Dak Simonton's journey to electric vehicle ownership is as unique as his Alaskan backdrop. A former Miami-Dade police officer, Dak traded the sun-drenched streets of South Florida for the breathtaking, albeit challenging, landscapes surrounding Anchorage. Eleven years and a few “Alaska vehicles” with internal combustion engines later, he's found his electric stride with a Rivian R1T, a testament to the evolving EV landscape, even in the Last Frontier.

Dak's Alaskan adventure began in a Chevy Volt which he and his wife used, a far cry from the powerful Rivian he commands today. He wanted a Tesla, but at the time, he thought the charging infrastructure wasn’t available enough to be relied upon. Eventually he ordered a Tesla Model Y in 2020. The two-month wait for delivery of his Y to Alaska highlighted the logistical challenges of getting anything to Alaska, a situation further complicated by the limited public charging options at the time.

Undeterred, Dak became deeply involved in the local EV community, including the Alaska EV Owners Club (formerly the Tesla Club). This proved invaluable, providing access to privately owned chargers and fostering a supportive network. Knowing the extremes of the weather in the Anchorage area, he purchased a Rivian R1T electric pickup in 2024, before a cross-country road trip from Detroit, through Canada, to bring it back. The journey itself was an adventure, marked by limited charging options, detours due to the severe Canadian wildfires in 2024, and even a stretch of driving at 45 km/h in a 75 km/h zone just to reach a campground charger which is what he used multiple times as rest stops.

Now retired, Dak dedicates his time to organizing events and advocating for EV infrastructure. He points to the recent installation of a 180kW charger in Anchorage as a significant step forward, though the area still relies heavily on just two Tesla Superchargers. The challenges of Alaskan life are ever-present: his diesel truck, still necessary for certain tasks, once suffered fuel freeze in the extreme cold, a problem Dak now doesn’t really worry about knowing his Rivian can’t suffer from it. “I do have to carry a heat gun…I learned that from experience” he says, mentioning how the frigid weather can cause doors, charge ports, and handles to freeze closed.

Even with an electric vehicle, winter in Alaska demands preparedness. Dak recalls a particularly brutal ice storm that coated his trucks in four inches of ice. He emphasizes the need for self-reliance and improvement to infrastructure beyond Anchorage, where cellular network coverage can be spotty, affecting charger connectivity. He's even used his Rivian to power his house during electrical outages, keeping essential appliances like a CPAP machine and insulin fridge running.

Dak's experience highlights the nuances of EV ownership in a cold climate. He notes the Rivian's preferred PTC heater over the heat pump in his previous Tesla Model Y, which required a heat pump replacement. He's observed reduced regenerative braking and power even after preconditioning his EVs. Certain charging cables stiffen in the frigid temperatures. He's found the Rivian to remain capable in temperatures as low as 15F degrees.

Despite the challenges, Dak's enthusiasm for EVs remains strong. He's working with the University of Alaska Anchorage office to collect EV and weather data to better understand charging efficiency and rates. He tracks his Tesla's efficiency at 333 watts/mile (3 miles/kWh) and notes that even minor snow accumulation can impact range. "I can do anything I want to do except easily leave Alaska in the winter," he quips. He's even seen firsthand the struggles of smaller charging networks, like Freewire, which went bankrupt and the units are bricked.

For Dak, the benefits of electricity outweigh the challenges. He estimates his EV charging costs are about one-third of what he spends on diesel fuel. His journey, from Miami cop to Alaskan EV advocate, proves that electric vehicles can thrive even in the most demanding environments, driven by community, ingenuity, and a passion for cleaner transportation.