Dutchman completes longest ever electric car journey
The man covered 95,000 kilometres from Amsterdam to Sydney in a retrofitted electric vehicle.
Dutchman Wiebe Wakker arrived in Sydney yesterday after travelling 95,000 kilometres over three years to complete the world's longest recorded electric vehicle journey. Driving a customised station wagon called The Blue Bandit, Wakker's trip saw him drive through 33 countries in a staggering 1,119 days.
Wakker spent only $300 on electricity during the trip, and instead relied on the generosity of locals to provide him with food, accomodation and places to charge his car. The trip would have required 6,785 litres of petrol had the car not been electrified.
When he arrived in Sydney, Wakker was greeted with a parade of electric vehicles, which accompanied him to his final destination in the Royal Botanic Gardens. He made the journey as a way to prove the potential and viability of electric vehicles. "I drove on my own to the other side of the world but I always have been powered by people and with a goal to prove the viability of electric cars."
"This electric parade was a symbolic way of doing this together for one last time. I didn't expect 50 electric cars to show up, it was an unbelievable feeling to hear the harbour bridge go silent," he said.
Electric vehicles are currently a subject of renewed interest in Australia, with both major political parties pledging electric vehicle targets for 2030, and manufacturers launching their first electric models into the local market. Many lenders now also offer green car loans that give customers discounted rates if they use the loan to purchase an electric or fuel-efficient vehicle.
A majority of Australians would now also consider purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle, and 1 in 10 plan on getting one as their next car, according to Roy Morgan. According to Wakker, his journey proves that electric vehicles are entirely suitable for everyday use. "Electric cars are a way to tackle climate change. I wanted to change people's opinions and inspire people to start driving electric by showing the advantages of sustainable mobility."
"If one man can drive to the other side of the world in an electric car, then they should definitely be viable for daily use."
Latest car news
Picture: Supplied
