16/10/2023 14:57
Lexie Alford, @LexieLimitless on Instagram, will seek to become the first female to travel around the globe in an EV*. She’s also the youngest person ever to visit each country in the world.
On the 8th of September, Lexie began her Charge Around The Globe adventure from Le Hotel Royal in Nice, France. She attempts to travel through six continents and over 30 countries in a new All-Electric Ford Explorer.
The inspiration for the journey comes from Aloha Wanderwell, who was the first female to travel around the world. Approximately a century ago, Aloha also used a Ford, although petrol-powered, to complete her journey.
Just some of the strange things she experienced included:
Martin Sander, general manager of Ford Model e Europe, said:
“This is an epic journey to prove what’s possible in an electric vehicle, as we know range and charging are the two main concerns people have when thinking about making the switch to electric.”
“Lexie will be putting charging infrastructure to the ultimate test; if she can get around the world in an EV, then anyone can use one in Europe, every day.”
Before setting off, Lexie talked to the design and product development teams of the electric Ford Explorer. She also visited the Environmental Test Centre to get a feel of extreme temperatures. To top it off, Lexie completed an advanced driver training certification.
The electric Ford Explorer she is driving is a pre-production prototype model. It is almost the same as the production vehicle, which will be available to order in summer 2024. The vehicle has no special modifications.
The route of the journey will be inspired by Aloha Wanderwell. Lexie will be starting and finishing her journey in Nice, France, just like Aloha. She can expect severe weather conditions, and difficult terrains along the way. Plus, the most significant issue is likely to be the lack of charging opportunities.
To help Lexie during her journey, she will have a team of security and medics, along with mechanical and software support.
Lexie Alford commented on the upcoming journey:
“This is an epic adventure, but a tough one. It will be tough on the Explorer and with the amount of time on the road alone it will be tough on me and the support crew.”
“Any adventure worth having should challenge you though, and I can’t wait to explore the new places and meet incredible people to find out how they’re trying to make their corners of the world better.”
The iconic SUV is now available with a fully electric powertrain. This vehicle will take you far in style. Are you ready for an adventure? The highlights include:
Find your nearest Ford dealership
*The minimum requirement for setting a circumnavigation record is 28,968km. Lexie Alford must pass through two antipodean points, travel on at least five continents and start and end at the same location. RecordSetter officials will be located at various places around the world to verify her attempt.