Explorer around the world

Gen Z adventurer sets new record circumnavigating the globe in a Ford EV

Adventurer Lexie Alford has just set a record by circumnavigating the globe in a fully electric vehicle, the appropriately named Ford Explorer. It’s a first for EVs and also a little bit of history repeating: Alford’s journey mirrored that of Aloha Wanderwell (yes, that is her real name), who was the first woman to drive around the world 100 years ago. Also in a

Ford, a 1918 Model T.

Twenty-five-yearold YouTuber Alford is notable for travelling to

196 countries before she turned 22. She already holds records for being the youngest person/youngest female to travel to all sovereign countries, at the age of 21 years, 177 days.

Setting off from Nice, France (where Wanderwell also commenced her journey) Alford and the Explorer EV covered six continents, 27 countries and over 30,000km — all powered by electricity. The record was monitored by RecordSetter, which tracked the journey at various locations. Alford and the Explorer had to cover a minimum of 28,968km, travel through two Antipodean points and drive on at least five continents.

The expedition culminated with the Explorer EV, accompanied by a convoy of Ford vehicles, crossing the finish line back in Nice. Ford CEO Jim Farley was on hand to see the finish.

The Explorer faced numerous challenges throughout its journey, including power outages, sparse charging infrastructure and extreme weather conditions.

“It has been the honour of a lifetime,” says Alford. “I had the goal of pushing the limits of what’s possible to do in an EV and

I’m proud to say I have.”

Ford’s new Explorer EV is the company’s first passenger EV developed and built in Europe. It shares platform and powertrain technology with Volkswagen’s ID range of EVs.

The Explorer EV is the first vehicle to roll off the production line at the Ford Cologne EV Centre. It’s not currently destined for the New Zealand market, although it is built in right-hand drive for the UK.