Over the course of a three-year journey across the Americas, YouTuber Sandro van Kuijck has pushed his Tesla Model X far beyond typical use cases, turning it into a self-sufficient platform for long-distance overlanding. 

The Oregon-based creator behind the YouTube channel EverydaySandro began his route in Tuktoyuktuk, at the northern end of the Pan-American Highway, and is making his way toward Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina. By the time he reached Chile, the expedition had already covered some of the most remote terrain on the continent.

His Model X has been modified for overlanding with a slide-out kitchen, induction cooktop, running water, fridge, and sleeping setup, while keeping a mostly stock exterior aside from all-terrain tires. A 287-watt hood-mounted solar array feeds a 2 kWh EcoFlow Delta 2 battery, powering onboard systems and enabling emergency trickle charging.

Range gap strands vehicle on Pan-American Highway 

The ordeal began with a miscalculation in northern Chile, just south of Calama, where energy demands quickly exceeded expectations. After charging the Tesla to 95% at a Copec fast-charging station – part of Chile’s largest EV network, now spanning more than 90 locations – Van Kuijck set off assuming he had sufficient range. 

However, the steady climb to roughly 9,800 feet combined with strong desert headwinds significantly increased consumption. As the estimated range dropped to about 23 miles with the nearest charger still 26 miles away, he was forced to pull over along the Pan-American Highway. There, he deployed his solar setup in an attempt to recover just enough energy to continue, Electrek writes. 

With around 180–200 watts of solar input, the Model X recovered roughly 0.6 to 1.2 miles of range per hour. While one 287-watt panel mounted on an SUV won’t restore meaningful range within a practical timeframe, in this case, it did provide a minimal energy buffer.

In a comparable scenario, an internal combustion vehicle offers no fallback once the tank is empty. In contrast, an EV paired with even a small solar setup can generate incremental charge, enough to keep systems running and, in some cases, extend range just enough to reach the next charging point.

Improvised generator charge comes to the rescue 

The solar setup bought time but couldn’t sustain the system indefinitely, and after contacting five separate tow companies, Van Kuijck was left without support. His EcoFlow house battery eventually drained as well, bringing the vehicle to a complete 0% state of charge.

However, relief eventually came as a nearby road construction crew offered access to an industrial generator, allowing him to plug in and deliver a minimal charge of around 6 amps. While this wasn’t enough to meaningfully recharge the vehicle, it stabilized the high-voltage battery and prevented a full shutdown.

The incident also shows how uneven EV infrastructure remains across South America, particularly outside major cities and established transport corridors. While expansion is underway, coverage is still concentrated in urban centers and along key highways. Tesla only introduced its Supercharger network in Chile in late 2024, marking its first deployment in South America, with stations primarily located around Santiago and major routes.

In early 2026, Tesla and Copec announced plans to expand the network further, adding new Supercharger sites at service stations across Chile. Each location is expected to include four charging stalls capable of delivering up to 250 kW. As Electrek further notes, long segments of the Pan-American Highway, especially through the Atacama Desert, still remain with effectively charging gaps, requiring EV drivers to plan carefully and carry backup charging solutions.