Optima/Clarios Brings Free EV Charging to Dust Fest
charging | electricity | evs | off-road
Off-roading and overlanding have increased greatly in popularity; however, these venues remain largely off-limits to owners of EVs due to the lack of charging units in the backcountry. Now, Optima and parent company Clarios have created a unique and fun opportunity to encourage EV owners to get off the grid and play in the desert – with free charging.
EV and hybrid owners were invited to the 2nd annual OPTIMA Unplugged Powered by Clarios guided drive as a part of the legendary King of the Hammers (KOH) event in Johnson Valley, California. The battery companies said it was the largest gathering of off-road electric vehicle enthusiasts ever that participated in the off-road tour this year.
Participants were able to experience the most iconic trails in the area, see some of the competition as live-action, and stay overnight in an all-new 10-acre, private camping area - the OPTIMA Oasis at The Forty. The tour, set up as a poker run and led by OPTIMA Batteries’ ambassadors, offered an entry-level off-road adventure for beginner drivers with limited off-road experience and no vehicle modifications required, as well as a more advanced ride for enthusiasts looking for a bit more challenge. A two-day pass provided access to unlimited EV charging, camping that included restrooms and showers, evening entertainment, and catered meals.
Helping to make this event successful for all EV and HEV participants, Optima provided 10 Level 2 chargers and four Level 3 chargers that were powered by hydrogen supplied by industry experts at Renewable Innovations. Located at Optima’s gated facility, they were free for any EV/PHEV/HEV vehicle attending KOH, with industry leaders on hand to answer questions and discuss the future of sustainable off-roading. The OPTIMA Oasis was powered by Renewable Innovations’ zero-carbon green renewable energy via solar and hydrogen, as the battery companies continue to push for innovation in the off-road community and hope to move the needle toward more remote off-road events featuring EVs and HEVs alongside their ICE counterparts.
“This is the second year we’ve done Unplugged, and we were thrilled to have 65 vehicles and about 100 guests,” said Tom Downie, VP of Communications at Clarios. “We had a mix of vehicles this year - with two Tesla Cybertrucks and three Ford Lightning stock pickup trucks - and a large contingent of members of the Rivian club, who were with us for the second year; their members are really enthusiastic about getting out here in the desert, and they actually parked with us this year. There were two educational programs to talk about safety and Tread Lightly! and how important it is for the community to make sure that it respects the environment while we’re out here having fun.
Optima/Clarios champion not only electric and hybrid vehicles but also vehicles with ICE and hydrogen power and support a number of the top off-road racers at the KOH. Optima has been a sponsor of KOH, the largest and toughest off-road competition venue in the United States, since 2016. This year, it attracted close to 80,000 racers, aftermarket companies, fans, and other participants and took place over 18 days. “The company is committed to supporting competitors who are using ‘ice’ engines, as well as to support the breadth and scope of the EV world,” said Downie while at the 2024 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries.
“We’re trying to help people understand that it doesn’t matter what the powertrain is - ice, hybrid, EV - every one of these vehicles needs a low-voltage network to power the systems on the vehicle, and this is a great opportunity for us to reinforce that point,” explained Downie. “We’ve also found there’s an opportunity to help on the sustainability front –in motorsports, there are a lot of internal combustion vehicles at KOH, and, if you’re an EV owner, there’s really no way you can come out and experience this with your EV, so we’ve installed this charging support station to allow people to come and actually experience of the ‘Hammers’ and to get their vehicles off-road. In many cases, it’s the first time for them to be off-road, so we’ve paired them up with some of our professional drivers to help give them some pointers and the confidence to actually get out here with their vehicle, which is something that they would probably never could or would do on their own.” Optima/Clarios batteries are sold in more than 100 countries and are the most widely-distributed battery in the world, with batteries for automotive, marine and RV, powersports, and commercial applications.
KOH encompasses many disciplines of off-road racing, with races for dirt bikes, side-by-side UTVs, trophy trucks, various classes of Ultra4 cars, rock-bouncers, buggies, and even a race for children. The action happens in a remote dry lake bed that turns into one of the world’s largest temporary cities dubbed “Hammertown.” 
The city is organized with signed streets, food trucks, shopping, concerts, and more. The race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer to more than 900 individuals and teams competing before more than 80,000 fans in person and 2 million viewers online. Due to the incredible success of King of the Hammers, Hammerking Productions created the Ultra4Racing Series, which has grown Internationally.
