Tesla owner uses emergency solar to trickle charge after running out of battery in desert
AI Analysis
Summary
<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/Tesla-Model-X-emergency-solar-charging-hero.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>A YouTuber driving a Tesla Model X the entire length of the Americas ran out of battery in Chile’s Atacama Desert — the driest place on Earth — and had to deploy emergency solar panels on the side of the highway to survive.</p> <p>The whole ordeal, captured on video, is a fascinating look at both the promise and the very real challenges of long-distance EV travel in regions where charging infrastructure remains sparse.</p> <a class="more-link" href="https://electrek.co/2026/04/18/tesla-model-x-solar-charging-atacama-desert-chile-pan-american-highway/#more-464042">more…</a>
<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/Tesla-Model-X-emergency-solar-charging-hero.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>A YouTuber driving a Tesla Model X the entire length of the Americas ran out of battery in Chile’s Atacama Desert — the driest place on Earth — and had to deploy emergency solar panels on the side of the highway to survive.</p>
<p>The whole ordeal, captured on video, is a fascinating look at both the promise and the very real challenges of long-distance EV travel in regions where charging infrastructure remains sparse.</p>
<a class="more-link" href="https://electrek.co/2026/04/18/tesla-model-x-solar-charging-atacama-desert-chile-pan-american-highway/#more-464042">more…</a>