradual climb toward the Andes Mountains, where higher elevations and strong desert winds drain battery power much faster than usual.
Sandro switched the vehicle into a power-saving mode and slowed down significantly in an attempt to stretch the remaining energy. But he eventually was forced with no other option than to pull over and work out the contingencies.
Solar Charging: A Temporary Fix
Faced with the possibility of being completely stranded, Sandro turned to one of the backup systems built into his overlanding setup. He carried portable solar panels that normally powered smaller systems during camping stops, such as lighting, cooking equipment, and electronics.
This time, the solar panels became a lifeline. The baking hot desert sun worked in his favor, and his system still produced relatively small amounts of electricity compared with a proper charging station. While waiting, he contacted friends for advice and began calling local towing companies to see if anyone could reach his remote location.
The solar panels were not powerful enough to fully solve the problem, but they bought him valuable time while he searched for another solution.
Help Arrives From an Unlikely Source
At first, calling towing companies proved unsuccessful despite multiple attempts. However, a kind act of generosity from workers at a nearby construction site helped change the situation.
After noticing Sandro’s predicament, they allowed him to connect his vehicle to a generator at their worksite, giving him access to a temporary source of electricity. It was enough to keep the Tesla’s battery from completely dying.
Shortly afterwards, he was towed to the nearest charging station in Calama for a price of $135. Once the car was safely charging again, Sandro continued his journey toward San Pedro de Atacama, turning a difficult situation into another memorable chapter of his expedition across the Americas.
The rest of his adventure, which is still ongoing, can be viewed on his YouTube channel: Everyday Sandro.