Dutchman completes world’s longest ever journey in electric car
Dutchman Wiebe Wakker has been on the road for three years and three weeks and has crossed 33 countries to complete the world’s longest journey in an electric car that came to an end when he reached Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens on Sunday.
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Dutchman Wiebe Wakker has been on the road for three years and three weeks, completing the world’s longest ever journey in an electric car.
On Sunday, his journey across 33 countries was complete when he reached Sydney’s Bennelong Lawn at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The 32-year-old left Amsterdam in his ‘Blue Bandit’ on March 15, 2016 with plans to remove the prejudice surrounding driving electric cars.
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He called it the ‘Plug me in project’ and he left with empty pockets but a goal to prove the viability of electric vehicles.
Mr Wakker asked people across the world to support his journey by offering a meal, a place to sleep or electricity to charge his car.
Mr Wakker said he became excited about electric cars a few years ago.
But it was the potential to tackle climate change that had him hooked.
“I had this wow plan, it was a part of my graduation project,” he said.
“People don’t want to switch massively, people think electric cars are not reliable so I wanted to promote this technology.”
Mr Wakker, who studied event management, said despite his mother’s wishful thinking, he refused to turn back.
He said he listened to the radio to keep his mind awake while driving which was “interesting to hear the local music, especially in Asian countries”.
“In Australia, it sucks a bit because in the outback you don’t receive any radio.”
Mr Wakker said for over three years, he would be asked the same questions day in and day out.
“Everyday everyone had the same questions,” he said.
“For the past three years, I’ve been answering the same questions.
“It has been a bit challenging, it gets really annoying.
“That’s why I loved the Australian outback, I could just drive and camp.”
Mr Wakker said he knew at some point he would face a few challenges but was determined to reach his goal.
“When you go out for a long trip like this you know at some point you will have issues you are going to face, you have to find a way to solve those problems and keep going,” he said.
Mr Wakker said he was excited when he had finally reached Sydney.
“I have been trying to get to this place for over three years, with no idea when or how I would get there,” he said.
“All the time I was driving on my own, but I was powered by all these people.
“I was really amazed by how many people were at my final destination.”
Mr Wakker said he plans to stay in Sydney for a couple of weeks before he flies back home to Amsterdam.
His friend who let him borrow the electric car, is also looking forward to having it returned.
“He flew all the way to Sydney to be at the event, he was really happy to see the car back,” he said.
Mr Wakker plans to write a book about his experiences.
For more visit plugmeinproject.com