NZ is global EV traveller’s last leg

This story first appeared in the June issue of AutoTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

A Dutch adventurer who has driven across the globe in his electric vehicle is on the final New Zealand leg of his three-year journey.

Wiebe Wakker has driven 100,000km in his EV, from Amsterdam to Sydney, crowd-sourcing EV charging, meals and accommodation through his website Plug Me In Project along the way.

Although he completed his goal to reach Sydney in early April, he’s now exploring New Zealand in his customised electric 2009 VW Golf station wagon after it was shipped to Auckland from Australia.

Wakker says any tunnel straight through the Earth from where he started in Houten in the Netherlands would come out just off New Zealand’s coast.

“So now I have literally reached the other side of the world; in an electric car.Crazy!

“I’ve always wanted to come to New Zealand, but in my original plan I didn’t think it would be possible.

“However, I received some great support to ship my vehicle over here from Sydney and I have the opportunity for a sort of encore to complete my global EV adventure.”

Wakker’s two-month journey across both the North and South Islands, including Bluff and Cape Reinga, ends with his return to Auckland for the EVworld NZ 2019 Expo and industry conference on August 1-3.

He’s impressed with Kiwis’ enthusiasm for EVs and the growing charging network, and he’s keen to meet prime minister Jacinda Ardern, and see a hydro-electric dam.

Wakker is testing one of Tourism Holdings Limited’s (THL) Britz EV campervans on a trip around Auckland, Coromandel and Raglan first.

“It’s great to see a tourism business like THL embracing EVs,” Wakker says.

“It makes complete sense that in such a clean and green country like New Zealand, tourists can make environmentally friendly choices in the way they travel.”

Fast chargers are at least every 75km on 90% of New Zealand’s state highway network, with three or four new stations opening every month – Wakker opening new EV charging stations at DB Breweries in Otahuhu just after his arrival.

Wakker says he’s lucky to have a few sponsors now so his last trip will be a little easier.

He enjoys staying with and engaging people, showing them his electric car.

EVs should be available to everyone, he believes.

While his journey is an adventure, Wakker says it is also about combatting climate change and promoting sustainability.

“The people I’ve met have been amazing,” he adds.

“Some people say they’d like to do what I’ve done but never did.”

From Haarlem in the Netherlands, Wakker says he only returned home once for four days for a family emergency during his world trip.

On returning home this time, Wakker plans a book and also a year of speaking engagements.

He wants to remain an ambassador for EVs and may eventually do another world EV trip, although something a little different from this.

“I’m also aiming to start a company involved in sustainable delivery, using EVs such as electric bikes.”

He reckons he needs to catch up on sleep too.

So, what prompted Wakker to do his world EV sojourn?
“It was my graduation project,” he explains.

Studying event management, Wakker decided on a creative experience in marketing and to build a portfolio combined with his interest in the environment and photography.

“I wanted to do a road trip but it would have been silly in a polluting vehicle.
People in Holland were just starting to talk about EVs in about 2013 so I thought I could do my bit to promote them.”

Through enquiries, Wakker was able to get an EV from among 50 petrol VWs converted by a Dutch firm as there were few, if any, from established car makers at the time.

It had a 37kWh battery capable of about 200km range, although limited to AC charging.

Wakker bargained on only being able to plug in to homes and other stops using AC during most of his journey anyway.

His early travels elicited little fanfare until he reached Russia and invited his website and social media followers to pick the next nearby destination.

Traditional media had become interested by then too.

He now has about 50,000 followers.

The adventurer has had very few major hiccups on his travels, once having to get a broken spring welded in India because no parts were available, and also dealing with extreme heat and long distances in some places.

Wakker has now proved that EVs can go anywhere, although for “Blue Bandit”, the final resting place may be a museum.

Wakker’s New Zealand journey has been made possible with the support of Proxima, THL, Ports of Auckland, DB Breweries, EECA, About Freight Worldwide and Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

And he also thanks the many who have supported his global travel, having written more than 300 postcards to people who hosted him.

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