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After three years, in April 2019, the global electric vehicle journey of Dutchman Wiebe Wakker came to an end. Having traveled across three continents and 34 countries, driving over 100,000 kilometers in his gasoline-free electric vehicle, Wakker reached towns in the southernmost part of the world. This journey will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest adventures ever.
Along the way, Wakker was provided with free food, shelter, and of course, electricity. He traveled through many places with different climates, from Northern Europe to the Middle East, across Southeast Asia, and finally to Australia.
In Australia, the development of electric vehicle infrastructure remains weak. Wakker faced numerous challenges, such as being stranded for three days at Madura Pass because he couldn't charge his electric vehicle until he convinced a passerby to tow his electric car to a charging spot.
Upon arriving in New Zealand, Wakker felt like he had found the country he had always dreamed of. While there are fewer than 15,000 electric vehicles in New Zealand, the country is well-prepared for the rise of zero-emission vehicles. The New Zealand government recently implemented the Clean Car policy, which includes penalties for polluting vehicles and incentives such as rewards and reduced fees for energy-efficient or environmentally friendly vehicles. Electric vehicle charging stations have also been built throughout the country.
Wakker also discovered a new form of travel in New Zealand – traveling in a Britz camper van, which is also fully electric. This type of camper van can travel 120 km on a single charge. Wakker claims this is a very economical way to travel across the country. Thanks to it, he was able to visit campsites in the Coromandel region of northern New Zealand in 9 days.
The campsites here are always fully equipped with everything you need, such as two-way power chargers and designated areas for campers.
Although he couldn't register his trip for a Guinness World Record (the rules exclude modified vehicles), Wakker was still satisfied because he didn't care about the record but focused on the journey and spreading his message to others. Indeed, many people were inspired by him and bought themselves environmentally friendly electric vehicles.
