EVs Finish Historic 1,200km Italian Rally Alongside Classics

Electric vehicles just proved they belong on one of the world's most legendary race routes, completing a grueling 1,200 kilometer journey through the Italian countryside.

Seven EVs, including three Polestars, a Mercedes-Benz G 580, an Abarth 600e, a Lotus Eletre, and a BYD Denza, finished the five-day Mille Miglia Green rally from Brescia to Rome and back. The electric competitors traced the same winding roads that have hosted speed legends since 1927, now competing for points based on precision timing rather than raw speed.

The challenge tested more than just the cars. Teams navigated 24 timed sections where arriving too early or too late cost points, forcing drivers to do mental math while racing through historic Italian villages. No stops for food, water, or bathrooms were allowed during seven-hour driving stretches.

Charging presented real hurdles but didn't stop anyone. One station maxed out at just 48 kW with two cars plugged in, while another didn't recognize certain vehicles. Teams adapted by scouting multiple charging locations and planning around slower speeds.

The crowds offered mixed reactions. Some Italian spectators shouted "no sound, no feeling!" at the quiet electric cars, clearly preferring traditional roaring engines. But plenty of others smiled, waved, and did double-takes seeing modern EVs mixed among the classic racers.

The Ripple Effect

The Mille Miglia Green, now in its fifth year, is changing minds about what electric vehicles can accomplish. By placing EVs alongside some of the world's most beautiful vintage race cars on demanding historic routes, the rally proves that sustainable transportation can handle extreme challenges. Each year, more spectators see these quiet machines conquering the same legendary roads as racing icons, normalizing electric power in a culture that reveres internal combustion.

The rally also pushes charging infrastructure forward. Every obstacle these teams encountered highlights real gaps that need fixing, and their solutions show other drivers what's already possible with smart planning.

Despite finishing last on day one, the teams learned fast and improved. The Polestar 3 handled the mountain roads smoothly, charging to 90 percent in just 32 minutes at the right station. Every kilometer proved that electric power can deliver on history's most demanding routes, even when the crowds aren't cheering yet.

Seven electric cars finished a rally that once killed drivers with its intensity, and they did it without burning a drop of fuel.