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Barrett drives the Duku Highway in Xinjiang in an AITO electric vehicle, recording the trip with an Insta360 X4. The road has well-maintained sections as well as challenging driving and unpredictable traffic. Rest areas offer coffee, ice cream, snacks and souvenirs, while the drive includes scenic mountains, canyons and grasslands. Barrett experiences range anxiety on a steep climb, then notes battery recovery on the descent. Rockfall protection appears on some sections. The day ends with Barrett and Sarah at a glamping site with air conditioning and hot showers, where they eat a special fried rice dish.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2024-11-08)
Driving the Duku Highway
Barrett sets out along the Duku Highway in Xinjiang in an AITO electric vehicle. He prepares an Insta360 X4 camera to record the route in 8K and demonstrates his setup inside the car. The first stretches have well-maintained roads, though later sections and other drivers make the trip more demanding. Barrett mentions the AITO’s driver-assistance system but chooses to drive manually. The route brings views of mountains, canyons and grasslands, as well as close encounters with unpredictable traffic. A flock of sheep briefly stops the journey.
Rest areas break up the drive and offer coffee, ice cream, snacks and souvenirs. Barrett also stops at a charging station. He likes the EV’s smooth power delivery on difficult terrain, but the battery needs attention on steep inclines. During one climb he becomes concerned about range; after descending, he notes that the battery recovers some charge. Certain stretches have protective cages intended to reduce rockfall risks, which are visible along the road.
A night of glamping
At the end of the driving day, Barrett and Sarah reach a glamping site. Their tent has air conditioning, a shower and a toilet, giving them a comfortable place to rest after the highway. The food at the site includes a special fried rice dish prepared for them. The stay contrasts with the rugged landscape they drove through earlier.
The video combines driving details with stops and scenery rather than treating the highway as a single uninterrupted road. Barrett discusses road quality, rest areas, electric-vehicle range and possible rockfalls, while the roadside businesses offer food and souvenirs. The route also allows time to recharge the car and then settle in for the night. His camera records the landscape and the trip from inside the AITO, while he narrates the changing road and battery conditions as a personal experience.
Barrett's route includes well-maintained stretches as well as sections where traffic and terrain demand attention. He demonstrates his Insta360 X4 setup in the AITO and explains why he drives manually despite the vehicle's assistance system. Rest areas are not just places to stop for food; he also uses them to pause before continuing through mountains, canyons and grasslands. The charging stop is part of the plan for the electric vehicle.
On the climb, the battery estimate causes concern, but the descent changes the reading and eases his range anxiety. Protective cages along some parts of the highway are intended to mitigate rockfall risk. After the road journey, the glamping site provides air conditioning, a shower and a toilet, and the hosts prepare a special fried rice dish for Barrett and Sarah.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What is driving the Duku Highway like in an electric vehicle?
- A: Barrett says the AITO delivers smooth power on the route, including challenging terrain. He also experiences battery anxiety on a steep climb and notes that the displayed range improves on the descent.
- Q: What can travelers find at rest areas?
- A: Barrett stops at roadside areas offering coffee, ice cream, snacks and souvenirs. He uses them as breaks during the highway drive.
- Q: What was the glamping stay like?
- A: Barrett and Sarah stay in a tent with air conditioning, a shower and a toilet. The site serves them a special fried rice dish after the drive.
- Q: Are there road hazards along the Duku Highway?
- A: Barrett notes that rockfalls are possible in some sections and shows protective cages installed along the road. He also encounters unpredictable drivers during the trip.
